Yael Stone: Giving to gain
Yael Stone | Benjamin Law
Many people would recognise Australian actress Yael Stone from her breakout role as the red-lipped Lorna Morello in TV series Orange is the New Black. But, in 2020 she gave up her green card, and her acting career in the United States, unable to reconcile the carbon emissions of the jet-setting lifestyle with her own climate conscience. Since then, Yael has channelled her focus into a new career path in climate advocacy, going back to university and co-founding the not-for-profit renewables and clean energy organisation, Hi Neighbour.
In celebration of International Women’s Day, join actress, entrepreneur and climate advocate Yael Stone alongside writer and broadcaster Benjamin Law to explore what we have to give up to gain a life living in alignment with our personal values.
This event is presented by the UNSW Centre for Ideas in celebration of International Women’s Day.
LIVE EVENT & VENUE INFORMATION
The Roundhouse is located at UNSW Sydney's Kensington Campus. Please note this is a live event only, and will not be available via livestream.
TICKETS
ACCESS
Wheelchair Access
The closest accessible drop off point to the Roundhouse is the north entrance via High Street, Gate 2, follow the road to Third Avenue and turn onto 1st Avenue West. More information on getting there can be found via our interactive accessibility map available here.
Assisted Listening
The Roundhouse has a hearing loop. Patrons wishing to utilise this need to simply switch their hearing aid to the T (Telecoil) setting to pick up on the wireless signal.
Auslan & Captioning
Auslan interpreting services and/or live captioning can be provided for selected talks upon request.
Contact
To book and discuss access services, please call the Centre for Ideas on 02 9065 0485 or email centreforideas@unsw.edu.au.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT & PARKING
The Roundhouse is easily accessible via public transport and the closest light rail stop is UNSW Anzac Parade (L3 line). The closest bus stop is UNSW Gate 2, High Street (348, 370). For more information, call the Transport Infoline on 131 500 or visit transportnsw.info.
Free parking is available from 5:30 pm in the Barker Street Car Park (Gate 14), located here. Event patrons must park in the UNSW Permit Holder bays, available on all levels, to access free parking. Please note that the Western Campus Car Park is now closed.
Paid casual and visitor parking is offered via the CellOPark App and ‘pay by plate meters’ in all other UNSW car parks. For more information head here.
PROGRESS FOR ALL
Climate change is arguably the most urgent issue of our time, with enormous ramifications for future generations.
UNSW will continue our trajectory as a leader in responses to climate change and impact mitigation from increasing natural disasters. We will enhance our expertise in climate science, environmental sustainability, disaster response and resilience, and many other related disciplines across all our faculties to influence policy and create innovative solutions with real-world impact. We will collaborate across all disciplines, faculties, sectors and borders to optimise the impact of our teaching, research and thought leadership to help create a liveable world for generations to come.
We will lead by example in working to be a climate-resilient, nature-positive and net zero emissions University.
You can read more about our objectives in our UNSW Strategy: Progress for All.
CONTACT
For all the other enquiries, please email centreforideas@unsw.edu.au or call the Centre for Ideas on 02 9065 0485.
The Centre for Ideas is happy to receive phone calls via the National Relay Service. TTY users, phone 133 677, then ask for 02 9065 0485. Speak and Listen users, phone 1300 555 727 then ask for 02 9065 0485. For more information on all other relay calls visit here.
Yael Stone
In January 2020 at the height of the Australian Black Summer bushfires, Yael Stone, international stage and screen actor, best known for her work on Orange Is The New Black announced that she would be abandoning her US Green Card, returning home to Australia as a symbol of her commitment to working on climate action. From there, Yael conceived and founded Hi Neighbour; a community organisation that provides scholarships to support local workers moving into clean energy careers. Sharing awardees stories Hi Neighbour seeks to build social licence for an equitable energy transformation and the next generation of clean energy heroes.
Yael was the subject of ABC’s legacy program Australian Story alongside her partner Jack Manning Bancroft, highlighting their collective commitment to a healthier, more equitable planet. She is a regular participant in public conversations regarding climate action including appearances on ABC, the BBC, CNN and has been a contributor to The Guardian, The Sydney Morning Herald, Elle and Vogue. Yael continues to balance her work as an actor alongside her leadership role at Hi Neighbour. She has just been nominated for an AACTA award for her role in the film The Correspondent and is currently shooting a climate focused feature, Wilderness in the Victorian High Country.
Benjamin Law
Benjamin Law is an Australian writer, broadcaster, playwright, an AWGIE Award-winning screenwriter and prolific interviewer. He is the author of The Family Law (2010), Gaysia (2013), the Quarterly Essay Moral Panic 101 (2017) and editor of Growing Up Queer in Australia (2019). As a broadcaster, he’s hosted shows for ABC TV and Radio, SBS and Ten. He’s written for over fifty publications in Australia and beyond. His most recent work adapting Dying: A memoir for the stage garnered praise for its disarming humour.
Benjamin has a PhD in creative writing and cultural studies from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). He is a board member of Story Factory and Co-Curious, and in 2019, he was voted one of the 40 Most Influential Asian-Australians. He works and lives on Gadigal Country (Sydney), part of the Eora Nation.
