Podcast Description

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 concerned '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 COP !.