Sustainability Education

Past National Environmental Education Council Member Profiles

• 2003-2005
• 2002-2004
• 2000-2003
• 2000-2002

2003-2005

Mr Peter Buckskin
Chief Executive, Department for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, SA

Peter Buckskin is Chief Executive of the South Australian Department for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation and responsible for delivering the South Australian Government's new Aboriginal Affairs policy - Doing it Right.

Peter has been professionally involved in Indigenous education for over 20 years and worked as a teacher in Western Australia and South Australia. He has held posts as Chair of the South Australian Aboriginal Education Consultative Committee, Ministerial Adviser, Superintendent of Schools in South Australia and a senior administrator. For 12 years Peter was an officer in the Commonwealth's Senior Executive Service where he occupied a number of strategic positions.

From 1982 to 1987 Peter was a member of the principal policy advising group to the Federal Government, the National Aboriginal Education Committee (NAEC) while chair of the South Australian Aboriginal Education Consultative Committee. During this time Peter was appointed to the Australian Commission to UNESCO for one term. In the 2001 Australia Day Honours Peter received the Commonwealth Public Service Medal (PSM) in recognition of his outstanding public service in pursuing equality in education for Australia's Indigenous people.

Ms Janina Gawler
Chief Executive Officer, Australian National Training Authority

Janina Gawler is the chief executive officer of the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA).

Ms Gawler previously worked at international mining company Rio Tinto, where she was chief advisor, sustainable regional development for the Argyle diamond mine in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. She is a former teacher, social scientist, and senior public servant.

She is passionate about the opportunities that education and training provides for people, particularly young people, to gain access to long-term employment.

Mrs Michelle Hawthorne
Principal, Port Vincent Primary School SA

Michelle has been actively involved in Environmental Education, particularly Marine and Coastal Education, for more than twenty years. As Principal of one of South Australia's smallest, yet best known schools in the field of Environmental Education, Michelle works closely with the staff of the co-sited Aquatics Centre to provide opportunities for Marine Studies to students throughout South Australia.

Michelle is the co-ordinator of the Yorke Marine Network, which has a membership in excess of 60 Marine Educators. She is also a member of the Southern Yorke Peninsula Landcare group, the Malacological Society of South Australia, the Marine and Coastal Community Network and the Australian Association of Environmental Education.

Michelle believes effective environmental education should not be a program you do, nor a policy you merely follow, but rather something that integrates and involves community capacity building. Her vision is to provide her students with a “headset” of Environmental values and actions that will lead to effective citizenship today and tomorrow.

Ms Josephine Lang
Lecturer, RMIT University

Josephine Lang is a lecturer in teacher education at RMIT University and she is also the President of the Australian Association for Environmental Education. Beginning her career as a secondary science and geography teacher she extended her experience and professional knowledge to move across the key learning areas of Science, Studies of Society and Environment, Mathematics, and at times, Health and Physical Education. She has extensive expertise and diverse experience in the education sector including in curriculum, policy, extension education and environmental education and the emerging education for sustainability. Josephine has long been active in environmental education working with teachers in professional development programs and providing leadership through taking on roles in professional associations and policy development. Josephine continues to build her professional knowledge through formal learning. She has completed a Masters in Environmental Studies, a Masters of Education and is currently completing her PhD in Education. She has passions for the environment as well as learning and teaching and endeavours to blend these passions in her daily life, be it working or personal.

Mr Shaun Mays
Shaun Mays BSc (Hons), MSc, MBA
CEO Deutsche Asset Management

Shaun was appointed CEO of Deutsche Asset Management Australia in May 2004. He has more than 16 years experience in the funds management industry in both executive management and investment positions in Australia and the United Kingdom. Prior to joining Deutsche Asset Management, Shaun was managing director of Westpac Financial Services where he was responsible for the design and implementation of Westpac's sustainable investment strategies, including the ground- breaking Australian Eco Share and Triple Bottom Line Funds. He participated in both the United Nations Environment Programme - Financial Initiatives Conference and World Bank Roundtable in his role of champion for investment change.
Shaun is also an active member of the Australian Stock Exchange Listings Appeal Committee. Last year he authored a milestone report into corporate sustainability for the Australian Government, Corporate sustainability: An investor perspective, which investigated the profitability of companies that had incorporated sustainability into their work practices. He is a graduate from Leeds University in the United Kingdom, and holds a Masters of Science from Queensland University and a Master of Business Administration from Macquarie.

