BOARD OF DIRECTORS
I am motivated by the challenges facing both the environment and humanity as a whole and working with an organisation like WWF, who can make meaningful change, is a great privilege.
President WWF-Australia
As our planet faces a critical point of no return, we at WWF must do all for can for future generations to safeguard the Earth on which we live. This means drawing on the best available science as the basis for delivering effective long term conservation outcomes.
WWF-Australia's Board of Directors is elected at the Annual General Meeting by the membership of Governors. Directors must be Governors and be nominated by their fellow Governors. Each year one-quarter of the Board must retire, and if eligible they may be nominated for re-election. Directors of the Board can sit on the Board for six consecutive years, with extensions in some cases. The President of the Board is appointed by his fellow Directors for a term of three years, for up to two terms.
Our Directors
Mr Martijn Wilder, AM
Martijn is passionate about preserving nature and leaving the world a better place for future generations.
President, Director; Member, Board of Directors since 2012. Founding Partner, Pollination Capital Partners; Director, Climate Council of Australia; Chair, NSW Climate Change Council; Governing Board member, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP); Member, Wentworth Institute of Concerned Scientists; Visiting Professor of Law, Australian National University; Former Partner, Baker McKenzie (Head of Baker McKenzie’s Global Environmental Markets and Climate Change practice, and Chair, Baker McKenzie Law for Development Initiative).
Prof. Chris Dickman
Chris has long been fascinated by biodiversity, the processes that shape where living things occur, what they are, what they do and how they interact. He is deeply concerned about the erosion of biodiversity and its consequences for human and planetary health and strives to find ways to achieve more effective conservation.
Director; Member, Board of Directors since 2015; Member, Eminent Scientists Group; Chair, Nominating and Governance Committee. Professor in Ecology (Personal Chair), University of Sydney; Councillor, Royal Zoological Society of NSW; Member of the Research Committee for the Hermon Slade Foundation and the Australia and Pacific Science Foundation; Scientific Associate of the Taronga Conservation Society Australia; Member, Technical Advisory Panel, Environmental Defenders Office; Member, Invasive Species Council; Fellow, Australian Academy of Science.
Peter Everingham
Peter has long grappled with how to protect the environment from the growth-centric nature of his business world. He has a particular love of the oceans and a keen interest in sustainable agriculture.
Director; Member, Board of Directors since 2017; Member, Finance, Audit & Risk Management Committee; Member, Nominating and Governance Committee; Director, iCar Asia Pty Ltd.; Director, Super Retail Group; Director, Lion's Share Fund Australia; Director ME Bank. Former Managing Director of SEEK Limited's International division including Chairman of their China business, Zhaopin Limited and Director of their education businesses, IDP Education, Online Education Services and THINK Education; Former director of strategy for Yahoo! in Australia and Southeast Asia.
Mr Sean Triner
Director; Member, Board of Directors since 2017; Member, Finance Audit & Risk Management Committee; .
Director and Owner of Moceanic; Director, Better World Ventures Pty Ltd.; former owner and co-founder of Pareto Fundraising.
Mrs Nicole Sparshott
Nicky is CEO of Unilever Australia & New Zealand and Global CEO of luxury retailer, T2 Tea. She has over 25 years of experience in developing and building brands, growing businesses, and transforming infrastructure and culture. She has worked across a broad range of organisations including Unilever, The Coca-Cola Company, P&G and George Patterson Y&R. Nicky is also a Non-Executive Director on the Board of both WWF-Australia & Global Sisters. She is a passionate advocate that businesses today must drive sustainable agendas that positively impact both people and the planet and in doing so be a true force for good.
Director; Member, Board of Directors since 2018. CEO T2 Tea since 2016 and Global Vice President Unilever since 2011; Non-Executive Director, Global Sisters; Former senior level commercial and marketing roles held Unilever, the Coca-Cola Company and George Patterson Y&R across multiple markets – Asia, UK, USA and Australia.
Mr Phil Rist
Director; Member, Board of Directors since 2019. Phil is a Traditional Owner from the Nywaigi people. He has always been passionate about Indigenous land and sea management which includes culture, people and how effective Indigenous management of Country can contribute to the spiritual, emotional health of mob.
Executive Officer and founding member, Girringun Aboriginal Corporation; Director, Wet Tropics Management Authority; Director, North Queensland Tropics Board; Chairperson, Indigenous Arts Centre Alliance. Former Chair, Indigenous Reef Advisory Committee for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority; Former Deputy Chairperson, North Qld Land Council.
Phil was the first Indigenous marine parks inspector employed by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. He then became ranger-in-charge of the former Lumholtz National Park which he was ironically, instrumental in changing the name from Lumholtz to Girringun National Park.
