September 26, 2023

Get to know our CEO: Amanda McKenzie

Amanda is a prominent Australian environmental leader and one of the best known public commentators on the climate crisis in Australia.

Back in 2013, she worked with Professor Tim Flannery at the Climate Commission. With support from some of Australia’s leading scientists, she co-founded the 100% independent and people-backed Climate Council. It was Australia’s largest crowdfunding campaign at the time. Amanda has led the organisation as its CEO for the last 10 years.

She also co-founded the Australian Youth Climate Coalition and has served on renewable energy expert panels for the Queensland and Northern Territory Governments.

Amanda was the founding Chair of the Centre for Australian Progress and is a former Board Director at Plan International Australia and the Whitlam Institute. She holds an Honours degree in Law from Monash University and an Arts Degree from Melbourne University.

Amanda has won numerous awards including being recognised as one of Westpac’s 100 Women of Influence and a finalist in the Telstra Young Business Woman of the Year Awards.

She lives in Melbourne with her young son and daughter and her partner, Sam.

Listen to Amanda’s discussion on SpinProof podcast:

Hear Amanda on The Briefing Podcast discussing why our decisions matter here:

Hear Amanda’s latest discussion with Dr Susan Carland on Monash Uni’s “What Happens Next?” podcast:

Listen to Amanda’s interview on the ChangeMakers podcast:

Find more on Amanda’s work at the Climate Council here.

Awards and Honours:

Finalist – Non-For-Profit Executive of the Year – CEO Magazine Awards, 2023
Leadership Award – University of Melbourne Arts Alumni Awards, 2023
Sunday Life’s Trailblazers: 25 women reshaping Australia – Sunday Life Magazine, 2022
Finalist – CEO of the Year – Banksia Sustainability Awards, 2015
100 Women of Influence – Westpac and Australian Financial Review, 2014
Trailblazer Award – Foundation for Young Australians, 2014
Instyle Magazine, Women of Style Award, Finalist – Instyle Magazine, 2011
Telstra Young Business Women of the Year Award, Finalist – Telstra, 2011
Cosmopolitan Young Fearless Female Award, Finalist – Cosmopolitan Magazine, 2010
Future Leadership Award, Australian Davos Connection – Australian Davos Connection, 2010
Monash University Distinguished Young Alumni – Monash University, 2010
Sydney Magazine’s Top 100 Influential people. – Sydney Magazine, Fairfax, 2009
Young Environmentalist of the Year – Banksia Foundation, 2009
Rising Star, Nature Conservation Council of NSW – Nature Conservation Council of NSW, 2008
Rotary Young Achiever of the Year – Rotary, 2008