The Antarctic Science Foundation Ltd was registered in September 2017.
Professor Emma Johnston AO is Dean of Science and Professor of Marine Ecology and Ecotoxicology at UNSW Sydney. A highly awarded scientist and educator, Professor Johnston has published more than 135 peer-reviewed articles and supervised more than 20 successful PhD graduates. Selected prizes include the Australian Academy of Science's inaugural Nancy Mill's Medal for Women in Science (2014), and the 2015 Eureka Prize for the public communication of science. In 2018 Emma was named one of the 2018 The Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence and an Officer of the Order of Australia for "distinguished service to higher education, particularly to marine ecology and ecotoxicology, as an academic, researcher and administrator, and to scientific institutes".
A strong advocate for equity and diversity in STEM and for sound environmental management, Professor Johnston is President of Science & Technology Australia (STA) and sits on the Board of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) and the Australian Antarctic Foundation (ASF). She consults with industry through the development and implementation of new biomonitoring techniques and environmental monitoring programs and frequently contributes expert opinion to state, federal & international government agencies. Professor Johnston is a highly sought-after science communicator and television presenter for the ongoing BBC/Foxtel series, Coast Australia and ABC Catalyst.
The founder and CEO of Thirst, Mina is an entrepreneur and adventurer, passionate and committed to making a difference in the world. Following a 15-year successful career as a world leader in climate change that started in law, progressed to the World Bank and then to cofounding boutique investment firm Peony Capital, Mina established Thirst – an organisational initiative of the Young Global Leaders of the World Economic Forum. She has been named one of Australia's most influential women by the World Economic Forum. She was also listed as one of the 50 greatest leaders in the world by Fortune Magazine in 2016.
Mina became the first person to run the equivalent of 40 marathons across 7 Deserts on 7 Continents in just 7 Weeks to raise awareness of the water crisis in 2016. With media coverage across CNN, BBC, ITV, ABC, CCTV and others, Mina's messages about water reached more than 4 billion people across the globe. In 2017 she ran 40 marathons in 40 days down 6 of the world's great rivers on 6 continents to support Sustainable Development Goal 6, documenting the water challenges and presenting them at the UN.
Mina is currently attempting the huge challenge of running 100 marathons in 100 days to continue her awareness raising campaign about the water crisis, follow her progress here.
Troy Guenther is a global leader in strategic technology and customer experience. His career has been focused on how to use technology to help companies be more transparent with their customers, improve the way those customers do business, and minimise the costs by the use of emerging technologies.
Troy was the Lead Architect at the nbn, who was responsible for defining a new industry mode of operation for telecommunications never done at the scale Australia was attempting, with a focus on improving the way that the nbn and the telco industry improved their interactions with the Australia consumers and businesses. Additionally, he and his team helped establish much of the operational capabilities of the company, with a keen goal to minimise the amount of manual effort required.
Prior to the nbn, Troy has worked consulting a series of organisations, helping to establish new business units or new product lines. Originally born in America and now based in Melbourne, his work experience has led to engagements on six continents, which has also given him exposure to new cultures, business practices, and ways of thinking.
Tony Press is an adjunct Professor at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), and the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre at the University of Tasmania (ACE CRC). He was formerly the CEO of the ACE CRC from 2009 to 2014. From 1998-2008 he was the Director of the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD). He chaired the Antarctic Treaty's Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) from 2002 to 2006; was Australia's representative to the CEP and Alternative Representative to Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings from 1999 to 2008; and Australia's Commissioner to the Commission for the Convention on Antarctic Marine Living Resources from 1998 to 2008. Dr Press provided the Australian Government with the 20 Year Australian Antarctic Strategic Plan in 2014.
Dr Press is well known nationally and internationally for his work in Antarctic and Southern Ocean policy and science, and for his work on climate change. Dr Press was recently appointed as the Chair of the Tasmanian Government's Antarctic Gateway Advisory Committee (TAG); and he is the Chair of the Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes (ClEX) Advisory Board. Dr Press teaches at the University of Tasmania and the National Security College at the Australian National University.