Amanda is a prominent Australian environmental leader and one of the best known public commentators on the climate crisis in Australia.
Back in 2013, she worked with Professor Tim Flannery at the Climate Commission. With support from some of Australia’s leading scientists, she co-founded the 100% independent and people-backed Climate Council. It was Australia’s largest crowdfunding campaign at the time. Amanda has led the organisation as its CEO for the last 10 years.
She also co-founded the Australian Youth Climate Coalition and has served on renewable energy expert panels for the Queensland and Northern Territory Governments.
Amanda was the founding Chair of the Centre for Australian Progress and is a former Board Director at Plan International Australia and the Whitlam Institute. She holds an Honours degree in Law from Monash University and an Arts Degree from Melbourne University.
Amanda has won numerous awards including being recognised as one of Westpac’s 100 Women of Influence and a finalist in the Telstra Young Business Woman of the Year Awards.
She lives in Melbourne with her young son and daughter and her partner, Sam.
Listen to Amanda’s discussion on SpinProof podcast:
Hear Amanda on The Briefing Podcast discussing why our decisions matter here:
Hear Amanda’s latest discussion with Dr Susan Carland on Monash Uni’s “What Happens Next?” podcast:
Listen to Amanda’s interview on the ChangeMakers podcast:
Find more on Amanda’s work at the Climate Council here.
Awards and Honours:
- Finalist – Non-For-Profit Executive of the Year – CEO Magazine Awards, 2023
- Leadership Award – University of Melbourne Arts Alumni Awards, 2023
- Sunday Life’s Trailblazers: 25 women reshaping Australia – Sunday Life Magazine, 2022
- Finalist – CEO of the Year – Banksia Sustainability Awards, 2015
- 100 Women of Influence – Westpac and Australian Financial Review, 2014
- Trailblazer Award – Foundation for Young Australians, 2014
- Instyle Magazine, Women of Style Award, Finalist – Instyle Magazine, 2011
- Telstra Young Business Women of the Year Award, Finalist – Telstra, 2011
- Cosmopolitan Young Fearless Female Award, Finalist – Cosmopolitan Magazine, 2010
- Future Leadership Award, Australian Davos Connection – Australian Davos Connection, 2010
- Monash University Distinguished Young Alumni – Monash University, 2010
- Sydney Magazine’s Top 100 Influential people. – Sydney Magazine, Fairfax, 2009
- Young Environmentalist of the Year – Banksia Foundation, 2009
- Rising Star, Nature Conservation Council of NSW – Nature Conservation Council of NSW, 2008
- Rotary Young Achiever of the Year – Rotary, 2008
Recent Media:
- What a difference a decade makes – Opinion piece in Woman’s Agenda
- Changemaker Chats: Amanda McKenzie – Changemakers Podcast
- International Women’s Day 2023: Inspiring Leaders – Sydney Morning Herald
- Sunday Life Trailblazers: 25 women reshaping Australia – Sunday Life Magazine
- VIDEO: Climate change a decisive factor in the federal election: Climate Council – ABC News Breakfast
- AWE Conversation – Amanda McKenzie and Lesley Hughes, Climate Council – Australian Women in Emergencies Network
- ABC News with Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie, Climate Council – ABC News
- Meet Amanda McKenzie, CEO of the Climate Council: ‘We can’t wait for politicians to solve this’ – Women’s Agenda
- Women of Note: Amanda McKenzie – Tilly Money
- Driving evidence-based conversation on climate action – Monash Life
- Amanda talks extreme weather on the Daily Edition – The Daily Edition
- Our founding story – ABC TV’s ‘One Plus One’
- Interview with Climate Council CEO Amanda Mckenzie – Envirence Radio
Other relevant work:
- Blackbird Impact Summit: Opening keynote – Blackbird Impact
- Women Who Lead: climate warriors – CEDA
- Amanda McKenzie Interviews with the Hon. Chris Bowen MP – Climate Council Webinar
- The science of emissions and how we can raise our climate change ambition – Impact X
- In Conversation with Jon Faine & Amanda McKenzie – Monash University Law
- Amanda McKenzie Interview 2022 Online-A-Thon – Climate for Change
- Red Cross Oration presented by Amanda McKenzie – Australian Red Cross
- Amanda McKenzie speaks at Power Shift 2013 – Australian Youth Climate Coalition
- Amanda McKenzie – Empowering Youth to Act on Climate Change – TEDx Melbourne
Find Amanda on socials:
Linkedin — Twitter — Instagram
