About

For 20 years, Charlotte has been a passionate advocate for climate and environmental justice here in Australia and overseas. She is recognised globally for her work supporting local communities in the Asia-Pacific region build their resilience to climate change. She has published extensively on the importance of community-based approaches to development.

As the Yarra Riverkeeper, Charlotte brings her many talents working with grassroots organisations, non-governmental organisations and government to advocate for the Yarra/Birrarung to be healthy, protected and loved. She says its her dream job!

Charlotte lives by the river in Warrandyte and takes every opportunity to swim and canoe in the Yarra/Birrarung. She also loves paddling other rivers in Victoria (she has a special fondness for the Mitchell River from her outdoor education days taking children rafting down the largest of Victoria’s wild rivers). Charlotte sees the Yarra/Birrarung as the lifeblood of Melbourne and a perfect place to place to connect to nature. Part of her motivation of working as the Yarra Riverkeeper is to encourage people to be more connected to the river and to respect it as a living entity with rights of its own.

“Swimming in the Birrarung is a wonderful experience that everyone should have. One day I hope we can swim along its’s whole length – all the way to Port Melbourne – how glorious that would be.”