Executive team

Chief Executive Officer — Don Henry

As a teenager in Queensland I loved bushwalking and fishing on Moreton Island. I was appalled when the Bjelke-Petersen government announced plans to sandmine the island. Being confronted by the reality of a favourite place about to be damaged was the thing that spurred me to environmental action.

In the ’80s I campaigned for the protection of Moreton Island, Great Barrier Reef islands, the rainforests of north Queensland and Cape York. I had the honour of being the director of the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland and the editor of Wildlife Australia before becoming the Australian director of the World Wide Fund for Nature. I moved to Washington DC with WWF, working as director of the South Pacific Program (1992-95), the Asia-Pacific Program (1995-96) and the Global Forest Program (1996-98). 

In 1998 I returned to Australia to take up the position of ACF executive director (now CEO).

ACF has been engaged in tackling some of the biggest environmental challenges facing our nation. We have played important roles in stopping destructive land clearing in Queensland, establishing the Business Roundtable on Climate Change, convincing governments to buy back water licences from willing sellers and return the water to thirsty Murray-Darling rivers, securing National Heritage recognition for the Kimberley, achieving Australia’s price on pollution, and negotiating for millions of hectares of land to be returned to Traditional Owners on Cape York to be protected as jointly managed national parks and conservation areas, along with many other campaigns.

Looking after the environment is the single greatest challenge of our generation. It gives a great sense of purpose to know you are making a positive contribution to the health of our beautiful planet and I enjoy doing this along with ACF staff, members, supporters, Council and Board.

Director of Environment Campaigning

This position is vacant. Now hiring!

Chief Operating Officer — Danny Vadasz

Bachelor Science, Diploma Education, Master of Environment

My working life has included careers in teaching, publishing, digital advertising and marketing, health promotion, food manufacturing and environmental activism. I’ve worked in government and NGOs, and owned and operated several of my own businesses. My roles have ranged from creative, to strategic, to administrative. They have included postings as CEO, Creative Director, Product Development Manager and Publisher/Editor.

I’m still not sure what I want to be when I grow up.

But I do know I have a lifelong passion for driving reform particularly in the arenas of social justice and ecological sustainability. And in institutional reform that enables people and organisations to achieve their absolute, optimal best.

I’m still learning how to be good at it.

Director of Strategic Ideas — Chuck Berger

Bachelor of Social Studies, Wesleyan University; Juris Doctor, Yale Law School; Master of Laws, University of Frankfurt

After working as a lawyer in private practice, I was ACF's in-house lawyer for four years, before shifting to my current position in 2007. 

I'm responsible for leading ACF's development of new strategies for creating the deep shifts needed to build a sustainable Australia. That includes work on rethinking economics, stabilising population, and improving our democracy. Another of my major goals at ACF is to ensure that we are professionally curious, actively seeking the best knowledge and insights of others about our issues and always challenging ourselves.

Director of Media and Public Relations — Lucy Farmer

Journalism, London College of Printing

I began my professional life as a journalist in London but changed direction after three formative years in frontline conservation in Africa. I’ve specialised in environmental communications ever since and believe educating the community is pivotal to securing positive environmental outcomes wherever you are.

I lead a team that seeks to inform and influence the community to create the space needed to achieve bold sustainability solutions.

When I’m not at work, I’m usually out enjoying our fabulous natural environment on my bike or on foot, preferably with my two boys. I also enjoy writing children’s books with themes that aim to nurture interest and curiosity in the natural world.

Director of Finance — Mal Lewis

CPA qualified, Degree in Business (Accounting), Monash University

I have 14 years of not-for-profit experience in senior finance roles, including international aid for five years (such as CARE International), national diabetes charities in the UK and Australia, membership bodies and Melbourne University.

I’ve worked in the UK for five years, and on aid projects in Papua New Guinea, Vietnam and Cambodia, and travelled to Bolivia to review a CARE project.

I’m a finance person who works well with people, and my aim is to ensure our donors funds are accounted for accurately and appropriately, and make the expenditure as clear and easy to understand as possible.  Within ACF, I’d like to lift the financial management skills of all staff, and make reporting and monitoring easier.

I’ve been married to my partner Matt for four years, and would like to see our marriage recognised in Australia one day soon, so our dogs have parents to be proud of!