Our Board of Councillors

The Foundation has a passionate board of Councillors who play an active role in the success of the Foundation. They give generously of their time and skills and are highly appreciated.

Councillors

Mr Clive Austin LLM (Lon), FAICD
Company Director
Councillor and Chair Royal Botanic Gardens Foundation - appointed 1 July 2007
Member, Audit, Finance and Investment Committee

Mr Austin is Chairman of Consolo Limited (Group) which has interests in the horticultural and agricultural sector. He is Chairman of Oasis Horticulture Pty Limited. He has chaired Boards and Committees of a number of not-for-profit and community organisations and currently is Chairman of the Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney, Director and Past President of the Royal Life Saving Society Australia (NSW) and Past President of Redkite.

Mr Daniel Baffsky BLA (Hons), RLA, BEc
Landscape Architect
Councillor - appointed 16 February 2010.
Principal of 360^o

In 2001, Daniel established the award-winning landscape architectural practice 360o. He has since overseen the design of The National Centre of Indigenous Excellence, Redfern; �Ivy�, Sydney; The Kuwaiti Diplomatic Mission Complex, Canberra; Sam Fiszman Park, Bondi Beach; M Central, Ultimo and The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Darlinghurst. Daniel has previously worked in investment banking, public relations and tourism.

Ms Penny Curry BA (Earth Sciences), Dip Ed.
High School Teacher and horticulturalist
Councillor - appointed 16 February 2010

Penny Curry worked primarily as a secondary school teacher. She has worked with the Friends of The Gardens in the Artisans Exhibition. Penny studied Horticulture at Ryde School of Horticulture.

Mr Richard England FCA, MAICD
Chartered Accountant and Company Director
Councillor appointed 11 June 2009 and Member, Audit, Finance and Investment Committee

Richard practised in the fields of Insolvency and Management Advisory for over 30 years. He is a former partner of Peat Marwick and Ernst & Young. His current board appointments include Chandler Macleod Group Limited (Chairman), Ruralco Holdings Limited (Chairman), Allianz Australia Limited, Choiseul Investments Limited and Nanosonics Limited. Richard is also Deputy Chairman of The Indigenous Australian Art Commercial Code of Conduct Administration Committee.

Ms Odette Gourley BA LLB (Hons)
Lawyer
Councillor - appointed 15 February 2011

Odette is a lawyer practising in the fields of intellectual property and technology, and a partner of leading Australian law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth. Odette is passionate about plants and the Gardens, and her next project is to create a garden in the challenging environment of a Sydney east coast ocean cliff.

Mr Ronald Griffin BEng Chem, USyd, MBA, UNSW
Banker
Councillor - appointed 1 July 2007 and Chair, Audit, Finance and Investment Committee

Mr Griffin is an experienced banker specialising in major infrastructure and other projects. Family involvement and his long term interest in the Botanic Gardens has led to his joining the Foundation.

Mr Nicholas Playoust BSc Arch, BArch (Hons) USyd, MAIDC
Company Director and Executive
Councillor - appointed 15 July 2009

Mr Playoust is the Managing Director of AEH Property and is responsible for the oversight of all of the Group�s property interests. Prior to this, he practised as an architect and development manager in Australia and the UK. He is also a member of the Property Council of Australia�s Planning Committee (NSW).

Ms Adelle Robinson B Media
Event Producer
Councillor - appointed 21 September 2010
Director Fuzzy Events Pty Ltd, Director Heaps Decent

Adelle has been producing large scale events in environmentally sensitive venues around Australia since 2000. She has worked in Brisbane City Botanic Gardens, Royal Botanic Gardens of Adelaide, Centennial Park and Moore Park, the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne and of course the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney. After discovering her Indigenous heritage Adelle became involved with the Heaps Decent organisation that runs music workshops with underprivileged and Indigenous young people around Australia. She became a Director of the organisation in 2009.

Mr Tony Sherlock BEc, FCA, MAICD
Company Director
Councillor - appointed 16 February 2010
Member, Audit, Finance and Investment Committee - appointed 21 September 2010
Mr Sherlock is a widely known and successful professional with 20 years in credit risk management and corporate administration. He is currently a non-executive director of a number of public companies in mining, property and health care IT.

President

Mr Greg Martin BEc, LLB, MAICD, FAIM
Company Director
Chair of Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust since December 2003
Acting Chair of Foundation - August 2004 - November 2007
President - appointed November 2007

Greg is non executive Chairman of Jackgreen Limited, Gas Valpo S.A. (Chile) and Everest Financial Group. He is also a non executive Director of Energy Developments Limited and the Australian Energy Operator Limited. Greg is the former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of The Australian Gas Light Company (AGL) and Chief Executive, Infrastructure for Challenger Financial Services Group.

Ambassadors

Mr Jamie Durie DipHort
Horticulturist and Landscape Designer
Councillor - 2 June 2005 - November 2007
Ambassador - appointed November 2007

Jamie Durie is the founder and Director of Patio, Architectural Landscape and Design. He is also a television host, producer and author of seven best-selling garden and design books. A committed environmentalist and advocate for preserving our natural surroundings and environmental future, Jamie is also passionately involved in environmental and charity work.

Dr Robyn Williams AM BSc (Hons)
Science journalist and radio and television presenter
Ambassador - appointed August 2009

Robyn Williams presents Radio National's Science Show and Ockham's Razor. He is highly respected in the academic world being the first journalist elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. In 1988, he received an Honorary Doctorate in Science from the Universities of Sydney, Macquarie and Deakin. The ANU awarded him a Doctorate of Law, and he is a Visiting Professor at the University of NSW and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Queensland. Robyn Williams has written over 10 books.