The Hon. Penny Wensley AC was appointed National Soils Advocate in August, 2020.
Former Governor of Queensland and distinguished Australian diplomat, Ms Wensley’s interest in soils, soil health and sustainability dates from the early 1990’s, when she was Australia’s Ambassador for the Environment. In this role, she championed Australia’s interests at the landmark 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) and was a key contributor to the negotiation of the three major environmental treaties launched by the UNCED process: the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Biodiversity Convention and the Convention to Combat Drought and Desertification. This experience—and serving as Chairman of the first UN Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States—established a deep conviction of the importance of managing our natural resources in a sustainable way.
She is currently a member of the Food and Agriculture Organization (of the United Nation)’s Global Soil Partnership. She is also Australian lead, CA4SH—the International Coalition of Action for Soil Health—an outcome of the UN Food Systems Summit.
As State Governor, Ms Wensley was active in promoting environmental knowledge and awareness and was a strong supporter of community groups and organisations involved with environmental management, conservation and protection, including as State Patron of Queensland Water and Land Carers.
During her six-year tenure as Governor, seeing first-hand the impact of the succession of droughts, floods and cyclones experienced by the State, including the biggest storm ever to hit Queensland, Cyclone Yasi in 2011, strengthened her commitment to advocating for sustainability and better management of Australia’s natural assets.
Ms Wensley is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of International Affairs and an Honorary Fellow of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand. In addition to her role as National Soils Advocate, she is a Director of the Lowy Institute and Chairman of the Great Barrier Reef Advisory Committee. She is also a Patron of Soil Science Australia, the Soil Cooperative Research Centre, and the Australian Organics Recycling Association.
Please contact the team at Conference Design with any questions regarding the conference.
Soil Science Australia acknowledges the traditional owners of Larrakia Country – elders past and present, on which the conference will be held. It also acknowledges the traditional owners of country on which field trips will be undertaken, primarily Wulna and Wagaman Country.
