An important message from Nathan Males
Dear TLC supporters,
I am shortly moving on from my role as CEO of the TLC after ten years at the helm. Since being part of the founding group of the organisation back in 2001 we have already achieved so much for conservation in Tasmania and I want to thank you for your support and encouragement over that time.
I believe that Tasmania has an important global role to play. We have one of the most diverse and beautiful islands as well as one of the world's most advanced reserve systems. With careful additions like the reserves established by the TLC we can be a living example how to properly balance protection of the environment with production and economic activity. It is really important to have a non-political, science-based, community-owned conservation organisation like the TLC to work towards that goal.
My time as the CEO of the TLC has been exciting and incredibly rewarding. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to work on building the organisation and working with financial supporters, farmers, foresters, landowners and volunteers, and the TLC's fantastic team of staff and volunteer board to protect so many important natural places in the state. Long Point, the Egg Islands, the Vale of Belvior and Skullbone Plains stand out among the amazing places that I am proud to have been part of establishing as protected areas.
After ten years it is time for a new adventure. I am committed to bringing up my young family in Tasmania and to establishing a small business in Hobart. I will also continue to work part-time with the TLC in a project role for the foreseeable future and remain absolutely committed to the TLC's mission and vision.
I think it is healthy for organisations to refresh their leadership teams to ensure that energy remains high and new ideas can flourish. The TLC has always endeavoured to act with effective leadership and governance. Renewal of the CEO role is a critical part of any organisation's journey and it is particularly important for the transition of the founding CEO to be smooth and timely.
Jane Hutchinson is taking over as the CEO after a two-year succession plan in which she has led the fundraising team. Prior to that Jane was on the TLC's board for seven years and served as president for three of those years. She is an outstanding skilled leader who is dedicated to conservation and to Tasmania. I am delighted that she will be the TLC's next CEO.
As well as working in a part-time capacity I intend to continue to support the TLC by providing ongoing monthly donations as I have done over many years. The monthly donations are absolutely critical to the work of a small community organisation as they provide some financial certainty particularly in the face of ongoing land management costs for the important habitats and ecosystems that the TLC now stewards.
I also intend to establish a fund in the TLC's Foundation and plan in the future to make a bequest. These are means of providing the special lands protected by the TLC with the long-term certainty that they will need beyond all of our lifetimes, as well as building an enduring association for myself with the organisation.
I hope you will join me in considering both of these means of supporting the organisation in the long-term. I believe in the TLC as a vehicle which we can trust to enact a conservation vision for this unique and special island. The TLC's vision needs support in the decades and centuries to come and it is one that I know many people are committed to.
In closing, I want to thank you personally for your part in the TLC's work over the last decade — it has been a great journey so far and one that is set to continue into the future. I will maintain a lifelong commitment to this organisation and its conservation work and I look forward to working with you in my new role as a project officer for the TLC and ongoing supporter of the organisation.
Thanks and best wishes
Nathan Males
Tasmanian Land Conservancy
Download TLC newsletter Spring 2011 (30) here
[Caption:"Nathan Males and Jane Hutchinson"]