BOARD OF DIRECTORS
It's a unique privilege to be part of WWF-Australia's ambitious strategy. I look forward to wholeheartedly supporting our dedicated teams, invaluable partners, and all those who share our commitment to Regenerate Nature by 2030."
President, Director; Member, Board of Directors since 2021. Member of Finance, Audit & Risk Management Committee.
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 their fellow Directors for a term of three years, for up to two terms.
Our Directors
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.
Chair at Net Zero Emissions & Clean Economy Board; Lead, Responsible AI Think Tank, at CSIRO Data61; Entrepreneur-in-residence, at CSIRO Data61; Director, Climate Leaders Coalition; Board Director, Talent Beyond Boundaries; Member, Chief Executive Women; Board Director, Gigacomm; 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.
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; Director, Better World Communications Ltd (HK); Fellow of the Fundraising Institute Australia (FFIA).
Mrs Nicole Sparshott
Nicky is the Global Chief of Transformation for Unilever, and former CEO of Unilever Australia & New Zealand and Global CEO of luxury retailer, T2 Tea. She has over 27 years of experience in developing and building successful purpose led brands, growing high performing 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. Recognized for her depth and breadth of expertise across FMCG, Retail, Luxury, and Ecommerce, Nicky also brings broader based category experience spanning food, beverages, health care and personal care. Nicky holds a Masters in International Business, which has been supported by significant global management experience across Australia, New Zealand, UK, Europe, USA and the highly diverse markets of Asia. She recently completed an Executive MBA in Change, through INSEAD Business School, graduating with Distinction. She is also an HBDI certified practitioner, focusing on driving performance through leadership behaviours & impacts and is a TED-X Sydney Speaker (tabling the case for Love as the New Corporate Currency). 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 Chief of Transformation for 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; Chair of WWF-Australia’s Innovation & Ventures Group; Founding Member Climate Leaders Coalition & B-Team Australasia; Member of Australasian Advisory Board of the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute; Member of UTS Vice Chancellors Industry Advisory Board; Member Chief Executive Women.
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; Process Unite Coordinator.
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 (Chair since Dec 2021). 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.
Member of WWF-Australia’s Eminent Scientists Group; 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); Member, Steering Group, Ecological Forecasting Initiative; Member, Steering Group, Tanami Regional Biodiversity Monitoring Program; Advisor, Sydney Environment Institute.
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.
Partner and Melbourne Practice Director, Allens; Company Secretary since Nov 2022; Member, Nominating and Governance Committee; Australian Institute of Company Directors, Victorian Planning and Environmental Law Association.
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 2022.
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; Board member, NRM Regions Australia; Chair, ACT Natural Resources Management Advisory Committee.
Dr David Ireland
David Ireland is a seasoned professional with a diverse background spanning innovation, investment, environmental conservation and sustainable development. He is committed to helping solve the complex challenges needed to realise a future that is sustainable and equitable for people and planet.
Director; Member, Board of Directors since 2025.
Mrs Camille Goldstone-Henry
Camille is the CEO & Co-founder of Xylo Systems, a biodiversity technology company helping businesses assess and manage their nature-related risks. She is a conservation biologist and former Conservation Manager for the Zoo and Aquarium Association, where she played a key role in endangered species recovery programs across Australia and globally. Camille has extensive experience in biodiversity risk management, corporate sustainability, and integrating biodiversity into business strategy. Camille holds a Bachelor of Animal & Veterinary Science (Wildlife Conservation) and an MBA, combining deep scientific expertise with business leadership. As a Kamilaroi woman, she is a strong advocate for Indigenous knowledge in conservation and is committed to using technology to scale nature-positive action.
Director; Member, Board of Directors since 2025.
Member, Young Indigenous Women in STEM Academy Steering Committee, CSIRO Chair of the Board, Xylo Systems Member, The University of Sydney Alumni Council Member, Innovation Committee, Prime Ministers Prize for Science.
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)
- Mrs Judy Slatyer
- Mrs Nicky Sparshott
- Mr Sean Triner
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:
- Ms Jillian Button
- Prof Glenda Wardle
- Prof Jamie Pittock
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
- Prof Lesley Hughes
- Prof Glenda Wardle
- Dr Dedee Woodside AM