Before joining the Democracy in Colour Climate Justice Program (CJP), Ken had already dedicated years to the NGO and climate sectors. Yet, like many People of Colour in progressive spaces, he found the doors to leadership tightly guarded.
“As a person of colour, I found it harder to advance than to begin,” Ken shares. “Despite strong performance and initiative, opportunities for leadership often seemed shaped more by systemic bias than by merit.”
This isn’t just a workplace issue, it’s a movement-wide problem. When leadership fails to reflect the communities most affected by the climate crisis, we leave a representation gap that leaves POC voices out of crucial discussions.
The shift happened in 2022 when Ken joined CJP. Today, he is the Community Organising Manager at 350 Australia, adding that the program turned “what had once been abstract concepts of inclusion, equity, diversity, and justice into something deeply tangible and lived”.
The CJP is more than a training course—it is a unique leadership and job placement program specifically for First Nations and People of Colour (FNPOC). It’s designed to transform the movement through:
Expert-led training: In-depth upskilling in campaigning, organising, and racial justice practice delivered by FNPOC facilitators.
Professional mentorship: Direct pathways to leadership through guidance from experienced FNPOC mentors.
A community of care: A culturally safe “brainstrust” where change-makers share lived experiences, build solidarity, and overcome structural barriers together.
Reshaping movement norms: The program design embeds climate justice including anti-racism, decolonisation and racial justice as core movement principles rather than optional add-ons.
As Ken puts it: “A space like this matters because it is one of the few places where FNPOC change-makers can come together to share stories, build solidarity, and connect in ways that make us feel seen, empowered, and inspired to stand up for ourselves and for others.”
This is the leadership the climate justice space needs especially right now. Fortunately, DeCo is currently looking for 12 cohorts for CJP 2026.
Do you know an FNPOC change-maker ready to step into their power? Or is your organisation ready to support the next generation of climate leaders?
Submit an EOI or learn more here.