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Our People

Our people work to ensure we are deeply connected with experts in science, technology, industry, government and civil society, including within regional and remote Australia.  Our core team includes former Ministers of Government, business leaders, community representatives and open-minded systems thinkers. All share a commitment to creating powerful blueprints  for meaningful reform which are informed by the reality of the natural world, community needs and political realities.  

Board Members

Lachlan Crombie - Co-Founder & Interim Chair
Lachlan Crombie
Co-Founder & Interim Chair
Lachlan has a strong background in law and government. Lachlan worked in the NSW Government in a variety of roles, in both Houses of Parliament. Lachlan was responsible for significant legislative reforms while working for Nationals member and now Deputy President, the Hon Trevor Khan MLC. He also worked for the State Attorney General, and was in charge of criminal law policy. He is now the Director of Political Engagement at PremierState and PremierNational. Lachlan holds a Bachelor of Laws from Queensland University of Technology and a Master of Business (Sports Management) from Australia’s leading Sports Management School at Deakin University, Melbourne.  
Ian Hancock - Co-Founder & Board Director
Ian Hancock
Co-Founder & Board Director
Ian is Managing Director at PremierState and PremierNational, a leading public policy and corporate affairs consulting firm that advises across a range of industries on how to achieve outcomes with State and Federal Governments. Ian is also a Founder and Director of Clean Energy Strategies, a renewable energy consultancy that specialises in procuring renewable energy for large energy users. Ian studied a Bachelor of Laws with First Class Honours and a Bachelor of Business (Economics) at the University of Technology, Sydney.
Hon Jenny Gardiner - Board Director
Hon Jenny Gardiner
Board Director
Jenny Gardiner is a life-long campaigner for rural and regional communities.  As a Nationals member of the NSW Legislative Council (1991-2015), Jenny was Deputy President of the Legislative Council (2011-15) and The Nationals Deputy Leader in the Legislative Council (2000-15).  Jenny chaired/served on a multitude of parliamentary inquiries, eg, rural health, regional and metropolitan transport, planning, regional development, privileges, electoral law.  A former General Secretary of the NSW Nationals (the first woman to hold such office in any NSW party), Jenny actively works to see more women in politics.

Strategic Council

The Hon Bruce Baird AM
The Hon Bruce Baird AM
Bruce Baird was elected to the NSW Parliament in 1984 and held a number of shadow portfolios including Transport, Aboriginal Affairs and Finance. On election of the Greiner Government, Bruce was appointed as Minister Of Transport and Roads. In 1990 he was appointed Minister of Sydney's successful Olympic Games, and in 1993 became Minister for Tourism. He was elected Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party in 1993. In 1998 he was elected to the Federal Parliament where he was Chairman of a number of committees including the House Economics Committee. Upon leaving Parliament he joined a number of industry boards in the tourism, transport and arts sectors.
Cameron Hepburn
Cameron Hepburn
Cameron Hepburn is a Professor of Environmental Economics and Director of the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment at the University of Oxford. Holding degrees in law and engineering from the University of Melbourne and a doctorate in economics from Oxford, Professor Hepburn has served as Managing Editor of the Oxford Review of Economic Policy and Associate Editor of the European Economic Review. He is a leading authority on environmental economics, and regularly advises national governments such as China, the UK and Australia, as well as international institutions [such as the World Bank, IMF, OECD and UN].
The Hon Robert Hill AC
The Hon Robert Hill AC
Robert Hill was a member of the Australian Senate from 1981 to 2006, representing South Australia. Robert was Leader of the Government in the Senate from March 1996 until his resignation in January 2006. He has held a variety of portfolios, including as Minister for the Environment 1996 – 1998 and Minister for the Environment and Heritage 1998 – 2002. In June 2012 Robert was awarded a Companion of the Order of Australia for eminent service to the Parliament.
Lisa France
Lisa France
Lisa has worked at the highest level of State Government and the energy sector. Recently, she was the Global Head of Corporate Affairs at Energy Developments. Prior to that, as an LNP member for the seat of Pumicestone, QLD she was appointed Assistant Minister for Natural Resources and Mines 2012-2014, and Assistant Minister for Finance Administration and Regulatory Reform 2014-2015. Immediately after her parliamentary career Lisa worked as Australian Energy Regional Director for Hatch, a global energy, metals and mining company.
The Hon Adrian Piccoli
The Hon Adrian Piccoli
The Honorable Adrian Piccoli served as a Member of NSW Parliament for 19 years and as the NSW Minister for Education for 6 years from 2011 until 2017. Adrian is widely respected by the Australian education sector. He led the political campaign to reform school funding in Australia and is currently the Director of UNSW’s Gonski Institute for Education. In 2017 Mr Piccoli was made a Professor of Practice in the School of Education at UNSW and has also been made a Fellow of the Australian Council for Educational Leaders.
Michael Priddis
Michael Priddis
Michael Priddis is the CEO of Faethm.ai, a fast growing Australian start-up that enables companies and governments to navigate and prosper from emerging technologies including AI, robotics, advanced materials and IoT. He is an expert surrounding the future of work and a Member of World Economic Forum’s Global AI Council. Michael previously worked as a Partner and Managing Director at the Boston Consulting Group.

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