Lighter Footprints Committee information page

Committee

Lighter Footprints is a leading, local climate group committed to facilitating effective climate action.

Working together, we can do so much more than alone. For over a decade, we have educated, advocated and brought people together in Boroondara and surrounding suburbs to inform the community and promote a clean energy future.

Jenny Smithers Lighter Footprints Committee Member

 

Jenny Smithers

Co-Convenor

I am a retired GP. I love bushwalking, swimming in the ocean and gardening. The greatest threat to human health is climate change. My involvement in Lighter Footprints to keep our planet healthy also keeps people healthy.

Sarah Hegarty

Co-Convenor

I’m a data scientist with a physics background. On climate change, the science and the data are overwhelmingly clear – we need to do things differently! Helping make that happen for the planet, the people, and the local area that I love is deeply important to me. I feel lucky to have the chance to do that as part of amazing grassroots groups like Lighter Footprints: working together as a community, we can make a serious difference!

Richard Hedding Lighter Footprints Treasurer

 

Richard Hedding

Treasurer

I am an engineer with a background in the energy industry and so have a good understanding of what it takes to support our way of life, including the impact this has on the environment around us. Lighter Footprints provides balanced, well thought through information on many issues and is a trusted source. I want to help Lighter Footprints educate others so they can better understand the issues and advocate to address the climate challenge. We owe at least this to the generations who will follow us.

Jenny Henty

Secretary

I am a long-time community organiser and campaigner for ecologically sustainable production and consumption through renewable energy and energy efficiency, active transport and waste minimisation. I believe each of us has a role to play in the transition to a low carbon economy: from our own household management practices to facilitating economy-wide change. Lighter Footprints provides the wherewithal for people to be active participants in the quest to stabilise our climate.

 

Robert Pettit

Committee Member

I am a longer term resident of Glen Iris; over 30 years. I am foremostly concerned about the here and now of climate change impacting adversely on the lives of people living in our neighbourhood. I have been active on ‘nuts and bolts’ environmental related issues for decades ranging from advocating for more space for parks, improved tree canopy, walking/cycling/taking public transport and making our home significantly more energy efficient including purchasing an electric vehicle. I am also a member of a number of volunteer community groups who actively care for our local environment.

 

Lynn Frankes

Committee Member

I am a former lawyer and bookseller, now retired. My husband and I established and ran Tim’s Bookshops in Kew and Canterbury for many years. I have been a climate activist since 2006 driven by my belief that we have a moral obligation to future generations, and to species other than our own, to prevent climate catastrophe.

Julian Atchison Lighter Footprints Committee Member

Julian Atchison

Committee Member

Lighter Footprints is the pre-eminent community climate action group, and I have been proud to be a Committee member since 2018. I’ve been a long-time communicator and advocate in the environmental space, and enjoy building community wherever I go. People power and collective action is the key to change, and the Lighter Footprints volunteer cohort has achieved some wonderful things in its time.

Meredith Pritchard

Committee Member

With a background in healthcare, I understand Planetary Health and the interconnection between human health and the health of the environment. Climate change has disrupted Planetary Health leading to changes in natural systems, biodiversity loss and degradation of land and sea, while also having direct and indirect impacts on human health. Joining the Lighter Footprints Committee has given me the opportunity to contribute to minimising climate change and work toward improving Planetary Health.

Julia Croatto

Committee Member

My connection to the natural world started in my childhood, growing up in a small country town and spending idyllic hours climbing rocks and trees, playing at the beach, camping beside rivers, and helping in the veggie garden.  That connection enabled me to see clearly the need for nature to be protected against multiple, cumulative threats, much like our political freedoms, institutions, and way of life need to defended against pernicious vested interests.  I believe that citizens can create the kind of world we want to live in by working together, building community, being active participants in our democracy, and speaking up for what is right.   Growing this movement by empowering others is rewarding and joyful!

Lighter Footprints Committee

Lighter Footprints is an incorporated association and as such is required to have a Committee which has overall responsibility for the activities of the association, including its financial management and reporting obligations. The committee generally meets fortnightly and takes responsibility for organising our monthly meetings. Committee members tend to be actively involved in a working group as well as being a member of the Committee which assists in the communication between the working groups and the committee.

The Committee is elected each year at the Annual General Meeting. If you are interested in joining the Committee please contact Jenny Smithers (0430 511 989) to discuss.