For over a decade, Celeste Young has worked alongside communities, volunteers and emergency management organisations to help Australia adapt to the growing impacts of climate-driven disasters. Grounded in the belief that those most affected hold valuable knowledge and solutions, Celeste’s work brings community voices into critical conversations about recovery, volunteering, inclusion and capability.

Through community-engaged research, workshops and long-term partnerships, her work has influenced Australia’s Disaster Risk Reduction Framework, informed the National Emergency Volunteering Strategy, shaped recovery policy following the Black Summer bushfires, and supported workforce capability planning across emergency management and beyond. Celeste’s leadership is helping communities, institutions and emergency management systems better adapt, respond and thrive in an increasingly uncertain climate future.