Greenfluence

And for the final guest of the season, introducing Deen Rad! A Macquarie University Alumni, Deen is on a mission to ensure that his career combines passion, purpose, and profit, and aims to use his knowledge and skills in finance to change the world for the better. The first episode of our 2-part interview chronicles his past experience. Going into depth with how his extracurricular activities shaped his career choices and shed light on the highly progressive family-focused culture at Macquarie Group.

We hope this leaves you wanting more, but have no fear part 2 is near!

[00:00] Introduction

[01:33] What got you into finance?

[08:55] How have your extracurricular experiences helped shape your future career path?

[13:45] How did you discover a passion for measuring impact and ESG’s?

[17:52] Shoutout to Prashan Karunaratne and Macquarie University’s newly introduced Capstone Unit

[18:42] Deen’s early corporate experiences and how it impacted his view of finance

[23:05] Deen’s advice for university students, and unpaid internships

[24:38] His experience with Macquarie Group

[29:50] His experience with PwC

[34:23] In your opinion, which sectors are making the most impact? How can we encourage large corporations to focus on purpose?

[38:57] How did you end up as the Chief Financial Officer for the John Mac Foundation?

[44:32] Conclusion

Deen’s Links

https://www.linkedin.com/in/deen-rad/

As we head closer to the end of season 1, we can say that the the finish line is definitely within sight! This week we speak with Professor Tom Smith, the Head of the Department of Applied Finance at Macquarie University, as well as a member of the Centre for Corporate Sustainability and Environmental Finance. In this episode, we gain a deeper understanding of the work undertaken by the Centre for Corporate Sustainability and Environmental Finance, as well as Professor Smith’s observation of the integration and intersection between the financial industry with contemporary ESG concerns.

Tune into this episode to gain a deeper understanding into the future of finance, and the industry’s attempt to assign a dollar value to sustainability.

Timestamps

[00:00] Introduction

[02:02] Working for the Centre of Corporate Sustainability and Environmental Finance

[04:15] The evolution of finance into sustainability and ESG

[06:32] Integrating ESG with finance theory and how can we get standardisation in the industry?

[09:40] Background on the global environmental crisis and how can we apply the Rockstrom Planetary Boundaries to preserve the planet?

[12:50] Findings or frameworks relating to the social side of ESG

[17:30] Frameworks Australia should adopt to transition into an economy powered by clean energy

[27:50] Effectiveness of a $1 billion grant towards assisting the clean energy transition, or carbon taxes and other strategies

[31:23] Why is Australia trailing behind in the race towards transitioning into clean energy?

[38:39] Opportunities for graduates in clean energy

[43:37] Speed round!

[53:27] Outro

Professor Tom Smith’s Links

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-smith-6802059/

Centre of Corporate and Sustainability and Environmental Finance: https://www.mq.edu.au/research/research-centres-groups-and-facilities/centres/centre-for-corporate-sustainability-and-environmental-finance

We bring you a special conversation with the Principal Commercial of Fortescue Future Industries! If you haven't heard, they are the Australian leader in Green Hydrogen innovation. Tamahra Kierath discusses her career change from commercial law into mining, as well as why green hydrogen is the way of the future energy industry! 

Dive deeper into understanding the commercialisation of green hydrogen, including why it is preferable over batteries and electric power, and what this means for the future of energy and power. 

[00:00] Introduction

[00:58] Career journey, the energy and mining industry, Fortescue and the green hydrogen industry

[08:08] About Fortescue Future Industries (FFI)

[09:46] Why green hydrogen?

[12:53] What is green hydrogen? What are the other “colours of the rainbow hydrogen”?

[15:24] The technology needed to make green hydrogen commercially viable

[18:12] Green hydrogen in residential and domestic settings

[20:30] Climate, politics, and the Coalition for Conservation

[23:00] Australia’s climate change policy challenges, and how this affects FFI

[27:30] Why not transition to blue hydrogen before jumping to green hydrogen? What is the key ingredient to making green hydrogen commercially viable from a cost perspective?

[34:15] Speed round!

[36:21] Outro

Not many of us have the time or technical background to interpret scientific data about climate change. That’s where data visualisation comes in! In this episode, Harim Jung, a climate change data visualisation expert, chats with us about it. She also shares with us why ‘grit’ is her favourite work and her insights on the future of nuclear energy!

