Join our 3 panelists as they discuss the all important issue of sustainable transport in Tasmania. 

Peter Newman is the Professor of Sustainability at Curtin University. Peter has written 23 books and over 400 papers on sustainable cities and decarbonization policy. He created the term automobile dependence in the 1980’s which is now standard terminology in urban planning and his book with Jeff Kenworthy has been called ‘one of the most influential planning books of all time’. Peter has worked to deliver his ideas in all levels of government having been an elected councillor, seconded to advise three Premiers in Western Australia (1986, 1989, 2001-3) and on the Board of Infrastructure Australia 2008-14. He has been involved in IPCC for twelve years and is presently the Co-ordinating Lead Author for the IPCC on Transport. In 2014 he was awarded an Order of Australia for his contributions to urban design and sustainable transport. In 2018/19 he was the Western Australian Scientist of the Year.

Rachel Hay is a researcher, writer and climate activist in lutruwita/Tasmania, working as a Research and Projects Officer at Australia reMADE. As a member of Climate Tasmania, she recently released a paper calling for the Tasmanian Government to increase electric vehicle, public transport and active transport uptake to reduce our carbon emissions. She’s worked on the development of Tasmania’s Climate Change Act at the Australia Institute Tasmania, convinced UTAS to divest $10 million from fossil fuels and given advice on carbon markets at the UNFCCC’s COP25.

Anton Vikstrom started the Good Car Company with 2 other environmental scientists with the goal of creating a cleaner, safer and healthier Australia. As three environmental scientists, they are unlikely founders of a car business...but desperate times call for desperate measures. They felt terrible about every puff of smoke from our cars that was contributing to the climate crisis. They recognised the importance of switching to electric vehicles (EVs), but there were no affordable options available. So they imported one! They then worked with our community to create the worlds first community electric vehicle bulk-buy. We are now delivering hundreds of cars all around Australia.

We look forward to presenting our next Food For Thought!