Ari Pickering (they/he) is Healthy Futures’ passionate Victoria Gas Campaigner, working tirelessly to address the health impacts of gas and accelerate Victoria’s transition to clean energy. Growing up in the foothills of Kinglake on Wurundjeri country, Ari's deep connection to nature and their community drives their commitment to creating a safer, more sustainable world for all. Ari shares with us how their personal and professional experiences have shaped their journey as a campaigner for a cleaner, healthier future.
Ari Pickering is outdoors, smiling toward the camera. Ari is wearing oversized green-framed glasses, a colourful scarf with shades of blue, orange and purple, and a casual jacket with patches on it.
Can you share a bit about your background and how your personal and professional experiences have shaped your passion for the work you do at Healthy Futures?
Growing up in the beautiful foothills of Kinglake on Wurundjeri country was just the beginning for me. Inspired by a love for nature, travel, culture and connection, I swiftly learned, on this astonishing planet, that all the colours that make us special are just as important as the ties that bring us together. As a people-centred person, my experiences in sales, marketing and training (amongst a prolific and diverse career), have taught me the importance of curiosity, authenticity and understanding why we humans do what we do. Learning these skills has attuned my insight and deepened my motivation to help both people and planet alike as we enter these dangerous times.
When did you first become concerned about climate change and why?
I loved watching wildlife documentaries as a kid and wandering the paddocks searching for snakes, but in bushfire country, we always had to have things packed and ready to go in the summer. Like many on our planet, I didn’t understand the urgency of things until An Inconvenient Truth came out in 2006. I was living in Naarm when the Black Saturday fires ripped through my home country in 2009. Everyone knew someone who lost someone. In one street where my friend lived, every marriage ended within 10 years, due to trauma.
Why are you passionate about the work you do at Healthy Futures?
I have a passion for the nexus of things, and there are so many compounding factors with climate change. Heatwaves cause climate events, which create evacuees, turning into refugees. This displacement undermines psychological health, which in turn impacts physical well-being. There are innumerable variables, but climate change is kicking off this trophic cascade. There’s real power in bringing the health impacts of climate change to the top of the conversation because they affect everyone. People listen to medical professionals, and the impacts are already happening. I believe it’s something that can really shift the dial on action.
Tell us about your past work or experience.
Beyond my broad experience in sales and training, I’ve worked on various campaigns with progressive MPs and been involved in community organising, community engagement and issue campaigning. I’ve learnt that understanding people’s motivations more succinctly is essential to influencing good outcomes. With good intention and clear communication, there’s immense potential to influence positive change in hearts and minds.
Ari stands prominently in the foreground of a climate action rally, holding up a large sign that reads "WAKE UP!" with bold, black lettering. Ari is wearing a black t-shirt with bright yellow text that reads "CLIMATE ACTION NOW".
Who or what has inspired you?
I’m inspired by a lot of whos and whats; most recently, I’ve been really enjoying Marshall Ganz’s work on organising and democratic renewal. With a lifetime of organising from the Freedom Summer project in Mississippi (1964) to organising for the Farm Worker boycotts in California, he has an inspiring take on what’s required for effective organising. His systematic approach to outcomes, influence and collaboration makes so much sense when the stakes are as high as they are with climate change. We need to find ways to work together more effectively to accelerate our campaigns. As Martin Luther King Jr once said, “We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now”.
Why do you think individuals and local groups taking climate action is so important?
“It’s not climate change that needs to be tackled. It is the political power of the fossil fuel industry.” – Richard Dennis. Unfortunately, we cannot rely on the current political structures to voluntarily act in our best interest; most have already yielded their power long before they were elected. It is up to individuals and local groups to come together and drive action forward fast. Or as Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”
What’s your vision for the future?
I’m naturally optimistic and believe in the power of vision to shape reality. Despite the confronting scientific facts, there’s still life, so there’s still hope! I’m confident that the progressive political movement in southern Australia will drive the conversation and agenda toward a clean energy future in the coming decade. Though the transition is never fast enough, it's already outpacing targets. I envision vast wind farms off our southern waters and increasingly efficient solar and battery technology supplying our nation with abundant clean, affordable energy far above our own needs. The electrification of transport will be swift when it happens, as will the economics of fast rail. Meanwhile, robotics will revolutionise the industrious redesign of our urban infrastructure and rejuvenate our natural environment.
Something about you we might not know?
Every Monday, I host a meal and movie night at my place for my friends, cooking for 7 to 14 people while accommodating their dietary needs. Afterward, we gather around to watch an interesting or thought-provoking film. I truly enjoy serving others, and it’s my favourite night of the week.
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