2019 Team
TANDI SPENCER-SMITH
Director, Australian Committee for IUCN
Tandi is a senior manager with over fifteen years of experience in the not-for-profit, corporate and government sectors, and a Master of Science in Biodiversity Conservation. Before taking on the role of ACIUCN Director, Tandi held senior roles at the National Parks Association of NSW, the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative and most recently, worked as the Manager, Marketing & Communications for Greening Australia.
She has broad experience in conservation and restoration across public and private land; community outreach; science communications; strategic planning; and program and business development.
Tandi is a Board member of the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative and member of IUCN's World Commission on Protected Areas, Species Specialist Commission, Commision on Communication and Education and the IUCN Connectivity Conservation Specialist Group.
2019 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
DARREN GROVER (CHAIR)
Head of Living Ecosystems
WWF-Australia
As Head of Living Ecosystems, Darren leads the Species, Oceans, Science and Impact teams at WWF-Australia. His geographically dispersed team delivers projects that seek to improve the conservation status of species like the black-flanked rock-wallaby and Carnaby’s black cockatoo in southwest Australia, the bilby and Gouldian finch in the Kimberley, southern right whales in the Great Australian Bight, and marine turtles on the Great Barrier Reef.
WWF-Australia projects are delivered through partnerships with universities, government agencies, other environmental organisations, community groups, and by empowering Indigenous communities and ranger groups to play an active and effective role in threatened species and marine conservation.
Darren also leads WWF-Australia’s contributions to species and marine conservation in the Asia-Pacific region, most notably for species such as the tiger, and the snow leopard and in places such as Solomon Islands and Borneo.
He is an ecologist by trade and has studied at the Queensland University of Technology and James Cook University. Darren has over 20 years' experience in species conservation, environmental impact assessment, Indigenous education and land management, and the development of environmental and water policies.
Darren is most at home in the bush and is an avid birdwatcher and bushwalker.
RICKY ARCHER
Chief Executive Officer, North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance Ltd (NAILSMA)
Ricky Archer is a Djungan man from the Western Tablelands region of North Qld.
Ricky has a strong network of on ground land and sea managers across northern Australia from which to draw from and has demonstrated an ability to connect on-ground work of Indigenous organisations with regional, state and commonwealth priorities.
He has been actively involved and engaged on the Indigenous Advisory Committee since 2014 and has built good relationships with current members on the Committee. The Indigenous Advisory Committee (IAC) is an expert group who provide advice to the Minister for the Environment on the operation of the EPBC Act, taking into account the significance of Indigenous peoples' knowledge of the management of land and the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
He was also a member of the National Landcare Advisory Committee which provided further connections to the work of the Indigenous Advisory Committee.
Mr Archer has a background in geographical information systems, Indigenous knowledge management, and natural & cultural resource management.
TIA STEVENS
Assistant Secretary, Biodiversity and Water Science Branch, Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy
After completing her biological science degree Tia has enjoyed a range of national and international policy, program, central budget and administrative coordination roles over her 18 years’ experience working across the Commonwealth Agriculture and Environment portfolios.
Since joining the Commonwealth Environment Department back in 2006 Tia has been integral in delivering high profile government initiatives. Some highlights include reforming the Departments approach to fishery assessments under the EPBC Act, supporting the establishment of Australia’s first Business and Biodiversity Initiative under the Global Partnership for Business and Biodiversity, leading the cross government review of Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy, leading Australia’s engagement with the United Nations Convention of Biological Diversity including holding a two year term on the Conventions Bureau, and more recently leading delivery of the government’s reformed procurement of regional NRM under phase two of the National Landcare Program.
JO HOPKINS
Manager National and International Engagement
Parks Victoria
Jo Hopkins is the Manager National and International Engagement at Parks Victoria and has extensive experience in park management. She is responsible for the consolidation of high level partnerships that deliver on Government policy and facilitates initiatives with mutually beneficial outcomes between partners. As a result of this work, Jo has a strong network of industry contacts at local, national and international levels.
Jo has a combination of substantial professional experience with a deep commitment to the vital role that parks and protected areas play in ensuring a healthy natural world.
Jo is the Chair of the IUCN/WCPA Health and Well-being Specialist Group, Chair of Health Sciences Advisory Board for Deakin University, Co-Chair of the World Urban Parks Advocacy Committee and holds a B.A. in Recreation with Distinction from RMIT University. With experience in establishing two start-up not-for-profit organisations, Jo has a proven track record with ensuring good governance, developing policy and proactive communications with a membership base.
Jo is a keen swimmer and enjoys spending time in nature, particularly in many of NSW and Victoria’s spectacular coastal parks.
PETER COCHRANE
IUCN Regional Councillor
Peter has over twenty years experience in senior executive leadership and governance roles in the public and private sectors. He was elected in September 2016 to the IUCN Council to serve a four year term, nominated from Oceania. Peter is a member of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas and was a member of its Executive and Steering Committees (2014-2016).
He consults on environment and sustainability issues, and is currently an adviser to the national State of Environment Report 2016 focused on building its audience and utility, and its potential form post 2016.
He chairs the Steering Committee of the National Environmental Science Program’s Marine Biodiversity Hub and its Research Users Committee. He is a Director of Ecotourism Australia, TangaroaBlue Foundation, and chairs the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute. He sits on the Steering Group of the Protected Area Learning and Research Collaboration. Peter is an Adjunct Fellow at the Fenner School of Environment and Society at the Australian National University. He is an associate with two consulting companies: Futureye and Empowering Engagements.
Peter was Director of National Parks and head of Parks Australia from 1999-2013. He was Deputy Executive Director of the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (1994-1999) and an adviser to two federal Ministers for Primary Industries and Energy (1990-94). He worked in the Australian National University Research School of Biological Sciences as a technical officer and departmental manager in plant ecology and physiology (1974-1990). He has a BSc (ANU) and a Masters Public Policy (ANU).
BLATHNAID BYRNE
Treasurer
Bláthnaid is currently the Group Treasurer of AGL Energy, based in Sydney, Australia where she is responsible for funding, risk and liquidity management. With her career starting in Dublin, she spent over 15 years working in treasury roles across various industries including healthcare, travel and recruitment.
Bláthnaid holds the AMCT Diploma in Treasury from the Association of Corporate Treasurers, the Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants as well as a BA Degree in International Business & Languages (French & German) from Dublin City University.
Currently Bláthnaid is a member of the Finance and Treasury Association’s State Committee, with specific responsibility for Women in Treasury. At AGL, Blathnaid is a member of several committees including Superannuation, Health Safety Environment Wellbeing, Innovation and Transition Steering Committee, as well as the Corporate Citizenship Program, which manages AGL’s employee giving, volunteering and fundraising events including strategic partnerships with community organisations. Bláthnaid is a governor at WWF Australia.