Proud of our past, ready for our future.
Who are we?
Hi Neighbour is a not for profit, volunteer organisation, energised with the power of the past and excitement for the future.
Yael Stone — Founding Director
Hi Neighbour, I’m Yael and I live with my beautiful family in the Illawarra, on Dharawal Country. I am grateful for the Dharawal custodianship of this land and hope to honour it with my work.
During the 2019–20 Black Summer Fires I was horrified by the destruction. In response I turned my life upside down. I abandoned my US Green Card, returning home to Australia as a symbol of my commitment to reducing CO2 emissions and working for positive climate action. Hi Neighbour is the brainchild of my resolve and I love my work steering this grassroots organisation where I get to work with passionate people and get things done.
Since we launched in April 2023 I am proud to say we have achieved practical wins for our community, both with scholarships and solar rooftops.
Greg Knight — Core Team
Professional
Bachelor Metallurgy UoW
39 Years at Bluescope Steel
Technologist, Facilitator, Statistician
Volunteer
Stop CSG Research Team
Convenor Renew Illawarra Branch renew.org.au/
Coordinator of submissions to Wollongong City Council Climate Change Mitigation plan 2020 and 2023
Advocate for Community Batteries
Life Coach
Motto: Make a difference, Have fun
Goal: Remove much more CO2 than I have generated in my lifetime.
Darryl Best — Core Team
Xavier Mayes — Core Team
Professional
Community Power Agency - community campaigner
Institute for Sustainable Futures UTS -External Communication Officer
UTS- Media Officer
Nature Conservation Council of NSW -Media and Communications Officer
Volunteer
Advisor, Renew Illawarra (2022 - present)
P&C executive member, Lindsay Park Public School (2021 - present)
Founding director, Blue Mountains Renewable Energy Cooperative (2013 – 2020)
Solar advocate, Solar Citizens (2013 – 2018)
Our Board
Steve Blume — Board Director and Chairperson
Steve Blume is one of Australia’s most experienced energy experts and advocates with more than 22 years experience in the energy sector after 25 years in ITC.
He is Secretary & Immediate Past President (13yrs) of the Smart Energy Council & CEO of NoCarbon Pty Ltd, engaged in smart energy consulting, advocacy & advice. Steve is a former political adviser, private & public sector senior executive, and change advocate, fighting for zero carbon energy policies and technological solutions to urgently & rapidly reduce emissions causing global heating and climate change.
Scott Hamilton — Board Director
I’m a senior advisor to the Smart Energy Council and Hydrogen Australia, as well as an author, researcher and policy advisor. I am an expert in climate change, renewable energy, water and public policy. I was born and bred in coal country in Victoria and am passionate about working with communities on the transition to a clean energy economy. I am married to Sarah and have two teenage children, Astrid and Atticus.
In my role as Executive Director Renewable Energy for the Victorian Government, I led renewable energy policy and programs across Victoria. I’m a current member of the Energy Transition Hub — Strategic Advisory Panel at the University of Melbourne and work as a consultant to governments, businesses and community organisations, including the New South Wales Government. I was recently a senior adviser on a project for that state government developing strategies for industry transitions to net-zero emissions in the Hunter and Illawarra regions. I am now working with Lithgow City Council to transform the region from coal to a renewables led new energy economy.
I’m a senior adviser to the Smart Energy Council’s Zero Carbon Certification Scheme for renewable hydrogen, renewable ammonia and renewable metals.
Parul Punjabi Jagdish — Board Director
Inspired by Mandela, Gandhi and Malala, my mission in life is to ‘trust life fully, live fearlessly and serve all beings around me, human and non-human’. Having grown up in India with the very real potential of ending up on the streets, I’ve instead been blessed with a full life, filled with adventure and wonder. I’ve studied in top-ranked universities such as the University of Delhi and the University of Macerata, on prestigious scholarships; I’ve worked with top-tier corporates, policy-makers, and not-for-profits including t33 srl in Italy, Amnesty International and Southern Cross University; I’ve made my own offbeat movies exploring the purpose of life; I’ve co-founded grassroots-level social change movements; and now I amplify and expand AIME’s powerful Indigenous-led work worldwide as US CEO and mentor.
