423 Amanda Cahill: Building a Fair and Rapid Transition to the Next Economy

My guest this week is Amanda Cahill, CEO of The Next Economy, where she works with regional communities across Australia to support a rapid, responsible, and fair transition away from fossil fuels.

Amanda has spent more than 15 years working at the intersection of community, climate, and economic development. Her work focuses on helping regions navigate complex change, ensuring that as industries shift, people and communities are not left behind.

Her commitment to this work is deeply personal. Growing up in regional Queensland, and later experiencing poverty firsthand during a Rotary exchange in Brazil, shaped her lifelong focus on justice, equity, and creating systems that allow everyone to thrive.

In this episode of Humans of Purpose, we explore what it really takes to transition toward a new kind of economy, one that is both sustainable and fair.

We discuss:

the tension between speed and fairness in the energy transition

what a “just transition” looks like in practice for workers and communities

how regional communities are leading the way in designing future-focused solutions

and why local, community-owned initiatives from renewable energy to food systems are key to long-term resilience

Amanda also shares a broader vision for “the economy we could have”, one where access to essentials like housing, food, education, and healthcare is not determined by circumstance, but treated as a foundation for a thriving society.

This is a thoughtful and grounded conversation about systems change, leadership, and the role of community in shaping a more equitable future.

🔗 Explore more from Amanda’s work here:https://nexteconomy.com.au/