We thought it would be a good idea to introduce the people behind the project!
So, here are bios and links to profiles of the team.
(Note: this post will grow as we get more bios)
Tomi Winfree -
click here to read her TIG profile
Cameron Neil -
click here to read his TIG profile
Lisa Ryan - more info coming soon +
click here to read her TIG profile
Iris Bergmann PhD, Research Fellow, RMIT University
My interest is in the area of communication for sustainability and my passion within this is with photography: the extending of your understanding about environmental issues through visual photographic imagery – by creating those images ourselves, but also by being a consumer of photographic images.
The various areas I have worked in include: in Germany, the running of a gallery for photography and as a facilitator for ecological and youth institutions (working with photography about environmental issues); work in the Northern Rivers of NSW, Australia, for a Steiner school; as publisher and in marketing in Byron Bay; in academia at Southern Cross University in Lismore, NSW; and now as research fellow at RMIT University in Melbourne.
Here, I have been engaged in a number of education and training for sustainable development projects, e.g. for UNESCO-UNEVOC in Vietnam, for UNESCO and the NGO Live and Learn Environmental Education in the Maldives, and, of course, in Australia for the program otherWISE. As activist I have been involved in and co-founded the Northern Rivers branch of WIRES (the NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service).
Outside what helps pay the rent, I love training horses and also being an art practitioner myself, working with photography and contributing to the odd exhibition.
Alan Wu - 23, is currently completing a combined Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) / Bachelor of Laws course at the University of Melbourne. He is especially interested in:
· the role of international institutions in promoting human development,
· building social capital and the capacity of communities to engage in decision-making, and
· innovative social and political applications of new technology.
Alan works with a variety of organisations to represent young people and their interests, advocate and develop mechanisms for youth participation, and build the capacity of other young people to better participate in their communities.
Alan currently serves as Chair of the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition and on the Australian National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the ABC Advisory Council, and on the Victorian Department of Education's Studies of Asia Advisory Board.
Alan also hosts The Wellspring (http://www.alanwu.org/), a web log about youth leadership opportunities in Australia and at the United Nations (UN)
Click here to read his TIG profile
John Fien - Professor John Fien is Professor of Sustainability in the Innovation Leadership programme of RMIT University, where he is responsible for supporting research on social, environmental and economic sustainability. He has an interdisciplinary background in education and training, natural resource management, public participation and social change. He has conducted research projects on sustainable consumption for WWF, OECD, the Australian government and the Australian Research Council.
Ben Taylor -
My name is Ben Taylor, I'm 28 years old and I live in Adelaide, South Australia. I have been very interested in sustainability for long time, I think it started back in the mid 90s when I was working for the Department for Transport, Urban Planning and the Arts when I first heard three words that really caught my attention "enviornmentally sustainable development" I wasnt real sure what it meant, but knew I wanted to know more!
My interest in the environment, sustainability, social justice and corporate responsibility have grown organically since that time, and I have volunteered in a number of organisations, including providing IT consultancy and Graphic Design services for Mercy In Action, talking at schools on the importance of social responsibility, and helping newly arrived refugee children with their homework for the organisation Survivors of Torture, Trauma, Abuse and Rape (which was a wonderful challenge - including trying to remember how to do long division without a calculator, and trying to explain the concept of "stripes" to an 8 year old sudanese girl).
Professionally, Ive been in IT since the mid 90's and I am currently working for Bank SA offering technical consultancy to business on our eCommerce Products, providing implementation advice and systems analysis for same products, and project managing enhancements and upgrades of our IT systems. Im still not exactly sure how my passion for life (both my life and the lives of others) and my IT skills can be combined to make this world a better place, in the short to medium term I hope to align myself with an NGO in India/Asia where I can implement an IT course for disadvantaged children. The "plans" are all very fluid at the moment, but with my IT skills, knack for teaching young kids often complex concepts, access to free computers and a burning desire to leave this place just that little bit better than when I arrived I am sure something will come along at the right time.
In my personal life I am an avid martial artist and fundamentalist pacifist (oh and i love a good paradox), I am a vegetarian for a number of reasons (which Ill be glad to go in depth with for anyone that cares ;-), I love to paint, walk in the forest, undertake activities that make you hold your breath and go "wow" - you know, rock climbing, hiking up a mountian to find a beautiful vista, snorkelling, surfing - all those things that make me love this earth just that little bit more. Im also a book worm, favourite titles include 14 Lessons in Yogi Philosophy, The Alchemist, The Long Road to Freedom, Wild Swans, The Prophet. Theology/Theosophy/Religion/Philosophy are my fave reading topics (with a focus on Eastern Philosophy), but also enjoy pretty much any autobiography, political and social science as well as any books on physics.
I have joined this project for a number of reasons, the first and foremost being to meet likeminded people, and also to offer my services to spreading the word of sustainability to help keep our air clean, our oceans sparkling, and food on the plate of every last person on this earth. I am interested in finding some projects on which I can help out, but that can work around my work.
James Ward - My name is James Ward and I'm from South Australia. I have a Civil Engineering degree but am currently studying a PhD in science (hydrogeology). I am currently involved in raising awareness of the Peak Oil issue, which has everything to do with sustainability. I have performed numerous numerical studies to validate the concepts of peak oil and limits to growth, and have concluded that the unlimited growth (aka "sustainable growth") argument is logically indefensible. Still, the Limits to Growth theory dwells in the shadows as the rich world continues its growth binge.
To date I have been focussing on the extent to which a peak in global oil production will affect people in the Western world, because our lifestyles are so utterly dependent on cheap oil. However, just this morning I stumbled across an article from the Wall Street Journal that has caused me to re-frame my position somewhat: http://www.energybulletin.net/22775.html
In short, and to put it rather bluntly, as oil production is constrained due to decline in some of the major oil-producers, the rich world can only continue to enjoy abundant transport (of ourselves
and our consumer goods) because places like Guinea are going without power. In other words, and to put it even more bluntly, right now we can only afford to drive and fly because babies are dying in Africa.
Suddenly I feel less inclined to engage with wealthy Australians on the "big issue" of how they will cope with their high living costs when petrol goes up to $3 a litre...
By the way, I convene a "peak oil for young professionals" discussion group, on behalf of the Association for the Study of Peak Oil & Gas, Australia (ASPO-Australia). The discussion forum is located at: www.groups.yahoo.com/groups/aspo_oz_youngprof
And ASPO-Australia is located at: www.aspo-australia.org.au
So that's where I'm at. Looking forward to networking with the rest of you as we try to deal with the mess our planet is in.
Connect with James here
http://profiles.takingitglobal.org/james-ward
