About The Jane Goodall Institute Australia

The Jane Goodall Institute Australia (JGIA) was founded in 2007 and is an Australian non-profit and registered environmental organisation.
Our Philosophy is centered on the interconnectedness of Animals, People and the Environment (APE) and our Purpose is to
“inspire actions that connect people with animals and our shared environment”.

Our Purpose

The Jane Goodall Institute Australia (JGIA) was founded in 2007 and is an Australian non-profit and registered environmental organisation.

Our Philosophy is centered on the inter-connectedness of Animals, People and the Environment (APE) and our Purpose is to “inspire actions that connect people with animals and our shared environment.

Our History

Dr Jane Goodall DBE, world-renowned primatologist, ethologist, humanitarian, conservationist and UN Messenger of Peace, founded the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977. We now have offices in 35 countries around the world.

Our Impact

We work to promote the conservation of chimpanzees and other great apes (as our closest living relatives in the animal kingdom) and, through our Roots & Shoots (R&S) program, aim to empower the next generation to be socially and environmentally conscious citizens of our shared planet.

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Jane-Next-to-car | Jane Goodall Institute Australia
Jane-with-Kids | Roots and Shoots Australia
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Dr.-Jane-Goodall-Speaking-at-event

Our Programs

At JGIA we have two main program areas  that we support and fund.

Roots and Shoots Logo

Our Roots & Shoots Program empowers young Australians and equips them with the tools, motivation and support they need to address the problems that matter most to them. We create an ever expanding network of Australians, connected with their global counterparts, who are inspired to be change-making global citizens. Our Roots & Shoots members can apply for a mini grant to fund their projects.

Our Africa Programs conserve and protect chimpanzees, natural habitat and surrounding communities in Africa. Our community centered conservation programs include a range of activities from basic needs such as education, health and water sanitation to park rangers who protect animals from poachers. We also support chimpanzee sanctuaries which provide a lifelong home for orphaned animals.

Our Team

Everything we do is in support of our philosophy of connecting Animals, People and the Environment.

James Forbes
CEO

Prior to joining JGIA as CEO, James held senior marketing and fundraising roles with the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation, Nature Conservation Trust of NSW and WWF-Australia. Along with operating his own consulting business, Forbes Philanthropy & Marketing, James is a Senior Associate with Global Philanthropic and a Marketing Advisor with Food Frontier. He is the co-author of a peer reviewed paper, 'Monitoring and evaluating the social and psychological dimensions that contribute to privately protected area program effectiveness'. In 2019 James was appointed to the Board of the Murray Darling Wetlands Working Group - an on-ground organisation protecting and enhancing wetlands throughout Australia's largest inland river system.

Jessica Dallender-Jones
COO

Jessica Dallender-Jones has a background in corporate consulting, finance and the for purpose sector. Formerly the Chief Operating Officer of White Ribbon Australia, Jessica has managed teams and programs operating nationally to implement and support social change. She is passionate about prevention and that people can make a difference in their own community and beyond. Jessica holds a Bachelor’s Degree (Honours) in Mathematics from Durham University in the UK, and qualifications in finance and project management.

Natasha Coutts
Africa Programs, Phone Recycling & Palm Oil Campaign Coordinator

Natasha Coutts joined JGIA in 2012. Before moving into her current role as Africa Programs & Campaigns Coordinator, she was the Roots & Shoots National Coordinator. She's currently based in Rwanda, where she's researching the socioecology, health, and genetics of chimpanzees in Nyungwe National Park for her PhD with The University of Western Australia.

Abbie Mitchell
Roots & Shoots General Manager

As an environmental educator Abbie has lead programs for NSW NPWS and EcoXplore. Founding Kids Connecting Nature in 2015 she delivers curriculum-aligned environmental school programs, as well as workshops for government and community groups. Her forthcoming academic book A Hollow is a Home (CSIRO) explains complex conservation issues and scientific concepts via introducing young readers to hollow-using animals. Her passion as an educator is deeply influenced by her bushland upbringing and she strives to empower people to understand, celebrate and foster biodiversity.

Gemma Freeman
Marketing and Communications Manager

Gemma has over 18 years experience in communications, marketing and digital strategy, having recently worked as a freelancer and previously across both NFP and corporate sectors including Greenpeace, Action Aid, The Australian Marine Conservation Society, Microsoft, Coca Cola and various media agencies.

Ralph Scott

Ralph Scott
Finance Manager

Ralph joined JGIA in August 2019 and has more than fifteen years experience in senior financial management roles in the not-for-profit sector and previous experience as an auditor and financial analyst. Most recently he led the development and growth of disability and aged care programs with the Sydney Region Aboriginal Corporation. Ralph is a Chartered Accountant and has previously served as Treasurer on the board of the NSW Environmental Defenders Office.

