Greening Australia's leadership team

Rob Gell  is a coastal geomorphologist by training. In his professional life he works as an environmental and communications consultant. He is Chairman of NCS Natural Capital Strategies Pty Ltd and of Breakthrough Productions Pty Ltd. For twenty-five years he presented television weather. Previously Rob taught Environmental Science and Physical Geography, he is a published author and a photographer. He has been a local government councillor and was a councillor of the ACF. He is a member of the Victorian Coastal Council and President of Greening Australia Victoria. Rob is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and an Inaugural Fellow of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand. Rob also serves on the boards of Earth Share Australia, Surfing Victoria and as President of the Camberwell Grammar School Foundation. He is also the Patron of the Geography Teachers Association of Victoria, Wildlife Victoria, Life Education Victoria, the Safety House Association, a Mentor of the Environmental Jobs Network and is in his fourth year as an Australia Day Ambassador for the State of Victoria.

Rod Bristow joined the Queensland branch of Greening Australia in April 2009, and is currently the acting National CEO after the departure of David Williams in late 2009.

Currently on the management committee of the not for profit environmental educator, OzGreen, Rod has a unique mix of skills across the forestry, natural resources, environment and finance sectors. Most recently, Rod was Chief Operating Officer for online stockbroker CommSec and prior to that worked for the Commonwealth Bank group, running their forestry managed investments.  

While working with the Greenfield Resource Options (GRO) group of companies, Rod was involved in managing an extensive R&D trial program on the rates of carbon capture by soil and vegetation systems in SEQ, as well as co-authoring the 'Field Measurement Procedures for Carbon Accounting' for the (then) Australian Greenhouse Office's Bush for Greenhouse program.  Rod was instrumental in providing the technical basis for underpinning the first carbon trade in Queensland in 2001, between GRO, the Queensland State Government and Southern Pacific Petroleum NL. During his career Rod has also worked in Tasmania managing native forests as well as running his own consulting and advisory business. 

Actively involved in biodiversity conservation and vegetation management in south-Eastern NSW for more than 25 years, Mark’s involvement with Greening Australia dates back to 1982. An environmental science graduate, he has pursued particular interests in human ecology and community participation through his work in the government, business and community sectors. He has been engaged at senior levels in State, Territory and Federal environment and planning agencies, in policy development, legislation reform, program management and regulatory roles. He has worked as a self-employed consultant in the environment and community health spheres, as a group facilitator and as a writer. In a voluntary capacity he has served on boards and committees of a number of community organisations and has been an active coordinator and facilitator of projects for urban and rural landcare, environment education, global peace education and community development.

Toby joined Greening Australia in 1995. Prior to his work with Greening Australia, Toby raised funds for NSW National Parks through the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife. With a background in marketing and communications, Toby is deeply committed to the organisation's role in making community action effective through productive partnerships, applied knowledge and capacity building. Toby believes the primary focus of our work should be on private land, where landholders and skilled staff can cooperate for maximum environmental benefit.

Ken Waters was appointed Chairman of Greening Australia NSW in January 2002. He joined the National Board the same month. Ken is a founding member of the Armidale Landcare Group, a Councillor in Armidale and a sheep and cattle grazier.

Philippa joined the Greening Australia team early in 2006 and was charged with developing effective approaches to landscape conservation nationally as well as managing a number of NSW based initiatives. Philippa established and continues to support a cohort of coaches from Greening Australia and partner organisations who are part of  the Conservation Coaches Network, a global network of conservation professionals trained and up-to-date in Conservation Action Planning.  

Philippa combines a rural background with science and change management qualification.  After working for a range of smaller community groups and a short period in government Philippa joined WWF Australia. At WWF from 1995 to 2005 she specialised in examining market based approaches to conservation and their role in expanding the scale and pace of improved environmental management.  Philippa oversaw a team of environmental and economic specialists who worked on piloting new approaches to grants, conservation auctions, covenants and land purchase. During a short break from WWF, Philippa was involved in the establishment of the NSW Nature Conservation Trust.

In addition to her role as CEO Philippa currently serves as a Director on the Lake Cowal Foundation.  

Geoff Miers has been on the Greening Australia Northern Territory Board for eight years, as Vice-Chairman for 5 years and in 2007 took over as President. He is an independent horticultural contractor and lecturer, having previously lectured at Charles Darwin University in Alice Springs for ten years. Geoff has a Bachelor of Arts from LaTrobe University, a Teaching Certificate from Melbourne Teachers College and Certificate 4 in Horticulture from Charles Darwin University. Geoff is also a regular announcer with the ABC Territory Talkback Gardener program in Central Australia, a feature writer with the Gardening Australia Magazine and is a weekly columnist for the Centralian Advocate.  Geoff spent eight years on the Alice Springs Town Council as an alderman and from 1996 – 1998 was Deputy Mayor. He has a very extensive network in Central Australia.

Mike Clark joined Greening Australia in the Northern Territory as CEO in 2003, after working with the organisation in key positions for over 15 years. Mike holds a Diploma of Applied Science in Natural Resource Management. He has 25 years experience working with a variety of Northern Territory stakeholders, including pastoralists, indigenous groups, farm foresters, landcare groups and all three tiers of government. Mike currently sits on the Northern Territory Natural Resource Management Board and is Chair of the Darwin Regional Weeds Advisory Committee.

