29 January 2007

Staff at the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) were presented with Australia Day achievement awards today for their dedication and hard work towards helping to protect the Great Barrier Reef.

GBRMPA’s Executive Director John Tanzer said the Authority employed people with a range of expertise and it was the employees that helped make the Authority internationally recognised as a leader in environmental management.

“This year we had staff from a range of areas receiving awards, from the Project Manager of our Indigenous Partnerships Liaison Unit to the Café Supervisor at Reef HQ.

“Shark expert Andrew Chin received an award for helping raise awareness about the sad condition of shark populations in the Marine Park and helping GBRMPA to identify management responses.

“Andrew has been working with the GBRMPA since 1999 and his other achievements include project managing the environmental monitoring of Nelly Bay Harbour, establishing the Eye on the Reef programme and updating the State of the Reef report.”

The following staff were also presented with Australia Day awards:

• Hilary Skeat has been the backbone of the Tourism and Recreation group as their Project Manager. She played a key role in developing the Tourism Operators Handbook which is critical in ensuring that tourism in the Great Barrier Reef remains economically and environmentally sustainable.

• Maureen Ryan has played a tremendous role as the Cafe Supervisor at Reef HQ Aquarium. Maureen first started three years ago and has run the cafe 'as if it were her own' ever since. Under Maureen's ever-watchful eye, the cafe has achieved a remarkable improvement in operations.

• Karin Gerhardt’s skills and commitment to GBRMPA have been evident throughout her time with the Authority and they have been highlighted and tested through the challenging role of Project Manager of the Permits, Compliance and Management System. Once up and running the system will improve compliance management significantly.

• Randall Owens has made a significant and unique contribution to the work of the Authority firstly as a fisheries expert with valuable field experience in remote areas and secondly by being a part of the rezoning team. He is currently Acting Director of the Fisheries Issues Group.

• John Tapim works in the Indigenous Partnerships Liaison Unit and he has built a reputation for being passionate about management of sea country and indigenous engagement. John's work as an advisor, negotiator and extension officer has earned him respect amongst various communities.

“We congratulate the award recipients for all of their hard work over the years and their dedication to making the Great Barrier Reef, and Australia, a better place for the future,” Mr Tanzer said.