First members of environmental education council announced
26 November 1999
The membership of the first NSW Council on Environmental Education was announced today by Environment Minister Bob Debus.
Mr Debus said the Council was formed earlier this year as part of the Carr Government's reforms of environmental education.
"I am delighted to announce that the first Chairperson of the Council is Associate Professor Ronnie Harding, Director of the of the Institute of Environmental Studies at the University of NSW," said Mr Debus.
"Dr Harding is highly qualified for the job, and her long track record in education means she brings valuable experience to the job of Chairperson.
"The Council will advise the Government on directions in environmental education. Importantly, it will also develop three-year environmental education plans that will ensure programs in NSW are coordinated across all the sectors involved," said Mr Debus.
"It brings together all the different sectors involved in this area. It is made up of representatives from organisations with direct involvement in the delivery of environmental education.
"This will help avoid any duplication of effort and ensure that there are no gaps in services.
"The Council is a clear demonstration of the Carr Government's commitment to the environment and to better environmental education. The Government's reforms in this area have put NSW at the forefront of environmental education in Australia and internationally.
"In fact, NSW residents last year named environmental education as the highest priority for Government action on the environment.
"Public consultation on the Government's 1997 green paper on the future of environmental education revealed a huge level of support for the idea of setting up a Council.
"Its two-tier structure means that everyone with an interest in environmental education can have an input to decision making through working groups and community consultation.
"The Council will also have a role in monitoring performance in environmental education, and will report on progress against the education plans in the NSW State of the Environment Reports.
"Its first job is to produce a discussion paper on the process for developing environmental education plans," said Mr Debus.
The members of the Council are:
Mr Syd Smith – Chief Education Officer, Environmental Education Unit, Curriculum Support Directorate, NSW Department of Education and Training. Nominee of the Minister for Education and Training, representing the Department of Education and Training
Ms Julie Buckley - Director, Primary Industries & Natural Resources, TAFE NSW Education Services Division. Nominee of the Minister for Education and Training, representing the NSW TAFE Commission
Ms Sally Barnes - Director, Education & Community Programs, National Parks & Wildlife Service. Nominee of the Minister for the Environment, representing the Environment Portfolio
Mr Graeme Head – Assistant Director-General, EPA, representing the EPA.
Dr Mike Curll - General Manager, Strategic Review, NSW Agriculture. Nominee of the Minister for Agriculture and Land and Water Conservation, representing the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Land and Water Conservation.
Dr Glen Albrecht - Senior Lecturer, Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, University of Newcastle, representing the NSW Vice-Chancellor's Conference.
Dr Kim Walker – Past President, Australian Association for Environmental Education, representing professional associations for environmental education.
Ms Sue Lennox - Director, Australian Programs, Oz Green (Global Rivers Environmental Education Network Australia Inc.), representing the NSW Nature Conservation Council.
Ms Barbara Aird - Councillor, Manly Council, representing the Local Government and Shires Associations.
Mr David Papps - Executive Director, NSW Regional Planning Division, nominee of the Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning, representing the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning.
Mr Mark Fogarty - Director, Environment and Energy, Australian Industry Group, representing Industry.
Page last updated: 27 February 2011
