The Committee

The Committee is a formidable group. Its members have helped shaped the Tasmania we love today through protection of our wild places. The dream that unites them is to see the original Lake Pedder and her surrounding iconic ecosystems in the South West wilderness restored to its original beauty. 

Christine Milne

Convenor

Former Vice President of IUCN, former leader of the Australian Green Party and current Global Greens Ambassador took up the role of Co-Convenor of the Lake Pedder Restoration Committee in the lead up the United Nations Decade of Ecological Restoration (2021-2030) to campaign for an agreement by the summer of 2021-22, to restore Lake Pedder and surrounding environs.

Todd Dudley

Deputy Convenor

President of the North East Bioregional Network, Todd is based on the East Coast of Tasmania. He has been involved in bush regeneration and ecological restoration for 35 years.

In recognition of his long term commitment to the protection, maintenance and restoration of the natural environment Todd was awarded the Tasmanian Pride of Australia medal for conservation in 2014 and the Australian Conservation Foundations 2018 Peter Rawlinson Award.

Stuart Barry

Treasurer

Stuart is passionate about encouraging, educating and informing people of the wisdom of incorporating their environmental and social values into their financial decisions and arrangements. Stuart is a retired ethical financial advisor, author and avid bushwalker.

Management Committee

Bob Brown

Co-founder of The Greens and The Wilderness Society and founder of Bush Heritage Australia, Dr Bob Brown is one of Australia’s most well-known, adored conservationists and politicians. One of the thousands arrested taking a stand against the Franklin Dam on the day of his release Bob was elected into the Tasmanian House of Assembly in which he served for 10 years before being elected into the Senate where he championed human and climate justice. Since leaving the Parliament in 2012 Bob has set up the Bob Brown Foundation to support numerous environmental campaigns including the ongoing call to restore Lake Pedder.

Paul Thomas

Cygnet farmer, Paul Thomas, walked into the original Lake Pedder as a teenager. Paul is a former Huon Valley Councillor, Life Member of the Tasmanian Greens, Life Member of the Huon Art Exhibitions Group, Co-founder of Friends of Randall’s Bay Coastcare (1998), current Tasmanian Landcarer of the Year and a finalist in this years Tasmanian Volunteer awards.

Dick Friend

Dick Friend was captivated by Lake Pedder on first sight in 1972. Questioning our economic direction after volunteering and managing the Tasmanian Environment Centre, he established businesses in mariculture, horticulture, gourmet foods, tourism, viticulture, education and IT – long-term industries compatible with a healthy environment. Dick strongly believes eco-system restoration, such as Pedder, is the key to enhancing our brand and the value of all such industries.

Hilary Bennell

Hilary first visited the original Lake Pedder in 1968 after a trip to Federation Peak Captivated by the beauty she spent several months there in the following years taking people and studying with botanists and sociologists and the TUBS  study group Actively involved in all campaigns to save and restore the lake she believes it is only a matter of time and enlightenment before it resurfaces

Steve Crump

Before moving to Tasmania, Steve had walked most tracks in the Blue Mountains and Snowy Ranges of NSW, thus caught up in campaigns to save the Kanangra-Boyd Plateau (pine plantations), Colong Caves (limestone mining) and the Budawangs (sandstone monoliths). Steve’s focus now is music and Nature, with restoring Lake Pedder and preserving takayna key priorities. Steve has written music for both campaigns.

Tamara Vekitch

Minutes Secretary

Tamara is an outdoor enthusiast with significant qualifications and experience in environmental management. 

Tabatha Badger

Campaign Coordinator

Our campaigner Tabatha Badger, works 2-3 days per week, thanks to the generosity of the Pedder supporters. An avid bushwalker, landscape photographer, small business owner and Tasmanian karting champion, Tabatha is the present Lake Pedder Restoration Management Committee campaign coordinator. She completed her Masters in Tourism, Environment and Culture in 2021, assessing the social value of Pedder. Tabatha has been drawn to the restoration of Lake Pedder as a symbol of hope that we can restore and protect our valuable wilderness.