2025 Future Leaders Program: Advancing planetary health equity

The Planetary Health Equity Hothouse is an ARC Laureate Fellowship initiative by Professor Sharon Friel, focusing on governance issues related to three major and interconnected challenges: climate change, social inequity, and premature death and disease. The aim is to promote the equitable enjoyment of good health within a stable Earth system – planetary health equity.

The Hothouse hopes to leave enduring legacies through capacity-building, knowledge sharing and networks that drive structural change for planetary health equity. A key initiative is the Future Leaders Program, which prepares early career researchers and PhD scholars to become future leaders in the field.

In early September, the Hothouse hosted its third Future Leaders Program. Fifteen inspiring participants from across Australia and the world gathered for an intensive two-week program, gaining insights into governance for planetary health equity.

With contributions from over 20 presenters, discussions covered a wide range of topics including the global consumptogenic system, Indigenous ways of being and doing, policy paradigm shifts, structures of obstruction, wellbeing economics, power and privilege, policy and collaboration, a view from the extracted ground, shareholder activism, public policy, political communications, policy advocacy, climate justice advocacy, climate communication and achieving the imaginary.

Highlights from the program included a discussion on Paradigm shifts: Ideas and institutions with Hothouse Research Fellow Dr Hridesh Gajurel; a session on Indigenous knowledges and ways of being with 2023 Future Leader Fellow Francis Nona; a World Café activity, Achieving the imaginary with Hothouse Advisory Board members; and small-group sessions where participants to shared their own research and exchanged ideas.

Reflecting on the significance of the program, Professor Friel said,

I always leave the Hothouse Future Leaders Program feeling inspired. Key to the pursuit of planetary health equity are researchers, advocates, people in government and people from the private sector who want to reconfigure systems to be regenerative, equitable and advance the collective wellbeing. The 2025 Future Leaders encompassed all of this. It is marvellous to help such a group of people build technical expertise, mobilize knowledge and create networks to drive structural change. Through the Future Leaders Program, we aim to make hope practical rather than despair convincing.

Sharing on their experience, one participant said,

The Planetary Health Equity Future Leaders program has been one of the most enriching experiences of my PhD. It filled a critical gap in planetary health education by going beyond ecosystem influences on health to examine the political economy, policy processes, advocacy strategies, and governance of planetary health. Over the two weeks, I connected deeply with an inspiring group of academics, civil society leaders, government officials, and private sector professionals. Those conversations and collaborations not only enriched my learning but also built friendships and professional connections that I am eager to continue long into the future.

The 2025 participants join the expanding network of Hothouse Future Leader Fellows from 2023 and 2024. We look forward to seeing their individual and collaborative work develop. Their passion and brilliant minds give us hope for the future.