Spotlight On Students – Sustainability Stories that Inspire

Jenny Salmon

Jenny Salmon was working in a nursing home during fifth year when one of her favourite residents gave her the book Everybody Matters by Mary Robinson.  The resident had worked as a nurse in the Global South and shared her experiences that would start a journey that led Jenny to study law, and to pose the key question we should all be asking ourselves ‘how can an average person make a difference’ when it comes to climate change and social justice.  Jenny adds “If we are relying only on people who are experts or ‘eco warriors’ then nothing will change, we need everyone.”

 Jenny just went for it after seeing an Instagram post looking for a climate youth ambassador for Concern.  She worked to bring young people’s issues to leaders from around the world at the United Nation’s COP27.  In June, she started a new role with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications and the National Youth Council of Ireland as the Climate Youth Delegate and did the same at SB 58, the Climate Change conference in Bonn, Germany.

Closer to home, Jenny works with Trinity Free Legal Advice Centre (FLAC) to promote social justice, run free legal advice clinics with solicitors and host social justice panels. Jenny hopes to one day do a masters in environmental law and become a barrister.

Coming full circle, Jenny’s favourite resident at the nursing home was able to see photos and hear the story of how Jenny got to meet Mary Robinson in person and know her stories ignited Jenny’s passion for promoting access to justice both in Trinity and abroad. The resident has since passed away, but her compassion and drive live on in Jenny.