Mrs Joanne Lupton
Joanne is passionate about the environment and contributing in a positive way to creating a world where people live in harmony with nature.
Director; Treasurer; Member, Board of Directors since 2021.
Chair, Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee. Partner, KPMG Australia; Member, KPMG’s Global Valuations Funds Committee; Chair, KPMG Deals, Tax and Legal Inclusion and Diversity Committee; Member, Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand; Fellow of the Financial Services Institute Australasia.
Prof. Glenda Wardle
Director; Member, Board of Directors since 2021.
Professor of Ecology and Evolution in the School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney; co-lead of the Desert Ecology Research Group, University of Sydney; Member of the Sydney Institute of Agriculture and the Citizen Science Node of the Charles Perkins Centre. Chair of the Ecosystem Science Council of Australia; Ambassador, TERN NSW; Biodiversity theme lead for ARC Centre for Data Analytics for Resources and Environments (DARE).
Mrs Judy Slatyer
Judy’s passion is to support Australia, Australians and Australian businesses to shift to a sustainable future; one where humans and nature live in harmony.
Director; Member, Board of Directors since 2021.
Entrepreneur-in-residence at CSIRO. Member, Organising Committee, Climate Leaders Coalition. Adviser to PWC on ESG. Director, Talent Beyond Boundaries. Member, Chief Executive Women. Prior roles include: CEO, Australian Red Cross. Chief Operating Officer, WWF International. CEO, Lonely Planet. Involved in CSIRO’s Australian National Outlook 2019, The Australian Business Roundtable for Disaster Resilience & Safer Communities, the World Economic Forum Global Risk Assessment.
Prof. Jamie Pittock
Jamie is Professor at the Fenner School of Environment and Society at The Australian National University. His research focusses on sustainability of water use and linkages with conserving biodiversity, adapting to climate change, and producing energy and food. He undertakes research in Africa, Asia and Australia.
Director; Member, Board of Directors since 2021.
Chair, Eminent Scientists Group, WWF Australia. Member, Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists. Public Fund member, Water Stewardship Asia-Pacific. Member, IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas. Member, Institute of Australian Geographers. Member, International Water Resources Association. Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
Ms Jillian Button
Jillian is a partner at Australian law firm, Allens. She has practised in environmental law for over a decade, and is the head of the firm’s climate change practice. Jillian has advised industry, government and not-for-profit organisations on environmental and sustainability matters, and her practice encompasses renewable energy, ESG, biodiversity and regulatory compliance.
Director; Member, Board of Directors since 2022.
Australian Institute of Company Directors, Victorian Planning and Environmental Law Association
Committees of the Board
The Board is assisted in its function by two committees, whose membership is drawn from the Board and who report to the Board as well as two advisory groups consisting of some of Australia’s leading most eminent scientists, business leaders and innovators.
Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee (FARM)
This committee must include members with relevant financial expertise. Its main role is to assist the Board by providing oversight of finance and business affairs, compliance, risks and internal controls and appointment of auditors. The Committee members are:
- Mrs Joanne Lupton (Chair)
- Mr Peter Everingham
- Mrs Judy Slatyer
- Mrs Nicky Sparshott
- Mr Sean Triner
- Mr Martijn Wilder
Nomination and Governance Committee
This committee must include members with relevant corporate governance expertise. Its main role is to assist the Board by having oversight of the processes for admission of WWF-Australia Governors, nomination and evaluation of the Board of Directors, and other governance processes. Members of the Committee are:
- Prof Chris Dickman
- Ms Jillian Button
- Mr Peter Everingham
- Prof. Glenda Wardle
- Mr Martijn Wilder, AM
Eminent Scientists Group (ESG)
The Eminent Scientists Group provides advice and support to the Board and to WWF-Australia to enable it to operate effectively as a science-based, solutions focussed organisation. The group provides guidance on the strategic direction of priority programs, cross-cutting themes, marketing and engagement, and emerging issues in conservation. Members of the ESG are:
- Prof. Jamie Pittock (Chair)
- Prof. Sarah Bekessy
- Prof. Christopher Dickman
- Dr Andrea Griffin
- Prof. Lesley Hughes
- Prof. Glenda Wardle
- Dr Dedee Woodside AM
Innovation and Ventures Group (IVG)
The IVG’s role is to provide thought leadership and to support and advise WWF-Australia on its innovation and venture initiatives so they are well-considered, executed and risk managed. This ensures we maximise outcomes in line with our strategic goals. The IVG members are:
- Mrs Nicole Sparshott (Chair)
- Dr David Ireland
- Mr Peter Everingham
- Mr Peter Kingston