Back10 Years of Laudato Si’: from Hope to Action
To celebrate, Garratt Publishing has been hosting a series of four Ecology Webinars.
The fourth and final webinar focused on the synodal response to Laudato Si’.
Webinar Four
A SYNODAL RESPONSE TO LAUDATO SI’
Wednesday 19 November 2025
Listening | Discernment | Dialogue | Action Planning
This webinar will explored the synodal process involved in developing a Laudato Si’ Action Plan. Proven plans drawing on experiences from the Brisbane Archdiocese, including Brisbane Catholic Education, was a focus of discussion, as well as how the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission in Brisbane helped with this process.
With an ever-increasing number of schools listening to student voices and developing their own plans in response to Laudato Si’ and Laudate Deum, this webinar demonstrated how a discernment process can lead to effective action planning.
Joining Alice Carwardine in conversation was Emma Beach, Justice, Ecology and Peace Project Officer for the Brisbane Archdiocese and Executive Officer for the Brisbane Catholic Justice and Peace Commission
SPEAKERS
Alice Carwardine
Alice works in the Mission and Formation team at Edmund Rice Christian Brothers Oceania Province. She holds a master’s degree in theology with a focus in eco-theology, reflecting her passion for the intersection between faith and care for the planet. In 2018, after successfully transitioning to a zero-waste lifestyle, Alice began sharing her knowledge and experience by running professional development workshops for schools. She is also a trained teacher in Physics and Study of Religion. Previously, Alice was the national coordinator for Caritas Australia’s Catholic Earthcare program and was a member of the Laudato Si’ action platform working group, collaborating with the Dicastery for Promoting Human Integral Development to implement Pope Francis’s environmental encyclical. She was also a member of the Synod writing team for the Brisbane Archdiocese.
Emma Beach
Emma was raised in Butler Tanks, South Australia. Still a country girl at heart, she is deeply connected to the land of the Nauo people and has always been passionate about injustice. Now, a wife and mother with three school-aged children, Emma advocates for marginalised people today and the possible future for all young people. For over 25 years, she has worked in education, youth work, and counselling. Her passion for justice and ecology led her to her current roles as Project Officer for Justice, Ecology and Peace for Archdiocesan Ministries (Brisbane) and Executive Officer for the Brisbane Catholic Justice and Peace Commission. These roles overlap to focus on a wide range of challenges, including managing the Brisbane Archdiocese Laudato Si’ Action Plan, fostering the warm welcome of LGBTQIA+ people in Catholic communities, and supporting the important work with refugees and asylum seekers at the Romero Centre. Emma supports the formation, connection, exploration, and creative action of Integral Ecology in the Brisbane Archdiocesan community.
