This recording is from The City Transformed: Urban life at the end of the world as we know it – Green Institute Conference 2023, specifically the keynote speech for the close of day one by Professor Susan Harris Rimmer discussing “Cruel Summer: Extreme Heat and Human Rights in Australian Cities” with an introduction and Facilitation by Emma Bacon, Sweltering Cities.

Professor Susan Harris Rimmer

Professor Susan Harris Rimmer is the Director of the Griffith University Policy Innovation Hub which bring together academia with public purpose actors. Sue works at the intersection of human rights and politics and is interested in gender dynamics in transitions. She is a member of the Law Futures Centre and the Griffith Asia Institute. With Professor Sara Davies, Susan is co-convenor of the Griffith Gender Equality Research Network. Sue also leads the Climate Justice theme of the Griffith Climate Action Beacon.

In 2018, she was named one of Apolitical’s 100 Most Influential People in Gender Policy, globally, and one of 20 Queensland Voices Female Leaders in 2019. Sue was previously the Director of Studies at the ANU Asia Pacific College for Diplomacy. She was Advocacy lead at the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID).

She has also worked for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the National Council of Churches, Attorney-General’s Department and the Parliamentary Library.

Emma Bacon

Emma Bacon is a passionate organiser, campaigner and activist. Emma has worked across movements for social and environmental justice for over 10 years on campaigns including an international asbestos ban, 10 cent deposits on bottles and cans, and union campaigns with shopping centre cleaners. She has run successful political campaigns and been part of winning significant outcomes for progressive change at local to international levels.

Emma founded Sweltering Cities, a new organisation that works directly with communities in our hottest suburbs to campaign and advocate for more liveable, equitable and sustainable cities. Since the beginning of 2020 Sweltering Cities has connected with thousands of people around the country who want to help create the cities, suburbs and homes of our future.

Emma is committed to building a broad movement for climate justice.