Tanya Van Der Water — Board Director
Hi, I'm Tanya, a proud local who's lived in the Illawarra my whole life. I take a 'Think Global, Act Local' approach to both work and life. While my career has taken me all over the world, it's my local community and family who keep me grounded.
I've recently resigned from the day-to-day management of my business, Buckaroo Leatherworks. Over the last twenty years I've developed a range of skills from marketing to fiscal management to operations and strategic planning and also PR and brand storytelling. I also have a sound understanding of WHS, workers’ comp law and corporate governance.
I am a mum of five and raise my kids to be accepting, kind and loving human beings. I am committed to helping others heal from the effects of the family diseases of alcoholism and addiction and I also facilitate women's circles.
I am fun, energetic, curious and creative and I have a deep respect for the First Nations people of Australia.
Jennifer Owens — Board Secretary and Public Officer
Hi I’m Jen and I have worked for National Parks and Wildlife Services for the past year as a Senior Field Officer based out at Bungonia National Park. I have an Honours Degree in Environmental Science, Cert III in conservation and land management. I spent 1.5 years working in bush regeneration, then became an industrial Abseiler in Sydney for four years. I left there to work for the state government organisation The Soil Conservation Service working as a conservation field officer for almost two years which lead me to the National Parks and Wildlife Services. My free time is spent Mountain biking or hanging with my three horses.
Trusted Partners
Arnold Bloch Leibler — Legal Partner
Hi Neighbour is extremely grateful for the ongoing support of Arnold Bloch Leibler.
Peter Seidel - partner at Arnold Bloch Leibler and his team have be with Hi Neighbour from the very beginning providing exceptional legal council, and organisational support.
For many years now Peter has been highlighted as one of Australia’s leading lawyers by prominent international legal guides Chambers Asia Pacific, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific and Best Lawyers International in the area of native title and traditional owner rights, for his deep commitment to empowering traditional owners. Complementing this, Peter has been similarly recognised by Chambers Asia Pacific in the area of charities for his wealth of experience working for the not-for-profit sector on a range of matters including constitutional, governance and contractual issues.
In 2020, Peter was awarded Lawyers Weekly ‘Pro Bono Partner of the Year’. Peter is also a previous recipient of the prestigious Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission’s Human Rights Award in the Law Category, in recognition of his significant contribution to the promotion and advancement of human rights in Australia.
Amongst other important Indigenous bodies Peter represents, he acts as a trusted adviser to Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, Anindilyakwa Land Council, Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation, First Australians Capital, Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation, Lowitja Institute, Ramahyuck District Aboriginal Corporation and Wantok Musik Foundation.
Kearney Group — Finance Partner
Hi Neighbour is extremely grateful for the ongoing support of Kearney Group.
Paul Kearney - founder and CEO of Kearney Group, which has been pioneering truly integrated financial advice for businesses and households since 1986.
Paul holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne, and is a Certified Financial Planner®, Certified Practicing Accountant and a member of the Financial Planning Association of Australia and the Association of Financial Advisers.
Under his leadership, Kearney Group has grown into an award-winning team of over 50 multi-disciplinary professionals, dreamers, doers and visionaries with an eye for disruption. Most recently, Paul and the Group have brought to market a suite of sustainable ESG investments, Ethos Managed Portfolios.
The Group continues to be widely recognised for its commitment to professional excellence, client service and innovation. Most notable are the firm’s national accolades, which include being named the Association of Financial Advisers’ Australian Practice of the Year and BT Financial’s two-time National Practice of the Year.
Paul is a Director of renowned social enterprises, The Big Issue and Homes for Homes. In 2020, he provided seed funding for the Indigenous Knowledge Systems Lab at Deakin University’s NIKERI Institute. More recently, he has been welcomed to the board of AIME Mentoring and joined forces with Hi Neighbour.