Meet South Australia’s 50 most influential people in the environment sector

Who’s who in the environment, wielding power and influence in South Australia? We reveal our list of the fifty most influential people in the sector. Check out the full list.

South Australia leads the nation on climate change action, renewable energy and waste management so it’s no wonder the state is home to a wealth of talented and knowledgeable individuals in the environment sector.

As part of The Advertiser and Sunday Mail Green Zone campaign, we asked a panel of experts to select and rank the most influential people in this arena.

The panel adopted strict criteria:

(1) most influential in the environment space within the last two decades; and,
(2) currently living in South Australia.

Internationally acclaimed conservation biologist Professor Hugh Possingham, chair of the University of Adelaide’s Environment Institute, said it was no surprise that Dr Barbara Hardy, 94, was number one.

“Barbara’s work and influence will continue for decades, if not centuries,” he said.

“It has been huge. She was into conservation well before it was popular.”

When Dr Hardy was named Senior Australian of the Year in 2014, she was recognised for having “initiated many changes to public policy, practice and even the way people think about science and the environment”.

Australian Science Media Centre chief executive Susannah Eliott led the selection panel, which also included the Environment and Water Department’s executive director of strategy, science and corporate services, Sandy Carruthers and former Department chief executive Sandy Pitcher and The Advertiser’s climate & environment editor Clare Peddie (as well as Prof Possingham from the University of Queensland). - The Top 50 list was compiled with assistance from Michelle Etheridge and Rachel McDonald, AusSMC.

Tap or click on each picture to learn why that individual made the list.