Ms Maree McCaskill
Chief Executive Officer, Beverage Industry Environment Council, NSW

Maree McCaskill worked as a public relations and publicity officer for the RSPCA , NSW before her appointment as Executive Director of the Australian Cotton Foundation. She was the first woman director of the Zoological Parks Board of NSW and has been Honorary Campaign Director for the Australian Wool Growers Association, Executive Director of the Australian Association of Leather Industries and served on the Board of the Australian Agricultural Research Institute. She is currently CEO of the Beverage Industry Environment Council, Chair of Board of Australian Wool Innovations Limited and serves on scientific and ethics review committees of NSW Agriculture Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Biotech Australia, and the Red Cross Blood Bank and Transfusion Service.

Dr Trish Mercer
Branch Manager, Schools Group, Quality Schooling Branch, Department of Education, Science and Training

Mr Bruce Wilson
Chief Executive Officer, Curriculum Corporation

Bruce Wilson's qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne and a Masters in Education from La Trobe University. He has worked as curriculum manager and business development manager of Curriculum Corporation, a policy analyst, a secondary teacher and a journalist with The Age. Bruce is interested in the effective adoption of environmental education approaches in all schools, His particular interest lies in the kinds of system support structures, resources and incentives required to ensure that every Australian child gains the knowledge and skill to participate fully in decision-making about the environment.

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2002-2004

Mr John McCarthy
Assistant General Manager, Learning and Teaching Innovation Division,Dept of Education,
Employment and Training, VIC

Mr Arthur Townsend
Assistant Secretary, Quality Schooling Branch,
Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs

Ms Moira Scollay
CEO, Australian National Training Authority

Moira Scollay is Chief Executive Officer of the Australian National Training Authority. She is passionate about shaping a vocational education and training system for Australia that is 'world class' – a system which secures Australia's environmental sustainability, social well-being and economic competitiveness as a nation. Environmental education issues are an important element of the work ANTA is doing in guiding the reforms to the vocational education and training system. Membership of this Council provides an exciting opportunity to build strong partnerships to progress work in this area.

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2000-2003

Professor Robyn Williams - Former Chair
Producer, presenter of the Science Show ABC Radio National
Visiting Professor, University of NSW
President, Australian Science Communicators

Robyn Williams' qualifications include a Bachelor of Science (biology) from London University and several honorary doctorates from Australian universities. He has presented the ABC's Science Show since it started in 1975 and contributed to many natural history television documentaries. Robyn pursues his environmental interests through his popular science programs, as President Emeritus of the Australian Museum, and writing. He has published 14 books, including a novel about the future of the environment and written articles for a number of newspapers and magazines. In 1993 he was the first journalist elected as a Fellow member of the Australian Academy of Science.

Ms Sue Coad
Principal, Aldgate Primary School, SA

Sue Coad has a Diploma, Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate in Teaching and pursues her environmental interests as principal of Aldgate Primary School in South Australia. She aims to make the school ecologically sustainable by helping the children learn about stewardship of the environment and sustainable lifestyles. Sue's vision for environmental education is to enable children to develop a strong values framework to help them take a global perspective and positive action for preferred future options.

Ms Debbie Heck
Associate Lecturer, Faculty of Environmental Science, Griffith University, QLD
President of the Australian Association for Environmental Education

Debbie Heck holds a Bachelor of Education from Queensland University of Technology, a Master of Environmental Education from Griffith University and is working on a PhD in the area of environmental citizenship. She currently convenes the Master of Environmental Education Degree at Griffith University, teaching environmental education to postgraduate students working in formal and non-formal education settings in sectors including state agencies, community groups and schools. Debbie is the president of the Australian Association for Environmental Education and a board member and previous chair of the Federation of Societies for Study of Society and Environment.

