Impact in the ACT

In this episode, Chelsea and Jemma interview proud Dunghutti woman and YWCA Canberra Board President Tahlia Burgoyne-Thorek about her impact journey and her work across government and industry. They also discuss her leadership in women's and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs, and hear her insights on the important roles young and emerging leaders play in shaping the Canberra community.  Music by Ievgen Poltavskyi.Tahlia Burgoyne-Thorek is a proud Dunghutti woman, who was born and raised on Wiradjuri land in Bathurst, New South Wales. After relocating to Canberra, Tahlia began work in consulting; specialising in digital transformations with a focus on organisational and behavioural change management. Tahlia has worked across a number of industries including Indigenous affairs, healthcare and Defence and National Security. Her passion for diversity and inclusion is underpinned by her background in human resources and she has led and participated in many committees and workplaces particularly focusing on the next generation of First Nations women and non-binary individuals in the STEM workforce.Chelsea Adams is from South Australia and recently moved to Canberra to study Law, International Relations (Asia Pacific Security Studies) and Indonesian at the Australian National University. She has strong interests in tech governance, climate change mitigation and the health system which she explores principally through her position as a UNICEF Australia Young Ambassador. Chelsea works as a programs and events officer and has a professional background in regulation. Chelsea is also a volunteer Cali Dance coach and participant.Jemma Rule is passionate about empowering diverse young Australians to engage in decision-making for a fairer, more just future. Currently, she works in government while studying for a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) / Pacific Studies at the Australian National University. Her professional experience spans international, federal and state levels, government and the not-for-profit sector, focussing on policy, advocacy and strategy. She is the acting Curator of the Canberra Hub and has been a member of the Global Shapers Community since 2024. Special thanks to Tahlia for being a guest on our podcast, Impact in the ACT project group members Arkie and Shaam for their input on the direction of the podcast, and the Global Shapers Canberra Hub for supporting this initiative. Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast episode are those of the podcast host and guest and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Global Shapers Canberra Hub or the World Economic Forum.

In this episode, Jemma Rule interviews Duty of Care campaigner Hannah Vardy on her impact journey, her experiences in environmental leadership, and her advice for anyone looking to get involved in climate or youth policy and advocacy.Hannah Vardy is an ANU student studying Law, Climate Science and Biology. She has been a member of the Canberra Shapers since 2022. Since mid-2023, she has volunteered on the Duty of Care campaign, which aims to enshrine in legislation a duty for governments to consider the health and wellbeing of young people and future generations when making decisions about projects that could worsen climate change. She has also coordinated youth climate action groups for several years, combining a passion for science, climate action and evidence-based policy, and is constantly inspired by the passion and tenacity that young people bring to campaigning for a better future. She also ran for the Senate alongside Senator David Pocock at this year’s Federal election.Jemma Rule is passionate about empowering diverse young Australians to engage in decision-making for a fairer, more just future. Currently, she is in her third year, studying for a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) / Pacific Studies at the Australian National University. Her professional experience spans international, federal and state levels, government and the not-for-profit sector, focussing on policy, advocacy and strategy. She has been a member of Global Shapers since March 2024 and serves as Vice Curator of the Canberra Hub for 2025-26.Music by Ievgen Poltavskyi from Pixabay.Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast episode are those of the podcast guest and/or host and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Global Shapers Canberra Hub or the World Economic Forum.Enjoyed today's episode? Be sure to follow the Canberra Hub on social media to stay up to date with our upcoming projects and events. We’d also love to hear from you – feel free to comment below or reach out with your suggestions for future guests or topics you’d like us to explore.