ACT Climate Change Council

Dr Arnagretta Hunter is a consultant physician and cardiologist with skills in medicine, political science and communication. She is an academic and advocate working across clinical practice, health research and advocacy in public policy to address complex challenges particularly relating to climate change. Dr Hunter has worked in health and climate change for years with many public presentations, workshops and policy discussions as well as publishing articles and academic papers.

Dr Hunter is dedicated to understanding the health impacts of climate change, the advantages of working with communities on complex problems and the cobenefits of social change. Dr Hunter won the Sydney Sax medal (AHHA) as chair of Bushfire Impact Working Group in 2020 for contributions to public health in Australia. She has been the Human Futures Fellow at the Australian National University since 2020 and is a Churchill Fellow with work in narrative medicine.

Ms Madison (Casey) Barancewicz was appointed to the Council for her expertise in community engagement.

Ms Madison (Casey) Barancewicz was an active member of the ACT Youth Advisory Council from 2023 to early 2025. From there, she joined various other government and non-government organisations providing consultancy and lived experience knowledge. With her extensive experience in councils and reference groups, Ms Barancewicz has significant knowledge in engaging with the community on a variety of issues. With all her work, her passion lies with addressing climate change through effective mitigation, adaptation and action.

Ms Madison (Casey) Barancewicz was age 18 at the time of appointment to the Council, making her a key connection to the younger population. She is hardworking and motivated to make positive change, winning the Individual Community Service category of the Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Awards in 2024. She also won Young Volunteer of the Year by Volunteering ACT in 2024.

Associate Professor Bec Colvin is a social scientist with the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University. Bec conducts research on the social dimensions of climate policy and energy transition. Her research is focused on understanding the complexity of how different people and groups engage with social, policy, and political conflict about climate and energy issues, particularly through the theoretical lens of the social identity approach. She has explored conflict about wind energy, coal seam gas, coal, and climate policy and energy transition more broadly, in settings ranging from the public sphere through to local communities.

Bec is lead investigator on a 2022-2025 Australian Research Council funded Discovery Project that that seeks to understand the influence of ‘unconventional advocates’ – like farmers, business people, and political conservatives – on public opinion about climate policy, and holds a 2023-2026 Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award that aims to identify ways to establish constructive and community-led dialogue on regional futures in coal-producing areas.

At the Crawford School of Public Policy, Bec teaches courses on the role and practice of communication in climate and environmental policy, quantitative social research methods, independent research on climate policy. She previously served as Co-Convener of the Master of Climate Change and Convenor of the Graduate Certificate of Climate Policy. Bec is a non-executive member of the Board of EnergyCo, which is a statutory authority of the New South Wales Government appointed as infrastructure planner to design and deliver the state’s renewable energy zones and priority transmission infrastructure projects. Bec is on the editorial board of leading journal Environmental Research Letters and is a regular contributor to the media on issues to do with climate and energy.

Dr McFarlane is an Assistant Professor in Public Health, with the Health Research Institute and the Healthy Environments and Lives (HEAL) Global Research Centre at the University of Canberra (UC).

Dr McFarlane specialises in ecosystem services and the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health. She has an association with regional groups including Landcare and Catchment Management Associations, and with local food producers, bringing a practical, on-ground perspective in additional to academic expertise. She has multidisciplinary knowledge and experience in climate change, environment, health and community engagement.

Dr McFarlane lectures for the Master of Public Health and undergraduate courses at UC. She coordinates the ACT HEAL Community of Practice as part of a national network that bring together researchers, policy makers and community leaders aiming to identify evaluate and promote interventions that improve the environment and community health. She has worked with international organisations on multiple projects most recently the Intergovernmental Science Policy Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) assessing evidence and developing methodology to navigate best outcomes for health, climate, food, water and biodiversity.

