Environment Victoria Announces New CEO

26 May 2014

The Board of Environment Victoria is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Wakeham as Environment Victoria’s Chief Executive Officer.

Mr Wakeham has been the organisation’s Campaigns Director since 2008 and Acting CEO since March 2014.

Board President, Amanda Nuttall said “We had an extremely strong field of candidates for the role, but we’re very pleased to appoint Mark who is a well-recognised and highly respected leader in the Australian environment movement.”

“Over the past two decades he has been at the forefront of some of Australia’s biggest and most successful environment campaigns and a key part of Environment Victoria’s supporter growth and success in recent years.

“We’ve been very fortunate to have the benefit of Mark’s experience and energy leading our climate and nature campaigns. He has been a key architect of the innovative and bold strategies that Environment Victoria has become known for.”

Mr Wakeham said “I’ve worked with Environment Victoria for the past six years because I believe it is one of the most vital, dynamic and respected environment groups in the country.”

“We’ve seen an incredible upsurge of support in recent years from Victorians taking action with us to safeguard our environment. Environment Victoria’s supporter base has grown five-fold to 60,000 supporters in the last 4 years, and I look forward to continuing to grow our supporter base and impact.

“This is a crucial time for Victoria’s environment, with our ecosystems under enormous pressure and our state ill-prepared for climate change. Victorians are ready and waiting for leadership from government and business to restore and protect our environment and clean up our energy supply. Our task is to support and focus this community appetite and ensure that our political representatives, from all parties, have no choice but to make Victoria a leader in environmental protection and sustainability.”

About Mr Wakeham:

• Grew up and went to school in Ringwood in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.
• Studied Economics and History at Melbourne University and the University of British Columbia and spent 3 years as a radio operator in the Australian Army.
• Was Director of the Environment Centre of the Northern Territory from 1999-2004 where he led successful campaigns to prevent the Jabiluka uranium mine from proceeding in Kakadu and secured protection for 30,000 km2 of the Daly Basin from land clearing.
• Worked in the solar industry across northern Australia installing solar power in Aboriginal communities.
• Led Greenpeace Australia Pacific’s renewable energy and community engagement campaigns from 2005-2008 including the successful campaign to increase Australia’s national renewable energy target in 2007.
• At Environment Victoria has led successful campaigns to establish Victoria’s Climate Change Act, increase the landfill levy, establish solar feed-in tariffs, improve the Murray-Daring Basin Plan and to prevent new coal mines and the HRL coal-fired power station. Has played a key role in growing the organisation’s supporter base and diversifying funding sources.

For comment

President of Environment Victoria:     Amanda Nuttall        0404 066 086
Environment Victoria CEO:         Mark Wakeham        0439 700 501