[Coral-List] Even more honourable

[Andrew Baird]

Even more honourable

The Honourable Virginia Chadwick AO will receive 
an Honorary Doctorate at James Cook University’s 
graduation ceremony on Saturday, March 28.

Ms Chadwick, who served as NSW Education Minister 
from 1990-1995 and Tourism Minister from 
1993-1995, will be recognised for her outstanding 
service to the North Queensland community and for 
her commitment to the conservation of the Great 
Barrier Reef with an Honorary Doctorate of Science.

Following her retirement from politics, Ms 
Chadwick took up the position of Chair and CEO of 
the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority from 
1999 – 2007. During this time, she instrumented 
and directed the implementation of the Great 
Barrier Reef Marine Park Zoning Plan (RAP).

The project involved two of the largest community 
consultation efforts ever conducted in Australia, 
with thousands of meetings with hundreds of 
stakeholders and community groups and more then 30,000 submissions received.

The RAP initiative was recognised by nine major 
awards – three international and six national – 
and sets a new global benchmark for marine 
conservation. JCU Vice Chancellor, Professor 
Sandra Harding, said the success of the project 
had been confirmed through research conducted by JCU and AIMS.

“The results from recent experiments by JCU and 
AIMS clearly demonstrate that the green no-take 
zones established under the RAP program have 
increased fish biomass relative to the blue zone,” Professor Harding said.

“Ms Chadwick has been a strong supporter of JCU. 
She enthusiastically supported JCU’s application 
for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef 
Studies and became a board member on its 
establishment in mid 2005. She has been a major 
contributor to its strategic direction and has 
remained a Board member since her retirement from GBRMPA in 2007.”

Ms Chadwick has also been a member of other 
environmental groups, including the Board of the 
Australian Maritime Safety Authority, the 
Queensland Fishing Industry Development Council, 
the Pacific Congress on marine Science and 
Technology International and the International 
Union for Conservation and Nature Commission on Education and Communication.

Issued: Wednesday, March 25 2009

For more information contact Jo Meehan, JCU Media on 4781 4586.



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