Online
Summary:Join the experts to examine community-led responses to crisis, and how we can future-proof our urban environment.
How can we build community resilience in a changing climate?
This CityTalks conversation will examine the increase in community-led responses to local crises as witnessed in the recent floods, bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic. Our expert panel will explore how we can future-proof our urban environment in response to these new and emerging threats, while learning about the role of the community in times of crisis.
Speakers
- Melanie Hutton, Head of Resilience, Community and Business Auckland Emergency Management, Auckland Council
- Dr Jean Renouf, Founder and Chair, Resilient Byron
- Hosted by Jessica Robbins, Programs and Partnerships Manager, ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability Oceania.
- Opening remarks from Elaine Stratford, Professor of Geography and Associate Executive Dean, College of Sciences and Engineering, University of Tasmania.
Meet the panel
Melanie Hutton
Melanie was born in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand and has global experience in developing policies, strategies and delivering successful environmental, sustainability and community-led climate change mitigation and adaptation programmes. She has worked for Auckland Emergency Management for 6 years, assisting in transforming our approach to ensure people can equitably and fairly adapt to climate challenges and other disasters. She is passionate about our natural world and how to ensure it is protected and restored alongside human activity.
Dr Jean Renouf 
Dr Jean Renouf is the chair of Resilient Byron. He is also an academic at Southern Cross University, a retained firefighter with Fire and Rescue NSW, and a dad. Prior to this, Jean spent years implementing emergency relief projects in disaster zones and countries at war, including Afghanistan, Congo, Haiti, Iraq, North Korea, etc. All of this informs his passion for climate change, community regeneration and resilience, and led him to found Resilient Byron.
Resilient Byron is an incorporated not-for-profit charity founded in 2019 which aims to build the resilience and regenerative capacities of the Northern Rivers residents of NSW. Resilient Byron’s flagship project is the Community Carers and Responders (CCR) network funded by Resilience NSW, where 100+ Northern Rivers residents are trained in community building, disaster preparedness and response, food and water security, housing and energy security. In the immediate aftermath of the 2022 flooding event, Resilient Byron took the lead of the community response and recovery efforts in the Byron Shire, including providing life-saving aid to communities isolated in the hills and valleys; coordinating house cleaning and care teams in several towns; receiving, organising, and redistributing tens of thousands of
