Larissa Brown spearheading sustainability leadership

Larissa Brown is a climate change researcher and strategist specializing in public opinion, politics and social movements. With a Bachelor of Environmental Science degree from the University of Melbourne, a Masters in Politics and Communications from the London School of Economics, Larissa Brown is currently completing a Masters in Sustainability Leadership at the University of Cambridge in the UK.

At the age of 24 when most of us were still working out what we wanted to do with our lives, Larissa Brown founded the Centre for Sustainability Leadership and was a member of Environment Victoria’s board. The Centre she founded is now a registered not-for-profit group that works with more than 100 volunteers. Based in an office in Melbourne, the Centre boasts a working partnership with the United Nations.

The Centre is an impressive hub of activity, as it also runs the Future Sustainability Leaders program. This practical-based program takes a group of young Victorians who demonstrate leadership potential and mentors them to spearhead efforts to create a more sustainable world. Working as a team, the program’s participants analyse the root causes of pressing sustainability challenges and explore lateral solutions. Guest lecturers share the secrets of their success, and students harness these insights to create and manage innovative projects for cultural and behavioural change.

The inspiring Larissa Brown has won so many awards for her work, research and leadership that it’s hard to know where to start. The Age Magazine named her as one of Melbourne’s 100 Most Influential People and one of Melbourne’s Ten Most Influential Environmentalists in 2007. She was awarded the 2009 Australian Geographic Young Environmentalist of the Year award, the 2006 British Council award for Communicating Climate Change and the 2006 Brian Robinson Fellowship. Larissa has also participated in the United Nations climate negotiations in both Bail and Copenhagen. She is a member of the Ministers Reference Council on Climate Change Adaptation, which advises the Victorian State Environment Minister, and participated in the Prime Minister’s 2020 Summit in 2008.

In 2010, Larissa Brown was asked by the Governor General of Australia, Quentin Bryce to accompany her to China on a trip to Beijing and Shanghai as an ambassador for Australia. This included speaking a several forums including Beijing University about women’s empowerment. Today finds Larissa is studying for her Masters (Sustainability Leadership) at the University of Cambridge in the UK. The future is looking that little bit brighter with Larissa leading the charge and setting an example for sustainability leadership.