Duchess of York apologises for damage to environment

"What is it that we can do, apart from thanking you greatly and apologising to you? As an older person, I'm so sorry we've done this to your planet," the royal said.

"That's really important - I'm so sorry."

The Duchess of York took on the role of "youth leader" for 32 young Global Citizen award winners and pledged to help them in their work towards slowing climate change, ending extreme poverty, and promoting equity and human rights.

"I don't like grownups. They really are dull. I especially don't like people who do not listen to young people," Ms Ferguson told the conference in Melbourne.

"For the first time in my life, I feel I have a sense of purpose, which is pretty huge, isn't it?"

Panellist Hazirah Sufian, from environmental conservation platform Green Brunei, said she was frustrated by adults in power not truly listening to young peoples' concerns.

She believed some big companies, which invited people like her to speak at events, were "greenwashing".

"I really do hope that they find it in their heart to actually help our environment, help our cause, and do it because they want to - not to protect their image," Ms Sufian said.

The Duchess of York hosted a panel conversation with young leaders Alicia Tien and Hazirah Sufian. (Alex Coppel/AAP PHOTOS)

Julia Gillard earlier told the conference she was concerned about a rise in misogyny among young men who were targeted by online influencers.

The former prime minister warned young leaders gender inequality wasn't a thing of the past and young women would still have to confront and overcome sexism in their careers.

"You've got the benefit of seeing this movie before," Ms Gillard told Global Citizen Now.

"That does mean that you can think in advance how it is that you're going to make your way in this world and deal with sexist, even misogynist, situations when (they come) your way - how you're going to call it out, how you're going to address it."

Ms Gillard, addressing the conference via video from London, said women had more tools to deal with sexism in 2024, along with greater solidarity with each other.

However, she flagged a "disturbing" trend borne out in upcoming Global Institute for Women's Leadership research, which showed young men were increasingly expressing sentiments like "efforts for gender equality have gone too far".

"There are a lot of pressures on young men today, a lot of online influencers who are trying to peddle very dark visions of what it is to be a man," Ms Gillard said.

"We do need to make sure that the generation that's coming up and shaping the future is a generation where everyone sees that gender equality will make for a better world for everyone.

"I am concerned about that negative line that's showing in our polling and what it might say about some emerging, harder attitudes towards gender equality."

Ms Gillard is chair of the Global Institute for Women's Leadership.

She was subject to intense misogyny during her three years as prime minister from 2010, with public commentary and insults about her appearance, clothes, partner and other aspects of her life.

Her 2012 parliamentary speech, in which she declared, "I will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man" directed at then-opposition leader Tony Abbott, has been hailed as history-making.

Hugh Jackman was slated to address the conference remotely on Wednesday but a text to organisers from him saying he could no longer take part was read out on stage.

The Global Citizen Now conference is focused on ending poverty and features a line-up of more than 40 speakers.