Emily is one half of Erthly Collective – a passion project she shares with her friend Imani. Where Emily brings poetry, earth-loving rituals and creativity, Imani brings a sharp social science lens. Together, they’ve created a space that invites others to rethink systems, and share stories that reconnect us with the world around us.

Emily’s connection to the environment began young. She became vegetarian at just four years old for ethical reasons, and went vegan as a teenager with the full support of her family. Raised to be intuitive with food and in tune with nature, she’s always felt a pull toward living gently and intentionally.

Though she now lives in Australia, Emily spent much of her childhood in Las Vegas, where her dad had taken a job. There, she was fascinated by the intricacy of the desert ecosystem and disturbed by how quickly humans were expanding into it. She noticed how new developments kept pushing deeper into the desert, erasing habitat as they went. So when people started complaining about coyotes in their backyards, it struck her as deeply ironic. “We were the ones taking over their home,” she says. “They were just trying to survive.” That early dissonance sparked her first campaign work, advocating for wildlife protection and a more co-existent mindset.

Nature has become both sanctuary and compass. Her morning walks, meditation, and love of birdsong help ground her amidst the grief and urgency that often come with climate work. “When I feel overwhelmed, I just touch the grass and remind myself, this is what I’m here for.”

Emily’s climate work has since evolved to include marine conservation. She now works on building a national network of marine protected areas, collaborating with scientists, grassroots groups, fishers, and First Nations communities. In places like Mona Vale, she’s working to co-create solutions that benefit both ecosystems and livelihoods. “Often, we’re all trying to protect the same thing, we just speak different languages,” she reflects.

Australia has a long way to go. Outside the Great Barrier Reef, less than 3% of waters are protected and in Sydney, it’s under 1%. The goal is 30% ocean protection by 2030, in line with the UN’s ‘Ocean Decade’. Emily’s role as a community engagement officer is about building shared vision and momentum – making sure policy, science, and lived experience meet.

She also serves as Science Director at the Youth Climate Policy Centre and is an Ocean Youth ambassador. In 2023, she spoke on World Ocean Day alongside ocean legend Valerie Taylor. One story she shared was from a conservation stint on the Isle of Canna in Scotland, a windswept island with only 14 residents. “One side of the island was pristine. The other was choked with plastic,” she said. “We cleaned for days and barely made a dent. That really stayed with me.”

Her advice for young people wanting to step up? “Start small. Do what feels right for you. That’s how we create ripples.” For her, cooking with local produce, eating with the seasons, and listening closely to the land are all part of the work. “It’s a quiet act of care – for yourself, and the planet.”