Stephen Mudford is a Ngunnawal man and Elder, a title of honour bestowed upon him by his family. His Ngunnawal name is Djibin. He is an active member of the Dhawura Ngunnawal Caring for Country Committee (DNCCC), the Multi Hazard Advisory Council (MHAC), and recently joined the ACT Climate Change Council (ACTCCC) as a sitting member.

Stephen has a deep commitment to caring for Country, climate change, and risk management, particularly in relation to activities on Ngunnawal land. He is a strong advocate for traditional fire management methods, promoting and practicing cultural fire techniques that have been used by his ancestors for thousands of years and passed down through generations of Ngunnawal Peoples for over sixty years.

His professional background includes a 36-year career with ActewAGL and its predecessor organisations, prior to his retirement in 2016. During this time, he served the ACT community as a Linesman, Supervisor, and Manager, contributing to the construction, maintenance, and repair of the electricity network across the ACT and parts of NSW. His work included bushfire management in sensitive areas such as National Parks and Nature Reserves, allowing him to care for Country in a practical and meaningful way.

Stephen remains passionate about advocating for the Ngunnawal Peoples and continues to lend his voice through participation in various forums and committees across the ACT.

Dr. Heinz Schandl holds a PhD in Sociology and an MA in Social and Economic Sciences. As a senior science leader at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Canberra, he serves as the director of CSIRO’s Circular Economy Initiative. In this capacity he coordinates circular economy research endeavours.

Beyond his primary role at CSIRO, he is an adjunct professor at the Graduate School of Environmental Studies at Nagoya University in Japan. His affiliations extend to global platforms: he is a member of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) International Resource Panel, an expert member of the UNCRD Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum for Asia and the Pacific, and a past president of the International Society of Industrial Ecology.

At the core of his research are themes like social theory, industrial metabolism, and environmental and sustainability policy. This expertise forms the backbone of his commitment to promoting evidence-based policies focussed on resource efficiency, waste minimization, greenhouse gas abatement, and the principles of the circular economy.

Professor Schirmer is the Director of the University of Canberra’s Centre for Environmental Governance, part of the Faculty of Business, Government and Law. She also leads the WellRes Unit, a team of researchers examining wellbeing and resilience of Australia’s communities, and is Chair of the UC Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Research Network.

Jacki's research in recent years has focused on understanding wellbeing, resilience and recovery amongst communities experiencing cumulative extreme weather events and disasters, including drought, examining how to support climate change adaptation and resilience, and understanding the social acceptability and impacts of environmental and climate change-related policy and practice.

Within the ACT, Jacki leads the Living well in the ACT region survey, which tracks wellbeing and resilience of ACT residents as is used to inform the ACT Wellbeing Framework. She has also led the 2018 and 2023 Living well in the ACT with a changing climate studies which examined resilience of ACT residents to climate change.

Since 2013, her team have conducted the Regional Wellbeing Survey, an annual survey examining the views of 15,000 rural, regional and urban Australians about the liveability and resilience of their community, and their own wellbeing and resilience.

Dean Spaccavento is a prominent innovator in Australia's energy landscape and a cofounder and the CEO of Reposit Power. Under his leadership, Reposit Power has pioneered Grid Services participation from Consumer Energy Resources empowering and incentivising households to directly contribute to a more resilient, decarbonised grid. His groundbreaking work directly addresses the critical challenge of integrating Consumer Energy Resources into the national electricity market, enabling the transition to a sustainable energy future and showcasing Canberra's leadership in renewables, electrification and electricity storage.

Beyond his entrepreneurial work, Dean is a recognised leader in Consumer Energy Resource (CER) policy and regulation, bringing extensive experience from his involvement in shaping the future of distributed energy. This includes his role as Co-Chair of the Technology Council of Australia's Consumer Energy Technology Council. Driven by a deep commitment to climate action and the transformative power of technology, Dean is eager to contribute his comprehensive expertise in energy innovation, grid integration, CER policy leadership, and practical decarbonisation strategies to the Council's vital work, collaborating with fellow members and the broader community to solidify the ACT's position as a national and global leader in sustainable energy and climate resilience for future generations.