Chief Executive Officer —
Kelly O'Shanassy
Advocacy is about changing what is into what should be. This one, incredible idea has shaped my life and led me to ACF.
Long before I fell in love with our rivers and forests, I grew up in a fairly tough neighbourhood where people had little money but were rich in courage and community spirit. This taught me the value of working for the greater good. As a teenager, we lived in a caravan in the country with no running water – this taught me about our reliance on nature for life. And then I moved to the big smoke and went to university and studied the science of nature.
I’ve been incredibly lucky to have worked in business, in government and now in the community sector, all which are crucial to creating positive change.
In my roles I’ve established world-first environment protection policies, saved water, boosted recycling, safeguarded fragile rivers from overuse and pollution, stopped coal mines and kick-started renewable energy. I’ve advised business CEOs on their journey towards sustainability and chaired environment and community committees for government. But it’s the community work that I love.
Believing strongly in the power of people to advocate for a better future, I’m focused on growing the number and diversity of people who speak up and take action. There are millions of people who share a love of nature and a desire to do the right thing, let's unite and create change. After all, the power of the people is greater than the people in power... it is greater than anything!
Director of Campaigns —
Dr Paul Sinclair
For over a decade now I’ve been finding ways of working with others to get water back into rivers, pollution out of our skies and oceans, places we love protected, and power to people to make the changes we need.
I decided I wanted to put the world back together in a better way when I was a kid watching the forests and rivers around our family farm die.
I wasn’t going to stand by silently and let that happen again.
Now I get to speak out, show up and act for a world where forests, rivers, people and wildlife thrive. And I do this with over 700, 000 supporters and a great team at my back like a strong wind.
At ACF I have the privilege of leading campaign strategies, policy and program development and implementation for ACF's climate change and energy, nature protection, economics, government relations, democracy and community organising programs.
For over a decade now I’ve been finding ways of working with others to get water back into rivers, pollution out of our skies and oceans, places we love protected, and power to people to make the changes we need.
People are at the heart of it all.
I keep replenished by spending time with fantastic people and getting out into nature. That might mean getting submerged in Australia’s greatest river, spending time with Traditional Owners on Cape York or playing cricket in a great urban park ringed by big old eucalypts.
It all counts. I’ll be spending my time on Earth making sure it does.
Director of Engagement —
Paul Sheridan
I first got to see the difference people can make when my mum rafted Tasmania’s Franklin River at the peak of protest blockades in 1982.
People need nature, but nature also needs people. I have seen the evidence of this many times over the past 25 years in my roles as an environment reporter, adviser to an environment minister, and as an advocate for the environment working with communities across Australia.
I first got to see the difference people can make when my mum rafted Tasmania’s Franklin River at the peak of protest blockades in 1982. I was awed by those willing to put their bodies on the line to save the river, while also thrilled my parent was so courageous (and reckless).
Opponents of greater protection for our forests, rivers and wildlife would have us believe that a choice has to be made between maintaining our way of life, particularly economic opportunities, and protecting nature. The reality, however, is that the vast majority of Australians understand the opposite: that they are inter-linked and a prosperous way of life depends on having a healthy environment.
It wasn’t until I went bush in 2002 to work on a sheep and cattle property in western Queensland that I really understood how deeply people cared for the land and came to realise how widely this commitment to conservation of our natural heritage is shared. During the crippling drought of the early 2000s, I heard and saw time and again how people managing the land planned and acted for the long term – they understood that sustaining the health of the soil and plant life, of rivers and creeks, of whole landscapes was vital for their long term survival and prosperity.
ACF’s talented Engagement team are working hard to bring stories like this to life and share them with you. By doing this we can move, together, toward resolving our nation’s and planet’s most pressing environmental challenges.
Director of Fundraising — Christine Anderson
Working at ACF allows me to combine my love of fundraising and philanthropy with my yearning to leave the world a better place for future generations.
I was born and raised in Canada and have been fortunate to live in countries as diverse as Algeria, Panama, Chile and the USA before moving to Brisbane in 2012 with my husband and two kids.
Before joining ACF, I led fundraising and marketing teams at Variety – the Children’s Charity of Queensland, and CauseForce, which enabled critical health and community services. Back in North America, after completing my studies in marketing, I worked in the corporate sector in international sales and marketing before deciding to change course and become a fundraiser over 12 years ago.
I’m proud to be a Certified Fundraising Executive and Executive Member of Fundraising Institute Australia. I’m a passionate advocate for ethical fundraising, lifelong learning, fundraising best practice and loving our donors.
Working at ACF allows me to combine my love of fundraising and philanthropy with my yearning to leave the world a better place for future generations. We are facing a crucial moment in the fight to protect nature and stop climate change, and it’s because of ACF’s generous supporters that we’re able to carry out our vital work of standing up for every living thing.
I am privileged to work with such a talented team of fundraisers to connect you, our amazing supporters, with the environmental issues you care most about. Thank you for supporting ACF!