2021-01-18 GC - Item 1 - Attachment 1 - Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation 2019 20 Annual Report

                                                   NOOSA BIOSPHERE RESERVE FOUNDATION – 2019/20




EXECUTIVE COORDINATOR APPOINTMENT                           COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
The departure of long-standing Administration               The board is acutely aware that the Foundation
Coordinator, Sarah Radge, provided the board an             has struggled to engender broad community
opportunity to restructure the current staffing             support since the Noosa Biosphere Ltd restructure
model to encompass administration duties,                   post-deamalgamation. While there are many
project management and fundraising activities.              complex contributing factors impacting public
The board undertook an extensive talent search              perception, the Executive Coordinator has
to fill these positions, receiving over 50                  proposed to increase community engagement
applications, and eventually chose to combine the           through a series of regular coffee catch ups
roles into one position. Sharon Wright was                  and/or community information sessions in order
appointed as the Executive Coordinator in August            to build understanding of the UNESCO Man and
2020 on a part time basis (20 hours per week) to            the Biosphere program and Noosa’s leading role
cover administration and community engagement               in this global movement towards sustainable
activities, with specific project management and            development and maintaining biodiversity.
fundraising activities charged on a quarterly basis.
External project management support may be                  To get the ball rolling, Sharon and Rowan
required for projects requiring specialist field            attended the Tourism Noosa Hinterland
knowledge. The board would like to extend their             Roadshow in August 2020 as part of the launch of
sincere thanks to Sarah Radge for her hard work             the Noosa Hinterland Trail Network and the Enter
and commitment over the last four years and                 the Biosphere campaign. Alison and Sharon are
welcomes Sharon into this newly created role.               also working with Dalia Mikhail from Noosa
                                                            Environmental Education Hub to engage with
SHARON WRIGHT PROFILE                                       youth representatives through their Youth
                                                            Advocacy Council. Sharon is aiming to host a radio
Sharon has over 15 years’ experience in                     program on Noosa FM in a similar style to the
management roles across the social enterprise,              “Voices of the Biosphere” program she co-hosted
tertiary education and hospitality and tourism              as a member of the Noosa Biosphere Ltd from
sectors. Prior to this appointment she held the             2010 to 2012. Due to Covid restrictions the station
position of Electorate Officer for Independent              is not currently running refresher courses which
Member for Noosa, Sandy Bolton MP.                          are a prerequisite for presenters who have been
                                                            off air for more than three years. She will follow
She was a founding team member of Jamie                     up in the new year.
Oliver’s Fifteen Foundation in London, a social
enterprise setup to assist disadvantaged young              Sharon instigated the Black and Glossy gala
people to become chefs, beginning her five-year             fundraising event in the first month of her
journey as the Foundation Coordinator and                   appointment which has proved to be an excellent
ending her time as a Senior Project Manager for             public awareness raising activity attracting strong
the alumni project Fifteen Ventures.                        media attention and community support. Funds
                                                            raised at this event will go towards seed-funding
From 2009 to 2012 she was a member of the                   outcomes of the Glossy Black-Cockatoo Forum to
Noosa Biosphere Ltd Education, Research and                 be held on 17th November, see overview of this
Development Board and co-hosted the “Voices of              event in the following page. These activities will
the Biosphere” radio program on Noosa                       continue next year with the next Symposium to be
Community Radio 101.3FM. Sharon holds a BA in               held in May 2021 focussing on marine species
Community Development and Communications                    protection. It is envisioned NBRF will host two
from the University of the Sunshine Coast.                  symposiums per year and one gala fundraiser to
                                                            raise awareness of current campaigns and the
                                                            Foundation’s profile.




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