Our People
© Wildlife Qld
Marc Hockings, AO – President
Marc is an Emeritus Professor in the School of Environment and the Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science at the University of Queensland. He is a long-term member of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) and an advisor to the Chair of WCPA. He is also a member of the IUCN Species Survival Commission and the Commission on Ecosystem Management. Marc has been awarded for his work developing approaches to assessing conservation effectiveness and was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to environmental conservation. He brings his experience from over 35 years in international and national conservation management to his role as President of Wildlife Queensland. Marc is a passionate visitor to national parks and conservation reserves and has a particular interest in World Heritage areas.
Dr Wade Hadwen
Wade is a Senior Lecturer in Environmental Management in the School of Environment and Science at Griffith University and is also the Academic Lead for Griffith University’s EcoCentre, a facility dedicated to environment and sustainability education and awareness. As an ecologist with over 25 years experience exploring how human and ecological systems interact, Wade’s research is focused on how natural resources are used, valued, impacted and managed. Wade has been on the Board of Wildlife Queensland since January 2024 and is passionate about engaging more people to interact with, and support, conservation and biodiversity actions in Queensland’s amazing wild places. Outside of work, Wade likes to be in the great outdoors, exploring, photographing and cataloguing biodiversity in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems both in Australia and overseas.
Michelle Riedlinger
Michelle Riedlinger is an Associate Professor in the School of Communication at QUT. Her work in digital media and science communication sits at the intersection of research, storytelling, and public engagement. She has over two decades of experience working with universities, cultural institutions, and community organisations, and is passionate about finding creative ways to connect people with science and nature. What inspires her about wildlife conservation and her work with Wildlife Queensland is exploring the potential of digital communication platforms and citizen science to deepen people’s connection with nature and the environment around them, particularly through initiatives that bring communities together to observe, document, and learn about local biodiversity, while generating valuable data to support conservation and environmental decision-making.
Ray Ison
Ray is a long term member and supporter of Wildlife Queensland. After a failed attempt at being a responsible public servant, Ray co-founded the first specific Environmental Consultancy in Queensland in 1980 and has consulted on a diverse range of projects from mining, power generation, water pipelines and telecommunications infrastructure. His work has been driven by seeking to minimise environmental impacts while recognising the essential needs of society. He was paid to be good but is now good for nothing as a full time volunteer. He is an active member of several community organisations involved in protecting and regenerating the natural environment, active in writing submission and being a “lackey” for environmental surveys and events. He is involved in a range of regeneration projects across Brisbane and a rural property he owns. Ray is a committed vegan, supporting the humane treatment of domesticated animals. He is also heavily involved in minimising, rehoming and recycling as much ‘waste’ as possible.
Paul Sutton
Paul joined WPSQ in 1977 in North Queensland when there were significant threats to the environment due to logging and cane expansion. Over time, the Branch contributed strongly to the Wet Tropics and Hinchinbrook Island World Heritage listings along with many other campaigns. His focus grew from direct action to helping people understand the beauty and importance of our environment empowering more voices and increasing conservation impact. He was on the State Council from 1985 to 1995 contributing to Qld wide campaigns and advocacy. He has been recycled as a member of the current Board since 2013 and is especially interested in growing the impact of Wildlife Qld to better conserve our environment. He focuses on “big picture” thinking that can grow and strengthen our cause. While he greatly enjoys working with dedicated colleagues and staff, his favourite times are native gardening to attract wildlife, bush walking, recording and photographing our natural world. He has been privileged to learn from some great naturalists over many outings. Now apps such as Frog ID and iNaturalist also add to his enjoyment of our natural world.
Dave Wright
Dave Wright is a leading authority in project, program and portfolio management. He has been Deputy Chair at a bank, Secretary and President of NFP professional associations and Chair of Audit and Risk Committees. He brings business transformation experience to WQ. Currently, David is Chair of a consulting firm. He is very passionate about conservation and enjoys his photography and sport.
Justine Bell-James
Justine is a Professor in the School of Law at the University of Queensland, and an affiliate of the University’s Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science. Her area of expertise is Australian environmental law, with a particular focus on federal environmental regulation, and legal mechanisms for protection and restoration of marine and coastal areas. Justine is a Director of the National Environmental Law Association and a member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists.
Peter Ogilvie
Peter Ogilvie retired from the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service in December 2011 after 46 years involvement in the establishment, management and administration of national parks, World Heritage Areas and wildlife in Queensland. During that time he held a number of State-wide positions, including Director of Marine Parks, Director of Park Management, Manager of Wildlife Management, Manager World Heritage and Chief Research Officer. Peter is a zoologist and has undertaken research on a number of seabird species on the Great Barrier Reef. He has had close involvement with the development of nature conservation legislation in Queensland and was a member of the Australian negotiating team for the Convention on Biological Diversity. He was awarded the Public Service Medal in the 2002 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for “outstanding public service in the field of conservation in Queensland”. He is the immediate past President of WPSQ, and is a member of (i) an endangered species recovery team (for bridled nailtail wallaby), (ii) two animal ethics committees (University of Qld and Aust Defence Forces), (iii) the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas and (iv) several community organisations involved in protecting the natural environment.