Lynn MacLaren

Campaigner for climate and LGBTQIA+ justice

(She/her)

Lynn was propelled into public life through her passion for animal rights, helping build an international movement against live exports. Her campaigning skills were put to good use first as a political staffer and later when she was elected to State Parliament for the Greens WA (from 2009-2017). Lynn introduced five private members bills, served in numerous committee inquiries that led to positive reforms and successfully stalled government legislation to curtail peaceful protest rights. She was the first American-born elected Parliamentarian in WA.

Lynn introduced a WA Same Sex Marriage Bill in 2012 which had the tick of approval from legal experts years before the long road to passing national Marriage Equality Laws. Her wife passed away on the day those laws came into effect.

In Parliament Lynn was the face of the campaign opposing a cull of endangered great white sharks and she campaigned tirelessly to protect biodiversity through the conservation of urban bushland, most prominently to Save the Beeliar Wetlands. A treasured achievement is helping to save the numbats of Dryandra by preventing a nearby landfill.

Before and after politics Lynn has worked in the not-for-profit community sector, most recently for St Patrick’s Community Support Centre in homelessness programs and for Imagined Futures. Lynn currently presents human development courses for EvolveWA.

Lynn MacLaren's TEDxKingsPark Talks:

Lynn MacLaren | November 23rd, 2022

Events Lynn MacLaren has spoken at:

November 23rd, 2022