Conservation Advocate Wins Reichstein Philanthropy Award

A leader in Australia’s environment movement has been chosen as the recipient of the 2016 Jill Reichstein Award for Social Change, which provides a US study tour to investigate innovation in the Not for Profit sector.

Environmental advocacy group Environment Victoria CEO Mark Wakeham has received the award for the key roles he has played in some of Australia’s most significant environmental campaigns over the past 15 years.

He has previously worked for Greenpeace, the Centre for Appropriate Technology and the Environment Centre Northern Territory. He was previously a radio operator in the Australian Army.

Environment Victoria CEO Mark Wakeham

The Reichstein Foundation said that in his current role Wakeham had been particularly influential as a dynamic force for impact in the environment movement and in fostering public debate and awareness of environmental issues.

“Mark is central to building Environment Victoria’s grassroots base and he has played a key role in strengthening collaboration across the environmental movement,” executive officer of the Reichstein Foundation John Spierings said.

Wakeham will attend the Commonbound and Netroots Nation conferences in the US, observe the Democratic Convention in Philadelphia and join the Australian Progress 2016 US Study Trip.

Environment Victoria CEO Mark Wakeham

“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,” 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.”

Mark Wakeham is the fourth Reichstein Social Change awardee. The Reichstein Foundation established the Award to honour Jill Reichstein’s 40 year contribution to philanthropy and to social change in Victoria.