Australian_Geographic_-_October_2015_

Patron: Dick Smith Advisory Council: Ian Connellan,

Chrissie Goldrick, Adrian Goss, Tim Jarvis, John Leece,

Anna Rose, Todd Tai Chairperson: Jo Runciman

AGS Administrator: Nicola Conti

AGS MAJOR SPONSORS

We are pleased to introduce our new AGS expert advisory panel.

World of knowledge

September–October 2015 111

A

S THE NEWLY

appointed chair

of the Australian

Geographic Society, I

write my fi rst letter to

you with excitement and

anticipation for the year ahead. On

behalf of the AGS advisory committee

and our members, I’d like to say a huge

thanks to outgoing chair, Gregg

Haythorpe, who has helped build the

foundations of a bright future for the

Society. Gregg remains part of the AG

family and will be in touch whenever

he’s not out bush!

Over the next 12 months, the AGS

will be returning to basics: dispersing

funds to projects that align with our

core values in the fields of adventure,

science and conservation.

Each year the funds you help to

raise by subscribing to this journal,

donating to campaigns through the

AG retail stores or buying one of our

books are distributed through twice-

yearly sponsorship rounds.

Applicants submit their grant

proposals via our website, and our

various subcommittees then decide

where the funds are best placed. I’m

pleased to announce several new

appointments to these teams.

On our science and conservation

committees we have the honour of

being joined by two new expert

advisers. One is last year’s AGS

Conservationist of the Year, Anna

Rose, who is national manager of the

WWF’s Earth Hour Australia, as well

as a successful author and the

co-founder of the Australian Youth

Climate Coalition. We are also

delighted to welcome acclaimed

scientist, explorer, conservationist

and former Australian of the Year

Professor Tim Flannery.

On our adventure committee we

are excited to announce that the

specialist advisors will be 2013

Adventurer of the Year and seasoned

polar explorer Tim Jarvis, AM, and

photographer and former AGS Spirit

of Adventure awardee Chris Bray.

As we head towards AUSTRALIAN

GEOGRAPHIC’s 30th birthday in

January 2016, we would like to assure

our valued members that the vital

funds you help raise will be put to the

best possible use under the expert

guidance of our new advisers.

Thank you once again for your

ongoing support and we look forward

to seeing you at the Australian

Geographic Society Awards night on

28 October (see opposite).

JO RUNCIMAN

Expert advice. L–R: Anna

Rose in the Antarctic, Tim

Flannery in the outback and

Tim Jarvis (at left) on his

Shackleton Epic adventure.

AUSTR ALIAN GEOGR APHIC SOCIETY NEWS & INITIATIVES

115

UPCOMING EXPEDITIONS

Explore far and wide with the AGS.

113

K EEP IT QUOLL-ITY!

Donate to help this marsupial carnivore.

112

WOMBATS AR E GO

Conservation success for northern species.

COURTESY ANNA ROSE; RANDY LARCOMBE; COURTESY TIM JARVIS