Sarah Furnell
Sarah Furnell is a Circular Economy Officer at Brimbank City Council. She led the delivery of Brimbank’s Soft Plastics Initiative – Circular Contract in partnership with Close the Loop, a Melbourne Metro first that ensures collected soft plastics are processed into an asphalt additive and reused in Brimbank’s local roads. This initiative demonstrates how councils […]
Susanne Etti
Saina Mirpuri, year 9 student of Huntingtower School, is a courageous, fun loving and passionate person who loves travelling, food and music. During the pandemic she connected online and read to disadvantaged children in her hometown in India through an NGO called Pudiyador, fostering a connection across borders. Saina believes these opportunities helped her reflect on the values that are important to her and have since become second nature. It also enabled her to contribute positively in a simple yet impactful manner whilst making new friends and connections. In 2024, Saina got the opportunity to travel to Kenya, Africa and work with Stand Up Shout Out (SUSO), an NGO focused on youth empowerment, community development and wildlife conservation wherein she led the ‘Gen Green’ project that involved setting up a mangrove nursery in Mombasa and engaging students in a restoration initiative in Amboseli. This journey left an indelible mark on her, reaffirming her commitment to sustainability and the belief that small actions can lead to significant impacts.
Besides academia, Saina actively pursues several extra-curricular activities such as playing the piano, rowing, public speaking, and learning French amongst others. She continues to strive to learn, teach and bring people along the mission of raising awareness through education, incorporating eco-friendly choices into our lives and helping our community come together.
Cip Hamilton
Saina Mirpuri, year 9 student of Huntingtower School, is a courageous, fun loving and passionate person who loves travelling, food and music. During the pandemic she connected online and read to disadvantaged children in her hometown in India through an NGO called Pudiyador, fostering a connection across borders. Saina believes these opportunities helped her reflect on the values that are important to her and have since become second nature. It also enabled her to contribute positively in a simple yet impactful manner whilst making new friends and connections. In 2024, Saina got the opportunity to travel to Kenya, Africa and work with Stand Up Shout Out (SUSO), an NGO focused on youth empowerment, community development and wildlife conservation wherein she led the ‘Gen Green’ project that involved setting up a mangrove nursery in Mombasa and engaging students in a restoration initiative in Amboseli. This journey left an indelible mark on her, reaffirming her commitment to sustainability and the belief that small actions can lead to significant impacts.
Besides academia, Saina actively pursues several extra-curricular activities such as playing the piano, rowing, public speaking, and learning French amongst others. She continues to strive to learn, teach and bring people along the mission of raising awareness through education, incorporating eco-friendly choices into our lives and helping our community come together.
Felix Toohey
Since the age of 15, Felix has applied his skills in art and design to support businesses and individuals in communicating their values sustainably. In 2023, while completing a Bachelor of Communication Design, he became a founding member of ZeroTag, a project that was recognised with a Good Design Award. Felix is now focused on […]
Clancy Lester
Clancy Lester is an environmental educator, and passionate about biodiversity, sustainability, and finding hopeful ways to act on climate. He is the founder of BeesAndBlossoms.Aus, which creates native bee hotels from recycled and sustainable materials and runs hands-on workshops that bring people together to learn, share, and make change. Through these projects, Clancy has helped thousands of people discover the joy of native pollinators, while also sparking conversations about how our small actions add up as a collective, and needing to work towards a greater goal of calling on change makers.
With a background in pollinator research and a love of storytelling, Clancy works at the intersection of science, culture, and community. As a Wattle Fellow at the University of Melbourne, and an ABC trailblazer Clancy believes that by starting local and celebrating nature, everyone can play a role in building a brighter, more sustainable future.
Max Moolman
Challenging conventions excites Max Moolman, especially when it comes to questioning the wastefulness of perfectly edible produce. Growing up on his Italian grandparents’ winery, where nothing went to waste and grapes were stomped by foot, he learned early the value of resourcefulness. While studying engineering and finance, Max joined the Monash Fastrack Program, spending 12 months researching food waste and exploring what students could realistically do to make a dent in the problem. The result was Wonki — a venture making “imperfect” produce premium through seasonal vodka sodas that save 2.75kg of funny-looking fruit per case.
Wonki works exclusively with local farmers, distillers, and makers, keeping production hyper-local to maximise impact and minimise footprint. Within six months of launch, the drinks were on shelves at BWS and Dan Murphy’s across Melbourne. For Max, Wonki is more than a beverage — it’s a movement to challenge beauty standards, reduce waste, and celebrate the delicious potential of produce that might otherwise be lost.
Gabrielle McKeown
Gabrielle has spent the past three years at the Richmond Football Club, playing a key role in delivering the club’s Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan, as well as driving initiatives within its Environmental Sustainability Action Plan. She also leads the club’s relationship with AFL Victoria, ensuring schools and community groups have valuable opportunities to connect with players and engage with the game. Passionate about creating positive impact both on and off the field, Gab brings a strong sense of purpose to her work. Outside the club, she loves spending time outdoors and often returns to the Surf Coast, where her upbringing sparked a deep and lasting commitment to sustainability.
Thomas Fox
Thom Fox is Repurpose It’s Education and Communications Specialist.
He has worked in the environmental education space for 15 years. His environmental engagement work has included working in and out of the school system (primary, secondary, and alternative spaces), local governments, NGOs like CERES, Phillip Island Nature Parks, and Zoos Victoria with a strong emphasis on organics recycling. Thom joined Repurpose It to highlight the intersection between community, industry, governmental bodies to strive towards positive environmental, social, and economical outcomes.
Zavi Fatima
Zavi is a Merribek resident who is a volunteer member of Merri-Back Council’s Sustainable Communities Working Group .She has not only provided productive feedback as a community member but also taken practical steps towards zero waste by getting solar panels fixed & EV & also upgrading & using appliances wisely to optimize the usage of clean energy.
Saina Mirpuri
Saina Mirpuri, year 9 student of Huntingtower School, is a courageous, fun loving and passionate person who loves travelling, food and music. During the pandemic she connected online and read to disadvantaged children in her hometown in India through an NGO called Pudiyador, fostering a connection across borders. Saina believes these opportunities helped her reflect on the values that are important to her and have since become second nature. It also enabled her to contribute positively in a simple yet impactful manner whilst making new friends and connections. In 2024, Saina got the opportunity to travel to Kenya, Africa and work with Stand Up Shout Out (SUSO), an NGO focused on youth empowerment, community development and wildlife conservation wherein she led the ‘Gen Green’ project that involved setting up a mangrove nursery in Mombasa and engaging students in a restoration initiative in Amboseli. This journey left an indelible mark on her, reaffirming her commitment to sustainability and the belief that small actions can lead to significant impacts.
Besides academia, Saina actively pursues several extra-curricular activities such as playing the piano, rowing, public speaking, and learning French amongst others. She continues to strive to learn, teach and bring people along the mission of raising awareness through education, incorporating eco-friendly choices into our lives and helping our community come together.