2014 Annual General Meeting Election of Directors - Candidate Statements

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1 2014 Annual General Meeting Election of Directors - Candidate Statements Nomination for Director Rob Dunn Rob Dunn has worked as CEO and Company Secretary in the environmental non-government sector since 2000 and previously in senior financial and commercial roles in major private companies for over 20 years. Rob has been the CEO of the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative (GER) since The GER brings people together to protect, link and restore habitats over 3,600kms from western Victoria to far north Queensland and is one of the largest connectivity conservation projects in the world. In this role Rob works closely at a senior level with the Australian, State and Local Governments, natural resource management bodies, non-government organisations, universities, industry and Landcare, aboriginal and community groups. For the four years prior to this, he was the CEO of the Nature Conservation Trust of NSW (NCT), which protects high conservation value private land under in-perpetuity conservation agreements. From 2000 to 2004 he was the Company Secretary of Landcare Australia, working on the negotiation of sponsorship agreements with public and large private companies to support this major community-based movement. Rob is a Chartered Accountant and has a Graduate Certificate in Ornithology and a Masters in Environmental Management from Charles Sturt University. He was a Board Member of NCT and has been a Board member of Birds Australia and BirdLife Australia since Robe has most recently been involved in the establishment of BirdLife s newest branch, BirdLife Shoalhaven. This breadth of work experience covers all of the expertise currently sought by BirdLife Australia and includes the leadership of organizations in periods of growth. May

2 Murray Lord Murray Lord is standing to become a director as he believes he has both the professional skill set needed by the board of BirdLife Australia and a lifelong active interest in Australian birds. Murray is a finance lawyer with over 15 years experience, having a combined degree in science and law from the University of Tasmania. He has worked at a major Australian law firm and at financial services organisations. He has been an RAOU / BirdLife Australia member and a keen birder since the age of 10 and was a member of BOCA for a period. His involvement in bird related projects includes leadership roles as a committee member of a regional bird club, co-ordinating Tasmanian shorebird counts, running the Birdline NSW unusual bird sighting service and at one stage he held a class A bird banding licence. He has published a small number of articles on ornithological topics. BirdLife Australia has evolved from an organisation primarily run on a voluntary basis to a substantial business with significant assets. The skills required of directors have evolved too; the current board has identified finance, legal and compliance as areas in which further board expertise is required. With government funding only likely to reduce in the years ahead, Murray believes prudent financial and strategic management is essential to the organisation being able to meet its aims. Satisfying all BirdLife Australia s stakeholders, from professional ornithologists to birders to those with only a casual interest in birds, is a challenge. Murray believes it is important not to lose focus on continually improving our scientific knowledge of Australian birds. This includes providing more support for amateur ornithologists, such as teaching young birders good research skills and making it easier for non-professionals to publish the results of valuable research. Conservation efforts will only succeed when we can convince others our position is based on a considered and objective view supported by evidence. Duncan Mackenzie OAM Duncan is currently the Chairman of BirdLife Australia Gluepot Reserve (16 years) and is a Life Member of BirdLife Australia. He is the immediate past Chairman of Ecotourism Australia (5 years) and the South Australian Tourism Industry Council (8 years) and is still a Board member of both organizations. He is Chief Scientist on the Management Committee of the Scientific Expedition Group (SEG), a Board member of the South Australian Friends of Parks Inc and is a past District Governor and International Chairman of Kiwanis International. During his 37 years with Kiwanis, he managed an international heal project to eliminate Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) from the world by the year This was undertaken in partnership with UNICEF and he spent the best part of 5 years overseas, helping Kiwanis raise over US$120m, writing IDD manuals and papers, lecturing/training, undertaking discussions with the health ministers of countries affected by IDD and in the general international promotion of the IDD project. His background is in the management of large information technology companies and he has held senior management and Board positions with the Ford Motor Company, Alcoa of Australia, Tubemakers of Australia, Data Conversation Corporation, Bell&Howell Australia and New Zealand and Nature Foundation SA. In his early years as a senior systems analyst, he developed new systems for major Australian corporations and Australian and overseas governments. Previous to that, Duncan was a biological research scientist with the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions (ANARE) and spent a number of years in Antarctica leading research into royal penguins, elephant seals, fur seals and albatrosses. He was then seconded by the Australian Government to Adelaide where he helped set up and manage the biology Division of the Mawson Institute of Antarctic Research at the Uni9versity of Adelaide. 2

