August 2024
Amanda is a Yarra City Councillor and has championed sustainability and social justice both on council, in the community and in advocating to other levels of government over 16 years. Yarra City Council is the governance and service delivery organisation serving people living in the City of Yarra.
Amanda was involved in establishing Yarra Energy Foundation, an independent entity to drive community emissions to zero and is currently the Chair of the Northern Alliance for Greenhouse Action Executive, as well as the Chair of the Oceania Regional Executive Committee for ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability.
Thanks to the efforts of leaders like Amanda, the City of Yarra has been a leader in urban sustainability and was the first carbon neutral council in Victoria in 2010 and a pioneer in community batteries through Yarra Energy Foundation. The council continues to address its economic and environmental challenges to achieve the best possible future for the community and environment.
Prior to joining the council, Amanda was a teacher, school counsellor and assistant principal. In her spare time as a long-term community activist, she drove numerous campaigns to ensure community involvement in the decisions and changes that affect their lives.
Amanda has contributed to the establishment of a local residents association, the Abbotsford Convent project and a Yarra River advocacy body that culminated in legislated protection of the Yarra River. Additionally, Amanda was involved in watershed management and low carbon farming projects in India for 15 years, and was the Chair of the Collingwood headspace Consortium.
I truly believe in thinking globally and acting locally, as grassroots action at the local government level has generated so much of emissions reduction and biodiversity conservation work contributing to our commitments under global conventions.”