Our Keynote Speakers
Being with God in nature. Australian Jesuit Province presents Xavier Jeyaraj SJ, Dr Lesley Hughes (Climate Council of Australia), Sherry Balcombe (Aboriginal Catholic Ministry of the Archdiocese of Melbourne), Tony Rinaudo (World Vision) and Pedro Walpole SJ
In this Ignatian Ecospiritual Conference, our keynote speakers and theme will focus on spending time out in Nature. The aim is for us to journey towards a deeper Ecological Conversion and a renewed desire for Reconciliation with Creation during this shared time together.
Xavier Jeyaraj SJ
Xavier Jeyaraj SJ is the Secretary to the Father General of the Society of Jesus, for Social Justice and Ecology, at the General Curia in Rome. The Social Justice and Ecology Secretariat (SJES) assists the Fr General in delivering the mission of the Society by promoting justice and reconciliation with creation, both at the level of the six Jesuit Conferences (which tend to represent continents) and Provinces (national level) in the Society of Jesus. It establishes international collaborations between apostolic sectors and pays special attention to the social justice ministries worldwide, including Jesuit Missions and Jesuit Refugee Service.
Xavier, originally from the Kolkata province, having a background in social work, has spent much of his life dedicated to working for the poor, especially amongst the Tribals in India. He led the Udayani Social Action Centre, in Kolkata. He also worked in the past as Secretary of Social Action in the South Asian Conference and has completed a PhD in Social Sciences. Xavier has a strong commitment to the Universal Apostolic Preference “Caring for our Common Home” announced by the Society of Jesus in 2019.
Dr. Lesley Hughes
Lesley Hughes is Distinguished Professor of Biology and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Integrity & Development) at Macquarie University. She has been researching the impacts of climate change on species and ecosystems for more than 20 years. She is a former Lead Author in the IPCC’s 4th and 5th Assessment Report, a former federal Climate Commissioner and now a Councillor with the Climate Council of Australia. She is also a member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists and a Director of WWF-Australia.
Sherry Balcombe
Sherry Balcombe is the Co-ordinator of Aboriginal Catholic Ministry of the Archdiocese of Melbourne. She is a Djabaguy/Okola woman from Far North Queensland who was born on Wurrundjeri Country in Melbourne, Victoria. Her role as Co-ordinator consists of bringing awareness and educating about Aboriginal Peoples. She educates people in the areas of Australian Aboriginal history, Aboriginal spirituality, and Aboriginal injustice.
Tony Rinaudo
After gaining a Bachelor of Rural Science, Tony spent 18 years in Niger Republic as manager of the Maradi Integrated Development Project (1981 to 1999) as an agriculturalist and missionary with ‘Serving in Mission’. He managed famine relief interventions during five separate years, distributing up to 1,800 tons of grain per year and managing food for work programs assisting over 70,000 people. These activities along with overseeing a long term rural development program, contributed to a transformation in the way Nigeriens farm, and the reforestation of over six million hectares of land. Today the ‘Niger Phenomenon’ serves as an inspiration to re-greening movements globally. He also helped develop and promote alternate food crops, in particular, drought tolerant, high protein edible Australian acacias. For his 18 years of service to humanity and contribution to the environment the government of Niger awarded him it’s highest honor for an expatriate “The Order of Agriculture with Merit” (Merite Agricole du Niger).
Tony joined World Vision Australia in 1999 starting off as a program officer for Ethiopia and Kenya. Tony has initiated and/or overseen a number of landmark projects during his time with World Vision, including the World Bank/CDM Humbo Community Managed Natural Regeneration Project, the four country FMNR for East Africa Project and the Likimse Water and Sanitation Project. Currently Tony is the Principal Natural Resources advisor for World Vision Australia, and is heavily
involved in promotion of forestry and agro forestry initiatives within and external to World Vision globally. His work and recent efforts have contributed significantly to greater international awareness on the impact and efficacy, and uptake of, simple, low cost, scalable methods of reforestation.
Tony and the FMNR technique have received various awards over the years. The most recent include, 2018 the Right Livelihood Award “for demonstrating on a large scale how drylands can be greened at minimal cost, improving the livelihoods of millions of people”, the World Future Council Agroecology Award and in 2019, he was appointed a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia (General Division).
More information about Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) can be found at:
A FMNR manual in English and French is available at:
Tony also has a new book coming out “The Forest Underground: Hope for a Planet in Crisis”. Here is the link to order the book:
Pedro Walpole SJ
Pedro Walpole SJ, a Jesuit priest, is the Director of Research at the Institute of Environmental Science for Social Change in the Philippines and the Global Coordinator of Ecojesuit, a worldwide Ignatian advocacy network. He holds a doctorate in land use change from King’s College in London. He is a practitioner in sustainable environment and community land -management in Southeast Asia.
His interests include seeking social justice through environmental management, poverty reduction in forest lands, partnerships for local development, and advancing social concerns in forest law enforcement and governance, climate justice, and indigenous peoples’ rights.
