Former Greens leader Adam Bandt will be the next CEO of the Australian Conservation Foundation. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Former Greens leader Adam Bandt will head up the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) as its new chief executive officer from January next year, replacing outgoing CEO Kelly O’Shanassy.
Mr Bandt unexpectedly lost his federal seat of Melbourne in the May election to Labor’s Sarah Witty, in a result Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is said to have enjoyed as much as seeing former Liberal leader Peter Dutton lose his seat.
Mr Bandt had held the seat for the party since 2010 when he became the first Greens MP to win a seat in the House of Representatives.
He led the party from 2020 until his defeat in Melbourne at the polls this year.
Labor insiders had told Region they never expected to win back the seat from the Greens.
But the federal election saw the Greens all but wiped out in the House of Representatives. Only Elizabeth Watson-Brown was returned in the seat of Ryan.
The Senate result was a different story. The election gave the Greens sole balance of power in the Upper House.
The former Greens leader, an industrial lawyer, will no longer play any further role in the party after taking up the top job at the ACF.
But his new position in the environmental advocacy group will see him very much involved in the political debate.
“It is a true privilege to help lead Australia’s most respected voice for nature and climate at such a critical time,” Mr Bandt said in a statement on Monday (8 September).
“Kelly O’Shanassy has done incredible work and built a very strong organisation and I pay tribute to her huge efforts.
“Climate collapse is beginning, nature is in crisis and this is the parliament that can avoid extinction. This could be the best parliament ever for nature and climate. We’re setting politicians a test we hope they meet.”
Ms O’Shanassy has led the ACF for 11 years.
Mr Bandt’s appointment was a unanimous board decision and followed a wide search for the organisation’s new boss.
ACF board chair Ros Harvey announced the appointment of Mr Bandt and paid tribute to Ms O’Shanassy’s work with the organisation.
“We undertook a rigorous search for ACF’s next CEO, spanning many countries and including screening more than 300 candidates,” Ms Harvey said.
“Adam was unanimously supported by our board as the right person to lead ACF into its next chapter.
“Mr Bandt has the vision, the bravery and the experience required to meet the challenging years ahead as Australia grapples with devastating climate change and accelerating nature destruction.
“Hard times require bold leadership.”
She said the ACF had a proud 60-year history of delivering as a voice for nature and an organisation that made real change to address the biggest issues.
“I thank and acknowledge Kelly O’Shanassy for her exceptional leadership – under which ACF has gone from strength to strength – her legacy is well respected.
“We look forward to welcoming Adam officially next year.”
Since 1965, the ACF has campaigned to protect Australia’s nature, unique wildlife, beaches and bush.
The foundation’s web page promotes itself as being “driven by the power of people” to have successfully won World Heritage listing for the Great Barrier Reef and Kakadu National Park, and “returned precious water” to the rivers of the Murray-Darling.
“We influence governments and businesses to protect the animals, rivers and reefs close to our hearts and hold decision-makers to account without fear or favour,” the web page states.
“Everything we do is evidence based and helps nature and people thrive for generations to come.
“We won’t give up until Australia’s nature is protected and regenerated. Nature needs us, now.”
