G'day COP31!
G'day COP31 is a podcast for those who want to know more about the ‘COP31’ (almost) being hosted in Australia in 2026.
Your hosts are Heidi Dumesich and Jack Whelan.
Jack is a boomer and started his career in sustainability before it was considered 'cool'. His experience stretches from the earliest COPs - across business and industry, government, development agencies, NGOs, and the UN. He worked with the International Chamber of Commerce and World Business Council on Sustainable Development, in the AsiaPac region with the Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility and the major donor agencies like the Asian Development Bank and World Bank. Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade nominated him to the design team which established the IRIS initiative to promote climate and disaster resilient infrastructure in the Small Island Developing States..
Heidi Dumesich is a millennial with a degree in Environmental Science focusing on implementing practical solutions. Heidi is the seasoned podcaster with her sustainability focused podcast called Life on Planet A. She is currently working as a Sustainability Manager at Ventia, leading a road project’s Infrastructure Sustainability Council rating.
The aim of this podcast is to dive into the ins and outs of what really happens at a COP — from all of the different stakeholders and planning to the politics, people, and purpose behind it all. Through candid conversations with stakeholders across government, industry, civil society, and community groups, we unpack how everyone is impacted, involved, and inspired by climate diplomacy at this scale.
Whether you're a policymaker, business leader, activist, or just COP-curious, this is your space to learn how to get the most out of any COP — wherever it’s held.
Tune in, get engaged, and say G’day COP31!
G'day COP31!
Episode 'E' for Esperance: Afonso from Climate Crew
G'day everybody! In this episode, we sit down with Afonso, a sustainability innovator, entrepreneur, and community builder who’s shaping how organisations and people respond to the climate challenge.
As the founder of NetNada, a sustainability reporting and carbon accounting software company, Afonso has helped Australian and global organisations meet climate-related disclosure requirements under AASB and CSRD, built the award-winning NetNada Academy that’s trained 150+ professionals, and delivered over 100 GHG-aligned carbon inventories. Afonso is also the co-founder of Pharmacycle, Australia’s only end-to-end recycling solution for the nation’s billion-sized blister pack problem, which has already achieved a 100% diversion rate, national coverage with 1,000+ drop-off points, and partnerships with major pharmacy chains.
But this conversation isn’t about software and recycling—it’s about people and movements. Afonso is the coordinator of Climate Crew, a fast-growing community of 1,000+ members driving connection and action across Australia’s climate space. With COP31 set to take place in Adelaide, we discuss Climate Crew’s role as the “Unofficial Social Hub” of the conference: from breakfast clubs and evening meetups, to thematic gatherings on nature tech and climate finance, and a special focus on amplifying Pacific voices.
We talk about the motivation behind Climate Crew, how it differs from other climate groups, and what legacy it hopes to leave at COP31—whether as advocates, connectors, or facilitators of the climate movement.
If you want to understand the future of sustainability—from corporate disclosure to community-led climate action—this episode is for you.
Links:
https://www.altercop.com/australia
https://www.pharmacycle.com.au/about
https://www.linkedin.com/company/myclimatecrew/posts/?feedView=all