Clytie Binder

Clytie Binder has spent much of her life finding ways to incorporate nature into every aspect of her life. Growing up in a family of artists, she developed an aesthetic sense based on the patterns and connections of the natural world. Combined with a passion and commitment for a fairer and more peaceful world, she uses this creativity to dream about what is possible and works hard to do what she can to achieve that dream.

Clytie works in the Waste and Resource Recovery Branch at Brisbane City Council where she has designed and developed a number of programs with behaviour change outcomes including Brisbane’s Community Compost hubs program. These programs are designed not only to reduce waste to landfill but to build community and empower citizens for positive change.

Previous to working in local government, Clytie delivered Education for Sustainability programs in schools and community and also coordinated several conferences and professional development days for teachers about school gardens.

This Churchill Fellowship has provided Clytie the opportunity to explore how other governments and community groups work together to allow community-based approaches to composting and other waste-related programs to develop and thrive. She has observed how issues and challenges in Australia have been tackled in the various socio-political contexts of USA, Canada, Mexico and Cuba. She met with passionate community leaders and innovators and has returned home brimming with ideas on world best-practice on the circular economy that she is keen to implement in Australia.