Timestamps:

[2:09] The Power of Grit

[5:01] Sustainability and Climate Change in South Korea

[8:55] How Data Visualisation Helps Us Understand Climate Change

[10:12] The Future of Nuclear Energy and Renewables

[12:45] Harim’s Professional Background and Impacts

[16:54] Experiences of the International Atomic Energy Agency

[20:15] How to Encourage Renewable Practices

[24:12] Work at Seabury Solutions

[27:00] How to Work in Climate Change with an Engineering Background

[29:54] Motivation Behind Greenfluence

[32:42] Data Skills and Software to Upskill

[36:27] Book Recommendation

[36:46] Advice for Younger Self

[37:07] Keeping Governments Accountable

[38:00] Getting Involved

[39:00] Three Wishes for the Planet

Harim’s Links

Greenfluence Links

Please get in touch and If you’d like to be in the know about future episodes please subscribe to wherever you get your podcasts!

In today's episode we speak to Laure Legros, Program Manager at Work for Climate and Country Lead & Facilitator at Climate Fresk. Laure talked to us about her journey in getting into the climate change space, barriers in the sustainability space, renewable energy and importantly how individuals can create climate action within their companies! Be sure to listen and get ready to feel empowered! 

We speak to Shane Nichols, the CEO of Good Return. You will learn about the power of microfinance loans in making a macro impact and eradicating poverty [14:00]. Shane also discusses a vision for an inclusive financial system  [22:00] and how to invest with the purpose of making an impact [34:00].

Meet Shane Nichols

Good Return is a non-profit which works to break the cycle of poverty through access to responsible finance. Shane's experience in microfinance and enterprise development spans two decades, having worked with dozens of financial service providers and social enterprises across the Asia Pacific region. Prior to joining Good Return, Shane worked on rural and economic development programs in China and Mongolia for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He also serves as Non-Executive Director of the Australian Council for International Development, and Palmera Projects.

Quick Links

Chapters

[4:00] Career journey in government, non-profit and microfinance sector

[9:00] Eye-opening experience working in Asia

[14:00] Becoming the CEO of Good Return

[17:00] What is microfinance?

[22:00] Vision for an inclusive financial system

[28:00] The Good Return Impact Investment Fund

[34:00] What is impact investing?

[40:00] Book recommendation "Impact"

[41:00] Advice to younger self

[42:00] Being a responsible Board Member

Learn about what responsible investing, donuts and Oxford University have in common in this interview with our good friend and Greenfluencer, Tom Bunting. Tom speaks to us about finding a fulfilling career in sustainability, introduces the concept of responsible investing and tells us why donuts are so important to the growth of our planet!

While studying at Macquarie University, Tom worked in a number of professional services roles. Starting as a forensic analyst at BDO, where he took part in fraud and corruption investigations, before diving into the sustainable finance sector. Although he has only been in the space for a short while, he has already gained a breadth of experience. From working in operations at one of Australia’s largest ethical financial planning practices to the Responsible Investment Association Australasia or RIAA for short, he has engaged some of Australia’s most prominent companies and asset managers on important issues in ESG and sustainability. Tom studied a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) and Bachelor of Applied Finance, and has just landed in the UK to study a Masters of Science in Environmental Change and Management at the University of Oxford.

From meeting in an Applied Finance class over at Summer school, entering the corporate world, to what sparked our interest in building Greenfluence - this is our story. Get an insight from Maya Valentin and Vis Vythilingam (Greenfluence Co-founders) on what you’ll learn from the podcast, our thoughts on sustainable finance and some exciting plans for this community. Listen and become an influencer today!

Be one of our first members and join our community here:

1) LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13989440/  

2) LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/greenfluence-aus 

3) Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GreenfluenceAus

We are two Gen Z’s with a passion for learning about all aspects of sustainability, responsible investing and climate change so we can are equipped to create a better future. As professionals with corporate careers, we find intersects on how our applied finance, consulting and legal backgrounds can be applied to pursue planet positive outcomes. We want you to be a Greenfluencer! Learn more about what we're doing and how YOU can get involved! 

Be one of our first members and join our community here:

1) LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13989440/

2) LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/greenfluence-aus

3) Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GreenfluenceAus