The 2016 Jill Reichstein Award for Social Change has been awarded to Environment Victoria chief executive Mark Wakeham.
The Reichstein Foundation award supports a study tour to investigate innovation in the US not-for-profit sector.
Mr Wakeham has previously worked for Greenpeace, the Centre for Appropriate Technology and the Environment Centre Northern Territory, and has been involved in some of Australia’s most significant environmental campaigns over the past 15 years.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about new types and modes of advocacy operating in the United States, which is poised to take major steps to combat dangerous climate change,” Mr Wakeham said.
“For example the US has retired 230 coal-burning power stations since 2010. I’m keen to explore how this transition to renewable energy is impacting local communities and how a successful and just transition can be achieved in Australia.”
Congratulations Mark. You are a champion for our precious natural environment, and a worthy winner of this award.