Inspire curiosity, spread kindness, and live with purpose.
Natalie Kyriacou OAM is an award-winning social entrepreneur, CEO, Board Advisor, public speaker, writer, and Environmental and Social Impact leader.
Highly regarded for her authentic leadership in the environmental and social impact spaces, her passion and expertise lie in exploring the intersection of environmental and social equity issues and how these issues are navigated across commercial, political, community and grassroots landscapes.
A recognised global emerging leader in the environmental space, Natalie was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia and the Forbes 30 Under 30 honour for her services to wildlife and environmental conservation in 2018. She was a United Nations Environment Programme Young Champion of the Earth Finalist, and, in 2022, was recognised as one of The Australian's Top Innovators' in recognition of her environmental and social impact.
Natalie is the CEO of My Green World, a Board Committee Member at CARE Australia, a Member of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, a PwC Environmental and ESG Advisor and the former Australian Director of Sri Lanka-based NGO, Dogstar Foundation. Natalie advises world leaders on environmental and social policy and has driven the expansion, growth and impact of a range of businesses, social enterprises and non-profits around the world.
Current Work:
As the Founder and CEO of My Green World, Natalie created award-winning inclusive youth education programs and technologies to inspire curiosity in wildlife and environmental conservation and sciences.
Through My Green World, Natalie established a world-first virtual conservation mobile game application that supported 18 nonprofits globally and encouraged young people to participate in virtual wildlife conservation.
In her role as Social Impact Advisor and Business Development Lead for Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) at PwC, Natalie has developed commercial strategies to support businesses transition to more environmentally and socially responsible commercial outcomes. Natalie has supported Victorian disaster response at PwC, including establishing Bushfire Recovery Victoria (BRV), as well as the development of the Bringing Melbourne Back Better' Covid recovery strategy for the Lord Mayor Sally Capp and the City of Melbourne.
A sought after Public Speaker and Thought Leader, Natalie has represented Australia on a global stage, including as a Speaker at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum at the invitation of the President, as well as at over 200 events in Australia and abroad.
Natalie is a regular contributor to a range of publications, exploring the intersection of environmental and social issues, enhancing biodiversity outcomes, and amplifying the voices of young people and diverse voices whose contribution to decision-making structures has historically been erased.
Natalie has a Bachelor of Journalism degree and a Master of International Relations degree from the University of Melbourne and studied Gender, Security and Development on a scholarship at the University of Delhi. She has Carbon Literacy and Climate Change Certification from the University of Oxford and the University of Queensland
Talking Points
Harnessing Tech and Innovation for the Planet
Technology is fundamentally reshaping our relationship with nature and with one another. Today, there are limitless opportunities for us to harness technology to benefit humankind and its environment.Harnessing Tech and Innovation for the Planet
Technology has the potential to both extend and enrich our experience of life on earth and unlock new solutions to society's most pressing environmental challenges, or conversely, to widen inequalities and pose existential threats to society. How do we navigate this intersection of two modern phenomena: nature's destruction and technology's growth?
In the midst of profound transition and technological advancement, we have a unique opportunity to reconstruct ourselves, our community, and our businesses in ways that positively impact the future. Crucially, we have an opportunity to reconstruct our relationship with nature.
Key Takeaways:
- How individuals, communities, organisations and governments harness frontier technologies to re-imagine how economies could serve better social and environmental needs.
- The possibilities of technology to address highly nuanced global environmental challenges.
- Critical ingredients to ensure technologies are effectively applied to the wellbeing of people and the planet.
- How the technology revolution can reconcile our relationship between people, prosperity and planet.
Who this is for: Industry and business leaders, government and policymakers, social enterprise leaders, NGO's and nonprofits
Wealth, Climate and Consumption
While we take a shared global responsibility for addressing climate change, the truth is, wealthier countries and wealthier people are linked to higher levels of materialism and wastefulness, which is unsustainable and harmful on the planet. To address this issue, we have an opportunity to rethink the relationship between wealth, materialism and wastefulness and recognise we have a moral duty to the planet and its people.Wealth, Climate and Consumption
Imagine if we donated to charity with the same ease that many of us with privilege, purchase groceries.
Imagine if we put the same amount of thought and consideration into charitable giving as we would for selecting a new car or choosing a school for our children. Imagine if social impact was so prevalent and so embedded in our psyche that we didn't even need to celebrate it.
Key Takeaways:
- Understand the link between wealth, consumption and climate change
- Learn how prosperity and economic growth can be improved by challenging notions of conspicuous consumption'
- Learn how we can perform our moral duty to protect the planet and alleviate suffering
Who this is for: Industry and business leaders, government and policymakers, social enterprise leaders, NGO's and nonprofits
The Business Imperative of Social Inclusion and Environmental Stewardship
Powerful forces are reshaping the modern landscape in which leaders operate, ushering in a new era of business that places environmental stewardship and social equity at the centre. The Business Imperative of Social Inclusion and Environmental Stewardship
Greater expectation is on businesses and leaders to reframe their company's role in society and navigate the intersection of environmental, social and governance forces.
How can businesses take this bold new wave of business commitments from rhetoric to reality and create value along the way?
Key Takeaways:
- The economic benefits of addressing climate change
- How to drive authentic commercial strategies that achieve tangible social and environmental benefits.
- How companies that act to support sustainability can develop powerful new offerings and business models, improve the attractiveness of existing offerings, and lower operating costs
- Key environmental trends in the global market: Who is doing it best, and what we can learn from them?
- How companies and boards can prepare for the next wave of sustainability action
Who this is for: Industry and business leaders, governments, NGOs, policy-makers, and environmental stakeholders.
Redefining Leadership: The power, voice and impact of young people and diverse voices
Why, in our conversations about corporate leadership, do we not talk more about the power, voice and impact of young people? These voices are consistently underestimated and disregarded.Redefining Leadership: The power, voice and impact of young people and diverse voices
If we want to know the skills, traits and qualities of an effective leader today and in the future, we need to look towards and share power with young people. They are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are the leaders of today. And they are shaping our society in profound ways.
Takeaways:
- What we can learn from young and diverse voices in the pursuit to becoming a better leader
- How young people are changing the way businesses operate and changing government policies
- Why leaders that ignore young people do so at their own peril.
- How to be an inclusive leader that celebrates, amplifies and meaningfully includes young people
Who this is for: Industry and business leaders, schools, community groups, social enterprise leaders, governments, NGO's and nonprofits, policy-makers, and environmental stakeholders.
The moral and economic imperative of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
It has been estimated that closing the gender gap would add $28 trillion to the value of the global economy by 2025. In Australia, racism cost $4.9 billion between 2001 and 2011.The moral and economic imperative of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Around the world, women own less land, have poorer access to financial services and financial decision-making, have higher barriers to leadership, and take on most of the world's unpaid and undervalued labour.
And although women are forced to bear the brunt of the consequences of inequality, they have been systematically excluded from decision-making mechanisms and denied agency in deciding when and how to overcome the vulnerabilities they face.
Yet, the tide is shifting. The dominant paradigm that traditionally excluded women, culturally diverse people, Indigenous Australians, and young and marginalised people is being challenged more than ever before.
In this time of massive transition, a time when many of us are leading despite the obstacles that face women - particularly marginalised and diverse women, we have a unique opportunity to help create an environment that fosters inclusion and shares power with others.
Key Takeaways:
- How the burden of change falls on the shoulders of marginalised people and how to change that
- Actions to narrow the entitlement and opportunity gap
- How do we create a culture that lifts and celebrates those around us?
- Why your D&I Committee isn't working, and what the alternative is
Who this is for: Industry and business leaders, government and policymakers, social enterprise leaders, NGO's and nonprofits
Video
Natalie Kyriacou OAM | Saxton Speakers
Natalie Kyriacou OAM is an award-winning social entrepreneur, CEO, Board Advisor, and Environmental and Social Growth Driver at PwC. Highly regarded for her authentic leadership in the environmental and social spaces, her passion and expertise lie in exploring the intersection of environmental, social, commercial and economic issues. Natalie advises world leaders on environmental and social policy and driven the expansion, growth and impact of a range of social enterprises and non-profits around the world. A recognised global emerging leader, Natalie was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for her services to wildlife and environmental conservation in 2018.Audio
Natalie was passionate, articulate and humble, a wonderful combination of attributes that drew in our audience and kept their attention for the full session. The panel overall was authentic ... keep reading UN Global Compact
Natalie is a passionate and engaging speaker who challenges, inspires and mobilises her audience. One of the most popular speakers of the day; we have already booked her for another one!
Natalie is a captivating and thought-provoking speaker, inspiring her audience with vision, purpose and clarity.
The Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Vic) had the pleasure of having Natalie Kyriacou OAM present to its Young Professionals Network about her formidable work as CEO of My Green World. Natalie is a talented speaker who has the ability to genuinely connect with her audience. She is a free thinker and an inspiration to those who have had the pleasure of hearing her speak. I have no hesitation in recommending Natalie as a credible and engaging public speaker.
Natalie gave an inspiring presentation to our Middle School students about her journey creating My Green World. She speaks naturally and with consideration, and she hit the mark with respect to our desire to engage the students' climate conscience and entrepreneurship skills. Natalie defies the stereotype that smart girls are certainly cool and is a role model to our young people.