Rod Douglas has been a Greening Australia QLD board member since 2002 and in 2006 was appointed as a member of the National board. He has an MBA (Master of Business Administration) from Bond University (QLD) and is founder and Director of Succe$$ystems Pty Ltd. His other Directorships include Matthews Steer Chartered Accountants, Greater Visions Ltd (a private equity fund), Jeena Partners (a Melbourne based accountancy practice) and principal consultant and chairman of the CEO Institutes Syndicate 31.  Rod is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD) and provides strategy & innovation consulting to rapidly growing businesses throughout Australia. At home he is a father of four and the protector of 220 acres of pristine eucalypt regrowth forest at Beechmont. Rod has a passion to see the humanity put back into business, and a commitment to have our natural resources priced at their real economic value ensuring the protection and revitalisation of our natural heritage.

Fraser Vickery has supported the work of Greening Australia for many years and worked as a consultant to Greening Australia South Australia prior to joining the SA Board in 1999.  Fraser was elected Chairman of Greening Australia South Australia in 2003 and is focused on building the State organizations’ operations, business and profile and developing national relationships with Greening Australia Limited. Fraser has worked as a professional ecologist, parks and wildlife and natural and cultural resource manager for more than 35 years, mainly in South Australia (10 years on Kangaroo Island) and the Northern Territory.  Fraser has also had a long association with the nature-based tourism industry and with partner Mia developed and operated Australian Wildlife Walkabouts – an eco-tourism business based on Kangaroo Island. Fraser is also the President of the Conservation Council of South Australia.  Fraser is qualified in forestry, horticultural science, science education and ecology and has a Masters Degree in Ecology from the University of New England and remains firmly based on Kangaroo Island.

Mark has been involved with the environment movement since the early 1980s, and joined Greening Australia as CEO in April 2002. Trained as a biologist, Mark's experience is broad and includes employment in eco-tourism, wildlife documentary, performing arts and youth crisis services. He has studied fundraising in Europe and the USA and was fundraising manager for The Wilderness Society, and later Greenpeace Australia, before setting up his own marketing and event management company. He is currently completing a Masters in Marketing at the University of South Australia.

Bill Walker is a fourth generation Tasmanian horticulturalist with strong connections to the Tasmanian landscape, specifically tree growing, orcharding, berry fruit production and floriculture. He has been professionally involved in horticulture and parks management in a hands-on, supervisory or strategic planning role for thirty years. Bill worked in a senior position with Burnie City Council for 13 years and has recently established his own company.

Jonathan began his Greening Australia career in 1999 as Manager of the Tasmanian Regional Seedbank operation, and since then has strongly influenced the direction of the organisation. Jonathan became CEO in 2004 and is highly respected for his commitment to engaging the whole Tasmanian community (including business and government), in practical partnerships to achieve positive environmental results. Jonathan has a Bachelor of Engineering and qualifications in environmental studies and sustainable development. He also has a wealth of experience in working with remote indigenous communities on environmental health and related projects.

Professor Barry Hart was elected as President of Greening Australia in Victoria in late 2008.

Professor Barry Hart is Director of the environmental consulting company – Water Science Pty Ltd, having recently retired from Monash University.  He has been appointed an Emeritus Professor by Monash University. Previously he was Director of the Water Studies Centre at Monash University and Deputy Director Research of the CRC for Freshwater Ecology.

Professor Hart has established an international reputation in the fields of water quality management, catchment management, environmental risk assessment and environmental chemistry (heavy metal and nutrient biogeochemistry).  He has published over 175 refereed papers and 12 books, and is on the editorial board of 5 international journals.  He has received several awards, including the Limnology Medal (1982) from the Australian Society for Limnology, the Environmental Chemistry Medal (1996) and Applied Chemistry Medal (1998) from the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, and in 2003 a Centenary Medal for services to water quality management and environmental protection.

He is well known for his sustained efforts in developing knowledge-based decision making processes in natural resource management in Australia and south-east Asia.

Professor Hart is currently a member of the Victorian Environment Assessment Council and the Scientific Reference Committee for the Victorian Government’s Land & Biodiversity White Paper.  He also chairs the Commonwealth Environmental Water Scientific Advisory Committee, Gippsland Lakes & Catchment Taskforce, Yarra Coordinating Committee, Gippsland Water’s Technical Advisory Committee, the DSE Environmental Flows Technical Audit Panel, the Great Barrier Reef Water Quality Partnership Science Advisory Panel, Melbourne Water’s Waterways Advisory Committee and EPA Victoria’s Science Futures Panel.

Carl Carthy joined Greening Australia as Victorian CEO in 2004. His former roles include Director of Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and Werribee Open Range Zoo, as well as Marketing Manager for the RSPCA. Carl has a special interest in animal and habitat conservation, and strong knowledge of the not-for-profit sectors. Among many achievements, Carl was responsible for bringing 'RSPCA Coles Barn-Laid Eggs' to market across all Coles supermarkets nationally. He also developed an RSPCA range of pet products for K-Mart. Carl has served on a number of boards and committees from the Australian Opera to Arts Access.

Geoff Richards (immediate past President) was elected National President of Greening Australia Limited in 2003 and served until 2006.  He has been active in the horticultural industry for 35 years both at a State and National level and as such has been on various boards and committees. He is Managing Director of Richgro Garden Products; Board Member of Nursery & Garden Industry WA; member of the Governing Council of Challenger TAFE; Chair of the Industry Advisory Committee for the WA Horticultural and Environmental Science Skills Centre; Past National President of Nursery & Garden Industry Australia and a member of the Standards Australia Committee for Soils, Composts, Mulches and Growing Media.

Although Hamish has a strong commercial background and is a chartered accountant, his previous job was as a zoology field assistant working on catchment water quality. He has always had an interest in environmental and NGO work. Hamish did postgrad NRM studies and worked for many years in the international aid sector with SAGRIC International.

In recent years, he has been managing project and consulting services businesses in WA and even did a stint heading up the mergers, acquisitions and strategy activities of BankWest.