December 12, 2025
When it comes to tackling climate change, collaboration isn’t just helpful, it’s essential. For Marty Gent, Manager of Biodiversity and Indigenous Partnerships at the southwest regional Victoria Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority (CMA), the NESP Climate Systems Hub and its knowledge broker network have been game-changers.
Marty brings deep climate expertise to her role, having worked on one of Australia’s first climate change plans for natural resource management. But even with that experience, she knows the challenge of working in isolation. “Without the Hub, I’d be struggling, mentally, in particular, just not having the climate connection and people to talk to about it,” she says. “It’s easy to feel anxious about the state of the climate right now. When you can reach out and talk to somebody, it helps share the burden.”
Why knowledge brokers matter
For Marty, the Hub’s knowledge brokers aren’t just messengers of science, they’re trusted partners who understand needs, connect the right people, and provide access. “They know the science like I know the science, and we can have conversations about what it means,” she explains. “Even if they couldn’t go back to the scientists, I’d still value them because they help figure out what we can do with what we do know.”
This practical focus is critical. “For my decision-making, it isn’t always about more science,” Marty says. “The uncertainties are too big anyway. Knowledge brokers ask: What do you need to help you make decisions? What do you need to change what you do? That’s their strength.”
Turning knowledge into action
Through her connection with the Hub, Marty has introduced all of Victoria’s ten CMAs to its work, creating a ripple effect of engagement. They all now regularly attend Hub webinars and will usually then ask, “Did you catch the last webinar?”.
One standout collaboration for Marty’s organisation, Glenelg Hopkins CMA, was a scenario planning workshop on extreme events and cascading climate impacts, also attended by her colleagues, regional water, conservation and land managers, Parks Victoria representatives and others. Working with Hub knowledge brokers and climate scientists from the University of Tasmania, Marty helped design an interactive session using a ‘spinning wheel’ to randomise extreme events. “People actually felt positive at the end of that workshop which is rare for climate change discussions,” she says. “They felt like there was something they could do.”
The human element
For Marty, the Hub’s value goes beyond data. It’s about relationships, trust, and shared purpose. “Knowledge brokers are experts in helping you talk through decisions, communicate complexity, and tailor messages for different audiences,” she says. “Even when you’ve worked in climate for a long time, it’s hard to explain things simply. It needs a group of people to work out how to do it.”
Her message is clear: science is essential, but connection is transformative. “The scientists give you the data, that’s their role. Knowledge brokers help you turn that into action.”
Find out more about the knowledge broker network >
Find out more about Marty’s work and the Glenelg Hopkins CMA >