Associate Professor Rob Morrison
Associate Professor, Environmental Studies, Flinders University of SA

Rob Morrison's academic interests include zoology and environmental studies. He has written 40 books and many articles on science and environmental issues and been a science and environment broadcaster for 30 years on television and radio. He is the president of the Royal Zoological Society of South Australia (responsible for Adelaide and Monarto Zoos), a board member of Nature Foundation South Australia and ROBIN, a former board member of the South Australian Museum and the immediate past-president of Rabbit-Free Australia. Rob holds a particular interest in ways in which community-based organisations can contribute to environmental education.

Dr Mandawuy Yunupingu
Director, Yothu Yindi Foundation
Chair, Reference Group Overseeing National Review of Education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

Mandawuy Yunupingu has degrees from Deakin University and Queensland University of Technology. In 1989 as the first Aboriginal school principal, at Yirrkala Community School, he set about implementing a radical both-ways curriculum, combining Balanda (European) and Yolngu (Aboriginal) educational processes, designed to present students with the best aspects of both cultures. Mandawuy is best known as a lead singer and songwriter with the popular Australian band, Yothu Yindi. In 1992 he was named Australian of the Year in recognition of his commitment to forge greater understanding between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians, and because of his burgeoning role as an ambassador for all Australians.

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2000-2002

Professor Tim Flannery
Director, South Australian Museum
Professor of the University of Adelaide

Tim Flannery is a biologist by profession but has an undergraduate degree in humanities, majoring in English Literature. He completed a Master of Science in paleontology and a doctorate in zoology. Tim has published 90 research papers and several books, including the award-winning best-seller, 'The Future Eaters'. This book investigates the nature of evolutionary and human cultural trends and how they exist in low-nutrient ecosystems. It is now a recommended text for many Australian university courses on the environment. Tim's environmental education interests lie largely in the area of giving people the long-term historical and ecological data they will need to make decisions.

Mr Matthew Francis
Science student, University of NSW

Matthew Francis took part in the 1999 National Youth Roundtable, focusing on environmental education and greenhouse gas emissions. He was selected to attend the National Youth Science Forum in 1998, returning in 1999 as a staff member. As part of the staff training, he travelled to Russia for three weeks on an exchange tour with the All Russian Youth Aerospace Society. In 1999 he was named the Young Wagga Wagga Citizen of the Year. He is also a past winner of the NSW final of the Lions Youth of the Year public speaking award. Matthew is currently completing a degree in Advanced Science at the University of NSW.

Mr Tom Harley
Vice President, Mergers Acquisitions and Investments, BHP Petroleum Pty Ltd
President Unicef Australia

Tom Harley holds a Bachelor of Business (Public Administration) from RMIT and a Master of Letters (Politics) from Jesus College, Oxford. He is interested in the development of curriculum based around concepts of sustainable development throughout the education system and within industry. He would like to see industry required to provide specialist environmental programs, an awareness and acceptance of best practice in industry and community recognition of these practices.

Ms Dianne Irene Kerr
Curriculum Advisor to Conference of Education Systems' Chief Executive Officers

Dianne Kerr holds a Bachelor of Arts from the Australian National University and a Diploma of Education from the University of Canberra. She has worked as the executive director of education programs in the Education Department of Western Australia, the executive director of school programs at the ACT Department of Education and joint projects coordinator, National Collaborative Curriculum Project. Dianne is currently curriculum advisor to Conference of Education Systems' Chief Executive Officers. Her environmental interests focus on the place of environmental education within the school curriculum. She is particularly interested in working out the best ways to ensure environmental education is mainstreamed and student attainments in it valued at Education Department level, rather than at individual schools.