The inaugural chair of Eco-Markets Australia (EMA) Jo Sheppard has resigned after four years.
Her successor is Wilfred Finn who has been a member of the EMA Board for three years.
He will serve as interim chair until EMA’s AGM later this year and steps into the leadership role at a pivotal time as Eco-Markets Australia solidifies its position as a national leader in environmental markets.
During her tenure, Ms Sheppard played a pivotal role in transitioning EMA from its start-up phase to becoming the first independent administrator of environmental markets in Australia.
She was instrumental in forming the inaugural Board and operational team, laying a strong foundation for the organisation’s future success.
Reflecting on her time with EMA, Ms Sheppard said: “I have worked in and around regional communities and agriculture most of my professional life and am a staunch advocate for the environment, regional communities and agriculture.
“Taking on the role as Chair at Eco-Markets Australia was a unique opportunity to champion the significant role farmers play in managing our landscapes.
“My core belief is that we need to take a holistic approach to solve the environmental challenges we face – focussing on achieving meaningful environmental outcomes whilst also ensuring we build a strong future for regional communities and a profitable future for agriculture.
“Environmental markets have the ability to play an innovative role in achieving meaningful outcomes that will not only achieve the environmental outcomes we are seeking, but also support sustainable regional communities and a profitable future for farmers.”
Ms Sheppard added: “An independent environmental market administrator like Eco-Markets Australia is essential for providing transparency and integrity in governance, which instils confidence in investors and market participants.
“I extend my thanks to the inaugural Board, the EMA team, original foundation members and key stakeholders for their dedication and hard work.
“I am excited to see the continued progress of Australia’s first environmental administrator.”
Ms Sheppard will continue her advocacy for regional communities and agriculture through her continued role as CEO of Queensland Farmers’ Federation, as well as her recent appointment to the Queensland Energy System Advisory Board (QESAB).
During Ms Sheppard’s tenure, Eco-Markets Australia was structured as a not-for-profit ACNC-registered charity, upholding the core principles of maintaining global best practices in the environmental markets it administers through integrity, governance and transparency.
One of the significant achievements under Ms Sheppard’s leadership was the administration of the Reef Credit Scheme, Australia’s first voluntary water quality market.
The program incentivises farmers and landholders to implement land management practices that enhance the water quality of the Great Barrier Reef catchment.
To date, more than 50,000 Reef Credits have been generated, which represents more than 50 tonnes of Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN) prevented from entering the Great Barrier Reef.
