CLAIRE O’ROURKE

paradigm shifters

Spend 10 minutes with our Paradigm Shifters, the people who are shaping the ideas that will take us into the future. Meet Claire O’Rourke, an author, environmentalist and advocate helping Australians take action on climate change.

Interview KATE HOLLAND

Claire O’Rourke is an incredible woman. She has extensive experience campaigning for organisations that deliver positive impact and in social movements making real change. Claire is on a mission to accelerate and inspire Australians to take action — and fast — towards a future of clean, renewable energy.

How do you start your day?

I’ve always been an early riser, for as long as I can remember. My body doesn’t really understand how to sleep in. I love the early morning when it’s quiet, before sunrise, then those moments when the birds start their morning wake-up calls.

We live on Dharawal country, just north of Wollongong in New South Wales, at the foot of some of the most magical rainforest on the planet, in the Illawarra escarpment, wedged in a weatherboard house a few minutes’ walk or ride to the beach.

My habits in the morning vary depending on how frenetic work or life is, but I do try to have a few moments of quiet in the morning — acup of tea, a short meditation when my habits are in good shape, then followed by exercise, preferably outside.

I have an intense hip injury at the moment (caused by age, loads of activity, yoga, who knows?!), so my usual beach bootcamp has been replaced by regular rehab at a local women’s gym. I found this change disheartening at first, but the more I got into it, I realised this is a lesson in adaptation that I need to learn while I heal. And the gym has an infra-red sauna which I love.