Angela Colliver
Program Leader - Resource Box for Schools (Contractor)

Angela Colliver is an Education for Sustainability specialist and she designs educational programs and curriculum resources. Angela began her career as a teacher before moving into State Government as a School and Community Educator in the Environment Department where she designed a Watercare program. She has designed a number of sustainable schools related programs including the Great Barrier Reef Marine park Authority’s (GBRMPA) Reef Guardian Schools program and CSIRO’s CarbonKids program. Angela also managed the AuSSI within the Australian Government for numerous years. Angela has written over 100 curriculum resources for schools and is currently a Director of two consultancies, namely Angela Colliver Consulting Services and FutureGen Education. Angela has a Bachelor of Arts and a Graduate Diploma of Education. She has taught at all levels of schooling (K-10) and has also lectured pre-service teachers at Flinders University in SA.

Robyn Hittmann

Robyn Hittmann
Administration Coordinator (Volunteer)

Robyn commenced at JGIA in August 2019 to assist with administration. Previously completing Animal Care Biology (Zookeepers Elective), and being passionate about animal welfare, Robyn worked at that time with a wildlife rescue service. Robyn has worked in administrative positions including NSW Agriculture Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) and as Category C member (Welfare) for two AECs. Until recently Robyn was Executive Assistant to Professor, Radiation Oncology, UNSW, Liverpool Hospital. Her passion and respect for all animal life, has taken her to Thailand, Cambodia and Laos to work in sanctuaries with many species of animals. Currently Robyn works part-time with a veterinary consultancy company for animal vaccine production and is part way through Captive Vertebrate Management by distance learning, Charles Sturt University.

Victoria Batchelor
Chimp Guardian Coordinator (Volunteer)

Victoria Batchelor joined the JGIA team in December 2018 to help oversee the Chimpanzee Guardian program. A journalist with more than 20 years’ experience, specialising in global economics and central banks, Victoria holds a Bachelor’s Degree (Honours) in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Otago and a Diploma in Journalism. Her lifelong passion for conservation took her to Uganda in 2010 to volunteer at a chimpanzee sanctuary. When she’s not volunteering, Victoria works as an editor for an international media company.

Our Board

Simon Duffy
Chair

Simon Duffy has 20 years’ experience working in the wildlife conservation industry. He has worked across multiple disciplines including wildlife care, education, science and conservation. Simon was the Director of Wildlife Conservation and Science at Taronga Conservation Society Australia for ten years before being appointed to Director Taronga Zoo in 2019. Simon is an active member of several conservation based committees and Boards and was appointed as a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia in recognition of his work in wildlife conservation, both in Australia and for primate species in Africa in January 2019.

Michelle Shepherd
Deputy Chair

Michelle Shepherd is a PR & Communications professional with more than 25 years of media, business development and management experience across multiple sectors. Michelle is a graduate of Deakin University, has a Foundation of Governance from The Australian Institute of Company Directors and is an Alumni of Leadership Victoria's Williamson programme.

Anna Chung

Anna Chung
Treasurer/Director

Anna Chung is a finance executive with over 20 years experience in senior financial management roles across a number of industries including medical research, healthcare, superannuation, funds management and banking. Anna has held a number of different roles across her career and specialises in strong financial management and planning, stakeholder management and finance transformation. Anna is currently the Chief Financial Officer of a medium sized insurance company. Anna is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, as well as a senior member of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants (CAANZ) and the Financial Services Institute of Australasia (FINSIA).

Nancy Moloney
Director

Nancy Moloney has 15 years of management experience with a focus on strategic sustainability consulting including corporate responsibility reporting and organisational strategy. Prior to joining JGIA in 2015, Nancy worked at two “Big Four” professional services firms. She has served as a Non-Executive Director on several boards and is a graduate of the AICD Company Directors Course. Nancy also trained as a Climate Reality Leader under Al Gore. Her academic experience includes an MBA (Dean's Scholar), MSc (Ecology) and BSc (Forestry).

Amelia Swan
Director

Amelia Swan is a Project Manager in the Office of Open Space and Parklands, working to increase Sydney's urban canopy cover to 40% by 2030. Amelia started her career in wildlife conservation genetics, and has toured Australia as a science presenter for Questacon—the National Science and Technology Centre. She has also worked in communications at the Centre for International Forestry Research in Indonesia and an orangutan rehabilitation centre in Malaysia. Amelia holds a Masters Degree in Public Policy, Graduate Diploma in Science Communication and Bachelor in Animal and Veterinary Bioscience.

Zara Bending
Director

Zara Bending is a legal researcher and academic specialising in environmental, medical, and criminal law. Her doctorate examines the illegal wildlife trade under international law, focusing on the illicit trafficking of rhinoceros horn. A Senior Fellow of Advance HE, her dedication to higher education has seen her awarded faculty and Vice Chancellor’s teaching awards. In 2018, Zara was a semi-finalist in the NSW/ACT Young Achiever Awards (Women Creating Change).

Financial Info

View our annual report for 2019 [31.2 MB].

View our annual report for 2018.

View our annual report for 2017.

View our annual report for 2016.

You Can Make a Difference

Help us inspire actions that connect people with animals and our shared environment.

The Jane Goodall Institute Australia (JGIA) was founded in 2007 and is an Australian non-profit and registered environmental charity with deductible gift receipt status.

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