New Reef Advisory Committee chair appointed

• The Honourable Dr Annabelle Bennett AC SC has been appointed chair of the Reef 2050 Advisory Committee.
• Dr Bennett is a retired Judge of the Federal Court of Australia, an additional judge of the Supreme Court of the ACT, and a Deputy President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
• The Reef 2050 Advisory Committee facilitates engagement with industry and the broader community on the Reef 2050 Plan and advises the Federal and Queensland governments on a range of reef matters.

The Honourable Dr Annabelle Bennett AC SC has been appointed chair of the Reef 2050 Advisory Committee.

Dr Bennett is a highly respected and distinguished retired Judge of the Federal Court of Australia, an additional judge of the Supreme Court of the ACT, and a Deputy President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

She is an internationally recognised leader in Intellectual Property patent law, specialising in scientific, medical and information technology issues and holds a wide range of leadership positions, including formerly being the Chancellor of Bond University.

Dr Bennett has chaired a range of high-level advisory committees including Australian Academy of Sciences roundtables on the World Heritage Convention and Climate Change, and Reef Futures.

The Reef 2050 Advisory Committee facilitates engagement with industry and the broader community on the implementation and review of the Reef 2050 Plan.

It also provides high level and strategic advice to the Australian and Queensland government ministers responsible for the Great Barrier Reef on a range of reef matters including the Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan.

The committee’s members are appointed by the Australian and Queensland governments.

The membership comprises Traditional Owners and senior representatives from seventeen reef stakeholder organisations including AgForce, Canegrowers, the Australian Institute of Marine Science, CSIRO, GBRMPA, the Queensland Resources Council, the World Wildlife Fund.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Leanne Linard:

“The Miles and Albanese governments are strongly committed to protecting, conserving, and managing our iconic Great Barrier Reef, with the Reef 2050 Plan guiding our collaborative efforts.

“We know the reef faces ongoing challenges, mainly relating to climate change, but also water quality, catchment care, and sustainably managing the many industry, tourism, and recreational activities that it supports.

“This is why the Reef 2050 Advisory Committee is critical in providing the necessary engagement with industry and the broader community on the implementation and review of the Reef 2050 Plan.

“I welcome Dr Bennett to her new role as Chair of this committee. It was a pleasure to meet with and personally welcome her to the role recently and I look forward to working with her and all committee members to continue protecting this world icon.”

Quotes attributable to the Special Envoy for the Great Barrier Reef and Senator for Queensland Nita Green:

“The Reef 2050 Advisory Committee plays an important role in bringing our governments together with key stakeholders to deliver meaningful action to protect and manage the Great Barrier Reef.

“Dr Bennett brings a great deal of experience in government leadership and her previous work on Reef and World Heritage issues will be invaluable to the committee.

“I’d like to thank the former Chair, the Honourable Penelope Wensley AC, for her work to ensure the Reef 2050 Plan remains current and is aligned with the latest knowledge and science.”

Quotes attributable to Dr Annabelle Bennett AC SC:

“I am delighted to be appointed the new Chair of the Reef 2050 Advisory Committee.

“The committee plays an essential role in bringing industry and the broader community together, fostering a collaborate approach to conserving the Great Barrier Reef.

“We know that the Reef faces numerous threats, and these require coordinated efforts across various sectors to meet and mitigate those threats.

“By involving industries such as tourism, fishing, and agriculture, we can develop and implement sustainable practices that reduce harmful impacts on the reef, while Traditional Owner and community engagement ensures that local knowledge and cultural values are incorporated into Reef conservation strategies.

“The Reef 2050 Advisory Committee has an unparalleled reputation for providing expert advice to government on Great Barrier Reef protection, and I look forward to working with committee members and the Australian and Queensland governments in ensuring that this continues.”

Further information:

Dr Bennett’s biography is available here.

Further information on the Reef Advisory Committee is available here.

Further information on the Reef 2020 Plan is available here.

ENDS

Media contact: Scott Chandler – (07) 3719 7339