Student Champion category

Megan Barkman is a Master of Civil and Environmental Engineering student at The University of Queensland whose leadership has strengthened student engagement, climate education and environmental action across campus. Through roles including President of the UQ Climate and Energy Society and UQ Union Environment Officer, Megan has created opportunities for students to engage with sustainability through discussion, practical action, industry connection and cross-political collaboration.

Her work has helped students build confidence, connect with professionals and contribute to campus sustainability strategy. By creating initiatives designed to last beyond individual leadership cycles, Megan has helped embed a stronger culture of climate action, biodiversity awareness and student-led sustainability at UQ.

Megan Barkman – The University of Queensland

Impacts & Benefits

  • Engaged hundreds of students in climate-centred discussions, events, field trips, panels and practical sustainability projects.
  • Connected students with industry professionals, supporting career pathways, internships, research opportunities and environmental learning.
  • Created and supported practical campus initiatives, including recycling projects, Containers for Change, biodiversity engagement and sustainable student behaviour campaigns.
  • Promoted climate collaboration across disciplines and political perspectives, helping students find common ground on complex climate issues.

 

Leadership & Engagement

  • Led through collaboration and empowerment, creating space for team members to pursue projects aligned with their strengths and interests.
  • Built community through both large and small events, recognising that informal connection is essential to sustained engagement.
  • Created real-world learning experiences, including consulting-style programs and industry-linked student projects.
  • Filled gaps in campus sustainability engagement, including student consultation, biodiversity action and climate career inspiration.
  • Built a lasting reputation as a student sustainability leader, continuing to mentor, support and collaborate beyond formal roles.

 

Wider Societal Impact

  • Strengthened environmental literacy beyond sustainability-focused degrees, reaching students from diverse disciplines and career pathways.
  • Inspired students to pursue climate-related careers, particularly through professional panels and industry engagement.
  • Modelled constructive climate dialogue, showing how people with different political or personal views can work together on shared climate goals.
  • Supported future leaders to understand climate complexity, especially students interested in politics, business, policy and professional practice.
  • Demonstrated the value of student-led civic engagement, linking campus action with broader climate collaboration and public problem-solving.
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Top 3 learnings

  • The most difficult (yet important!) thing I’ve found for mastering sustainable projects is being able to successfully pass them on to others.
  • I’ve often found surprising solutions in the people I know or have been surrounded with, reinforcing the power of forming connections.
  • good leaders make sure everyone is heard, everyone is on the same page and that roles deligated work to everyone’s respective strengths to give them the motivation and confidence to shine.

Supported by

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Category finalists

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Student Champion category

Megan Barkman is a Master of Civil and Environmental Engineering student at The University of Queensland whose leadership has strengthened student engagement, climate education and environmental action across campus. Through roles including President of the UQ Climate and Energy Society and UQ Union Environment Officer, Megan has created opportunities for students to engage with sustainability through discussion, practical action, industry connection and cross-political collaboration.

Her work has helped students build confidence, connect with professionals and contribute to campus sustainability strategy. By creating initiatives designed to last beyond individual leadership cycles, Megan has helped embed a stronger culture of climate action, biodiversity awareness and student-led sustainability at UQ.

Megan Barkman – The University of Queensland

Top 3 learnings

  • The most difficult (yet important!) thing I’ve found for mastering sustainable projects is being able to successfully pass them on to others.
  • I’ve often found surprising solutions in the people I know or have been surrounded with, reinforcing the power of forming connections.
  • good leaders make sure everyone is heard, everyone is on the same page and that roles deligated work to everyone’s respective strengths to give them the motivation and confidence to shine.
Megan Barkman – The University of Queensland

Impacts & Benefits

  • Engaged hundreds of students in climate-centred discussions, events, field trips, panels and practical sustainability projects.
  • Connected students with industry professionals, supporting career pathways, internships, research opportunities and environmental learning.
  • Created and supported practical campus initiatives, including recycling projects, Containers for Change, biodiversity engagement and sustainable student behaviour campaigns.
  • Promoted climate collaboration across disciplines and political perspectives, helping students find common ground on complex climate issues.

 

Leadership & Engagement

  • Led through collaboration and empowerment, creating space for team members to pursue projects aligned with their strengths and interests.
  • Built community through both large and small events, recognising that informal connection is essential to sustained engagement.
  • Created real-world learning experiences, including consulting-style programs and industry-linked student projects.
  • Filled gaps in campus sustainability engagement, including student consultation, biodiversity action and climate career inspiration.
  • Built a lasting reputation as a student sustainability leader, continuing to mentor, support and collaborate beyond formal roles.

 

Wider Societal Impact

  • Strengthened environmental literacy beyond sustainability-focused degrees, reaching students from diverse disciplines and career pathways.
  • Inspired students to pursue climate-related careers, particularly through professional panels and industry engagement.
  • Modelled constructive climate dialogue, showing how people with different political or personal views can work together on shared climate goals.
  • Supported future leaders to understand climate complexity, especially students interested in politics, business, policy and professional practice.
  • Demonstrated the value of student-led civic engagement, linking campus action with broader climate collaboration and public problem-solving.

Supported by

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