3 His hobbies are nature photography (particularly birds) and he is an international accredited photographic judge. He is the author of over 400 papers, articles, books etc, in the fields of information technology, IDD, conservation, environment, ecotourism and photography. Duncan will bring to the BirdLife Australia Board, the skills he has developed in managing and organising large commercial and community organisations and scientific research projects, both in Australia and overseas. His expertise covers the areas of fundraising, marketing and communications, business and finance, organisational development and system analysis. In the legal area, Duncan was the RAOU Gluepot Reserve representative (for 10 years) in the matter of the First Peoples of the Murray and Mallee Region Native Title Claim that covered all of Gluepot. In 2011, the Claimants withdrew their claim over Gluepot and entered into a binding agreement with the State that they will lodge no further claims over the Reserve. He sees the recent amalgamation of BA and BOCA, as providing a unique opportunity to develop and build a strong, vibrant and financially viable organisation, that would be a model for like organisations both in Australia and overseas. Ralf Regeer From an early age Ralf had a love for nature and spent many hours birdwatching with his Uncle counting and recording migratory bird patterns in the Netherlands. Earlier in his career Ralf worked at The University of Queensland and Wageningen University, The Netherlands, in the biomedical research and educational fields, both during and after his MSc in Biology and post grad Environmental Management degrees. Ralf s love for the environment saw him working for one of Australia s largest environmental not-for-profits, Greening Australia, as the General Manager of a strong team of environmental consultants and trainers. Ralf managed biodiversity and carbon offset projects and attracted significant funds from both the private and government sectors for use in large landscape scale restoration initiatives. With a strong passion for Australian flora and fauna, Ralf is now the Co-founding Director of a successful Environmental Consultancy, Ausecology, known for having strong on-ground field skills and a practical approach to solving today s environmental challenges. Ausecology works with various large industries providing flora and fauna services (specialising in rare and threatened species), rehabilitation services and biodiversity offsetting. In his spare time Ralf can be found photographing the Australian landscape and its flora and fauna. Ralf s passion and experience in working with the community, corporate sector and not-for-profit sectors makes him a strong team player with the leadership skills needed to make positive changes in the natural environment for future generations. 3

4 David Reid OAM Although David has always had a strong interest in natural history he only became involved in the birding co9mmunity by joining Birds Australia and Bird Observation & Conservation Australia (BOCA) in 1996, becoming a director of BOCA in Following the merging of these organisations in 2011 David joined the Board of BirdLife Australia and is currently a member of the Governance Committee and Chair of the OH&S Committee. Other related interests include native plants, nature photography and bushwalking. He has wide experience in the not for profit outdoor recreation sector including serving on several boards and committees and presenting at conferences. He was awarded an OAM in 2014 for his service to the promotion of bushwalking, and to the community. David has a professional management background in sales, marketing, administration and the development of strategic and business plans. David is committed to helping BirdLife Australia operate in a businesslike manner and successfully secure a better future for Australian birds and their habitat. Alanna Vivian A member since January 2013, Alanna has been passionate about birds for a long time - particularly owls and gets out to see them as much as possible. She has degrees in arts (with honours in philosophy) from the University of Melbourne and law from La Trobe University. As a practising lawyer, she offers skills in the area of legal and compliance, including corporations law, with experience in a broad range of compliance and governance issues that face large organisations. Alanna is employed by the (Victorian Government) Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure, specialising in planning and environmental law, working on matters relating to land use planning, environmental assessment of major projects, coastal policy, renewable energy facilities and bushfire planning policy. Through this background she has an understanding of the pressures facing birds today, including habitat loss and resourcing of conservation efforts. As well as practicing as a lawyer, Alanna has been employed in executive advisory roles within State Government. She has an understanding of the requirements of decision-making and strategic leadership at high levels, and the communication skills and personal qualities to support an executive team and work cooperatively with other board members. In a previous role in a large full-service commercial law firm, Alanna specialised in insurance litigation, gaining skills in risk management. Alanna would like to use these skills to contribute to the BirdLife Australia board, with a vision for the organisation to become a household name as the peak body for the protection and conservation of Australia s birds. She is keen to ensure that future generations have the opportunity to enjoy these lovely creatures, in their natural habitat; and that the birds thrive for their own sake. The continued inspiration of BirdLife Australia s current members, the growth of that membership base and its partnerships and networks with other people and organisations (including non-governmental, governmental and corporate) is vital. 4

5 Dezmond Wells Dez holds the following qualifications: a Graduate Diploma in Education (specialising in science education), a Bachelor of Applied Science Parks and Recreation (specialising in aboriginal culture and fauna/flora ecology) and an Associate Diploma of Applied Science Rural Techniques (specialising in Wilderness Reserves and Wildlife). Dez has been involved with a range of conservation organizations for over 20 years. These organisations included Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Convenor of Brisbane Valley Koala Preservation Society, Coordinator of Esk Nature Search 2001, Convenor of Townsville Seagrass Watch, Education Officer of the Butterfly House Southbank, surveyor for the Queensland Wader Study Group and managing his own native animal hospital, the Australian Fauna Ward in Brisbane, still operating today. Dez moved into the field of education in 1996 and used his skills gained from work in an environmental field to develop hands-on educational courses that focus around ecological studies. In his current role as Science Head of Department he has developed a range of educational programs focussing on bird conservation in the Brisbane region. Dez sits on BirdLife Australia's Important Bird Areas committee and the National Education committee. Dez has been involved in bird care and bird surveys for over 30 years and believes that focussing on educating young people will provide a strong platform for environmental consciousness in Australia s future generations. To do this Dez says we need a balance of clear educational messages that explicitly explain bird conservation, while also encouraging young people to be involved in hands-on bird survey work. 5

Director Phillip Bain Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Director Phillip Bain Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Phillip Bain Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Phillip Bain was appointed as CEO in August 2014 after three years as CEO of the Goulburn Valley Medicare Local. He has had extensive experience in health policy