Our Board of Councillors

The Foundation has a passionate board of Councillors who play an active role in the success of the Foundation. Each Councillor champions one (or more) Flagship Projects.

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 Ian Conley BSc (Hons) Mathematics, University of Exeter, UK; GAICD
Company Director and investor
Councillor - reappointed 25 November 2006 and Member, Audit, Finance and Investment Committee

Mr Conley is a private equity investor and director of small not-for-profit organisations and a biometrics company. He has an international consulting background.

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

Mr England practiced 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 Healthscope Limited.

Dr Tim Entwisle BSc, PhD
Executive Director of Botanic Gardens Trust and New South Wales Government Botanist
Councillor - appointed November 2003; appointed Secretary January 2007

Dr Entwisle is an internationally recognised plant scientist; author of over 70 scientific publications, including three books; regular contributor to 702 ABC Sydney radio and occasional writer for popular science and nature magazines.

Ms Sue Gazal
Councillor - appointed 2 June 2005
Ms Gazal has been a long time supporter of the Royal Botanic Gardens through various roles of the Friends of The Gardens and volunteer guiding in the Royal Botanic Gardens.

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).

Mr Hugh Springford B.Com (Otago) FCA (retired)
Councillor appointed 1 January 2009

Mr Springford is the Treasurer of the Friends of the Botanic Gardens, and of Keep Australia Beautiful (NSW). Before retiring in 2000 he was a partner in PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Mr John Taberner MA Hons, LLB, LLM (Geo Wash)
Practising Solicitor
Councillor - appointed 1 July 2007

Mr Taberner has extensive experience on all aspects of environmental law, in particular planning and pollution control law, the Kyoto Protocol as relevant to Australia, and analysis of Australian State-based carbon sequestration legislation.

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
Horticulturalist 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.

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