My Climate Story

I’ve always been an optimistic person and one who wants to believe that my fellow humans want the best for their community, the environment and the planet, just like me.

However I learnt during a university summer job in an open-cut coal mine that my measure of “best for the community and the planet” was vastly different to many other people. This stark exposure to transparent environmental disregard and blatant box ticking for community engagement pushed me away from large corporations and profiteering to the public sector where I worked for many years facilitating behaviour change and educating the public to improve our society, environment and economy.

As the climate crisis became more apparent, I was a bit lost on how I could contribute to climate action beyond practicing sustainable living, speaking out on public policy and encouraging people to vote for climate action at election time. My skills were in words, not in innovative technologies or science stuff.

Knowing that effective communication is a formidable tool in creating human connection and fostering collective action, I realised that my superpower was in being part of the support crew for the people who are the innovators and drivers of change. As a trusted wingman, I craft words and content and actively help people to translate their purpose and goals into actionable strategies and messages with impact.

I enjoy empowering others – start-ups, charities, government agencies and individuals – to find their voice. I help people find the words they want to use to sell themselves, tailoring their message so they can target the different audiences that need to hear it most.

I also make complicated and jargon-laden documents easier to read and understand. While complex scientific data and dense policy documents are crucial to inform change, they usually fail to engage the public. I am great at simplifying the complex to ensure the information is accessible to any reader and can be used to inform policy change and tangible action.

For good or bad, I am still optimistic that my fellow humans can make change to help the planet and our community. I am facilitating that change by wielding language as a tool to build a world where clear communication bridges the gap between intention and action and drives education and behaviour change.

Please get in touch if you need help crafting your climate story – nonnieoldham@yahoo.com.au or through LinkedIn where you can also check out my qualifications and work experience.

I am confident you have a compelling narrative that we can use to communicate your message with impact.

I am very happy to be your wingman.