This June, we partnered with leading experts to bring to you two informative webinar sessions on Planetary Health. These sessions will be delivered via Zoom and is open to everyone to join. Registration details are located under each webinar.
Participants will be able to submit questions prior to each seminar to the relevant speakers or ask them during the presentation.
Planetary Health: What is it, and what does it mean for me?
Join Professor Karin Leder and Professor Jane Fisher AO to explore the principles of Planetary Health and the relevance of this framing for human health and wellbeing. Professor Karin Leder and Professor Jane Fisher AO will also discuss the intersection between Planetary Health and mental health, and will briefly highlight some of the current relevant projects that the Planetary Health Division at SPHPM is involved in.
Event Details: Time: 1:00-2:00pm AEST (11:00am - 12:00pm Malaysia Time) Date: Thursday 9 June 2022
Professor Karin Leder is an infectious diseases physician, Head of the Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Unit in the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Monash University, and Head of Travel Medicine and Immigrant Health Services at the Victorian Infectious Disease Service, Royal Melbourne Hospital. She is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, has a Masters of Public Health (Harvard University) and a PhD (Monash University, received Vice-Chancellor’s commendation for doctoral thesis excellence). She holds a NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship (2019 – 2023).
Prof Leder is involved in diverse areas of clinical and public health infectious disease research. Major foci of work include risks of infections from exposure to contaminated environments and unsafe water, factors associated with spread of infections across international borders, global surveillance of health risks associated with travel, tropical medicine, vaccination and prevention of infections, research design, and public health assessment.
Jane Fisher, Professor of Global Health, is Director of Global and Women’s Health and Head, Co-Director Planetary Health Division, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. She is an academic Clinical and Health Psychologist with longstanding interests in the social determinants of health, and healthcare participation. Her research has focused on gender-based risks to mental health and psychological functioning from adolescence to mid-life, in particular related to fertility, conception, pregnancy, the perinatal period and chronic non-communicable diseases; and on parenting capabilities and early childhood development in low- and high-income settings. She has completed major epidemiological studies in clinical and community settings in Australia, Vietnam and Nepal, nationally funded intervention trials, and has supervised more than 50 research higher degree and postgraduate coursework candidates to completion. She is an expert technical advisor to international agencies including the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the United Nations Population Fund.
Planetary Health: A step into the future
Planetary health recognises that human health and the health of our planet are inextricably linked. Climate change is the single biggest global challenge humanity is facing, and the COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the health inequities in our world. Urgent action and attention is required to create societies focused on wellbeing and sustainability without breaching ecological limits.
Join Chief Medical Officer A/Prof Vicki Ashton, Sustainable Development Planner Dr Kendra Wasiluk and Sustainability Coordinator Shane French to take a closer look at what Monash is doing to respond to climate change and foster thriving communities for a healthier future.
Event details: Time: 1:00 - 2:00pm AEST (11:00am - 12:00pm Malaysia Time) Date: Thursday 16th June 2022
A/P Vicki Ashton is Chief Medical Officer and Occupational Health Physician at Monash University and heads up the Health and Wellbeing Team as part of Health in OHS. Her specialist team has been nationally and globally recognized for its Workplace Health and Wellbeing strategy which has seen the introduction of innovative programs maximizing health and wellbeing for staff and the broader Monash community. She is passionate about the effects and interdependence of health and work, particularly utilising the workplace for raising awareness of the current day health impacts, enabling our community to be supported to make healthy choices to assist them to flourish and thrive at work and study. In addition, she has lectured on Occupational and Environmental Medicine and served on numerous working groups related to the practice of preventive medicine in workplace settings. Vicki sees the holistic occupational health model as key to integrating workplace, personal and psychological factors to have a positive influence on health and safety.
Mr. Shane French is a sustainability educator and enabler with a Masters degree focussed in Sustainability and Environment from Monash University, and twenty years developing, leading and delivering sustainability programs to Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, community and professional audiences. He is highly skilled in environmental awareness, education and action, community engagement and training, and corporate social responsibility.
Kendra has over 20 years of combined industry, government and academic experience as a sustainability specialist in the built environment sector. As the Sustainable Development Planner in the Buildings and Property Division of Monash University, she leads the development and delivery of the University’s Sustainability Strategy. Kendra’s expertise and experience in renewable energy focuses on the client-side, including developing net zero implementation plans, business case development, low carbon financing and procurement of renewable energy. She was project lead on Monash University’s Power Purchase Agreement with the Murra Warra Wind Farm. Kendra is often asked to share her experience on PPA procurement and implementation with other corporate buyers and stakeholder groups.
How our dietary choices can affect planetary health
We can no longer deny that climate change is changing our world - and that includes food production and distribution. What we choose to eat has profound effects not only on our own health but also on the health of our fellow citizens and that of the planet itself. Changes are essential – and possible. Sadly, some with short-term interests may sabotage many of the changes required.
Join Dr Rosemary Stanton OAM to look at the dietary changes needed, the practicalities of change and the need to tackle those who oppose change.
Event Details: Time: 1:00-2:00pm AEST (11:00am - 12:00pm Malaysia Time) Date: Thursday 23 June 2022
Dr Rosemary Stanton OAM is a public health nutritionist and currently a Senior Visiting Fellow in the School of Medical Sciences at UNSW. She was awarded an Order of Australia for her contributions to public health through nutrition and was a member of the expert group working on the 2013 Dietary Guidelines and the Infant Feeding Guidelines. Rosemary has authored many scientific papers, 32 books and over 3,500 articles for the popular press. Rosemary wants us all to think more about our food – where it comes from, how to grow or prepare it, how it affects our health and how our choices impinge on climate change. She maintains a close liaison with the Australian public and has been regarded by the media for over 55 years as a source of reliable nutrition information.
Acts of Connection
Running from March through to October, ACTS delivers a range of sustainability themed “acts” – be they engagement events, activities, shared learning opportunities, competitions or networking events – aimed at connecting a community of passionate individuals who want to learn more about sustainability and find out what they can do to help make the world a better place!
As a Monash staff, you get access to a wide range of exciting activities each month. Check out the Green Impact calendar to register for upcoming events.