The World Wide Fund for Nature-Australia has today welcomed Judy Slatyer as its new President and Board Chair. 

Judy is a highly respected leader across the not-for-profit, corporate and government sectors. She replaces Martijn Wilder AM, who is stepping down after completing two terms as President of WWF-Australia. 

“It’s a unique privilege to be part of an organisation that is dedicated to preserving the Southern Hemisphere’s oceans, spearheading Australia’s transformation into a reforestation nation by restoring 100,000 hectares of vital greenery, and actively working towards doubling the population of precious koalas,” said Judy. 

“These significant objectives are integral to WWF-Australia’s ambitious 2030 strategy. I am delighted to be the new President and look forward to wholeheartedly supporting our dedicated teams, invaluable partners, and all those who share our commitment to realising impactful conservation results.” 

Judy was first appointed to the Board of WWF-Australia in 2021 after five years as the CEO of Red Cross Australia. 

She also worked for seven years as the global Chief Operating Officer for WWF based in Switzerland. In this role, Judy was responsible for the operations of field program offices, for global corporate engagement and partnerships, and for supporting the Director General on developing and implementing strategy.  

Prior to her work in the not-for-profit sector, Judy was the CEO of Lonely Planet, held senior roles in Telstra and worked as an adviser to a Federal Cabinet Minister. 

“Judy brings a tremendous combination of experience, empathy, drive, and genuine care for our cause. This is a rare mix that makes her extremely well-suited to lead our Board through its next phase as we work to Regenerate Nature by 2030,” said Dermot O’Gorman, CEO of WWF-Australia. 

Martijn Wilder said the highlights of his time as President included WWF’s work to create a Net-Free Reef for dugongs, inshore dolphins and turtles, its support of Indigenous women rangers through the Women Ranger Environmental Network (WREN), and its response to devastating bushfires of 2019-2020. 

“I, along with every Australian, watched in horror as the nation burned during the summer of 2019/2020.” 

“The news from the frontlines of the fires was devastating and I was very proud of what WWF was able to achieve in supporting 236 projects across the country to care for injured wildlife, support bushfire-affected communities, and restore habitat that had been lost,” said Martijn. 

Martjin highlighted that WWF is one of few organisations in a position to catalyse change on a global scale, and work through complex challenges to build solutions that benefit people and nature.  

“I want to thank the entire WWF team for all that they do, each and every day, to make our world better. It has been a privilege to have worked with such wonderful, talented and committed people.” 

Martijn will continue in his role as a Governor of WWF-Australia. 

Related: Signs of hope among 7 million images captured in Australia’s scorched forests