Our Speakers

Maria Young is the coordinator of Green Spaces for Health. Her work involves everything from growing food in urban spaces, supporting community gardens, to working on projects that seek to increase the opportunities for biodiversity to flourish in our urban setting; tree planting, creating local tree nurseries, installing specialist boxes for birds on the amber/red list, installing ponds, protecting habitat or creating habitats. Maria works with schools, communities, organisations across the city. She helped found the Rivers Alliance Group and the Community Garden Network. She is employed by SHEP, Cork Healthy Cities and supported by Cork City Council.

Aoife teaches and researches children’s rights, with a focus on their environmental rights, and is the author of Children, Autonomy and the Courts (Brill, 2018). Passionate about educating children on human rights through art, she also leads the Youth Climate Justice project at University College Cork, exploring the influence of children and youth on environmental human rights.

Akshita Gupta, a 17-year-old youth activist in Cork, moved from India to Ireland three years ago. Involved with Comhairle na nÓg and Fridays For Future Cork, she has led two global climate strikes and represented these groups nationally. Recently selected as a Youth Representative for the Youth Climate Justice EU project at UCC, Akshita also gained experience working with MEP Grace O’Sullivan on EU climate policies.

Ersha Naheed, a 15-year-old TY student at St. Vincent’s Secondary School, is ICDL certified with a passion for reading, writing, and organising community events. An active member of CDYS The Hut, she has participated in various projects both in and out of school, including Technovation, and enjoys engaging in healthy debates.

John Barry is the Professor of Green Political Economy and the Director of the Centre for Sustainability and Just Transitions, Queen’s University Belfast.

Salome Mumba is a water management expert with 17 years of experience, including seven years with Malawi’s Department of Irrigation and ten years with Trocaire Malawi. Specialising in climate adaptation, mitigation, and natural resource management, she focuses on improving access to water for households, irrigation, and biodiversity. Her work emphasises water justice and fair access to essential resources like food and water.

Denise is the Healthy Cities Coordinator for Cork City and an Adjunct Lecturer at University College Cork’s School of Public Health. With over 25 years of experience in public health and health promotion, she is dedicated to reducing health inequalities through her work in various Cork-based inter-agency projects. Denise also has a strong commitment to climate justice and environmental sustainability. In 2023, the Irish Examiner recognised her as one of 100 women ‘Blazing a Trail and Changing Ireland Today.