The Skyrail Rainforest Foundation was launched on 29th September 2005 with the primary objective of raising funds to support tropical rainforest research and education.
Monies raised by the Foundation are paid into the Skyrail Rainforest Research Fund, which is administered by a Public Fund Management Committee, consisting of representatives with environmental management, research, education and business experience.
Skyrail Rainforest Foundation Limited (ABN 95 109 592 814) and its public fund, Skyrail Rainforest Research Fund, was entered into the Register of Environmental Organisations on 26th August 2005. It is entitled under the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 item 6.1.1 of subsection 30-55(1) to receive tax deductible donations.
Ongoing fundraising activities to support the Foundation’s objectives include:
- Proceeds from membership of the Foundation
- Donations from the public and visitors to Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
- A contribution of a percentage of souvenir sales in Skyrail’s Gift Shops
- The development and sale of Skyrail Rainforest Foundation branded items through Skyrail’s Gift Shops
- Donations from corporate entities and philanthropic groups
A downloadable version of the Foundation's 2007/08 Annual Report is available here.
Public Fund Management Committee
The Public Fund Management Committee oversees the dispersal of the Skyrail Rainforest Foundation’s resources to projects satisfying its core objectives; namely those which support tropical rainforest research and education.
The Committee consists of members from various education, environmental, scientific, government and private companies, including:
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Dr Ken Chapman
Ken is passionate about tropical rainforests, their protection, preservation and value to the international community as a scientific, recreational and educational resource. He is Managing Director of Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and Chief Executive Officer of Skyrail-ITM, and was a Director of the Co-operative Research Centre for Tropical Rainforest Ecology and Management for many years. Ken was the driving force behind the establishment of the Skyrail Rainforest Foundation.
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Mr Clive Cook
Clive has a long association with Australia’s Tropical Rainforests and is both personally and professionally active in their preservation and interpretation. Clive was the Director of the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service in the Northern [Queensland] Region until July 2008 and is now the Senior Director of the Conservation, Strategy and Planning branch at QPWS, Central Office in Brisbane. He believes there is a very strong linkage between our amazing protected areas. As a member of the Foundation, Clive is enthusiastic in working with the committee, to present and learn about our very special tropical forests.
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Professor Chris Margules AM
Chris is internationally recognised for his work in conservation biology and conservation planning. He leads the Indonesia-Pacific Field Division of the NGO Conservation International; he directs multi-disciplinary research and implementation teams towards 'whole' of landscape and seascape management solutions that will strengthen the protection of biodiversity while fostering community and business growth in Indonesia, the countries of Melanesia and the Pacific Islands. He retains a part-time position with CSIRO where his roles are science business development and mentoring the next generation of CSIRO ecologists.
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Mr Max Shepherd
Max recognises the value of Australia's Tropical Rainforests and is pleased to be able to support research and education projects contributing to its protection, through his involvement with the Foundation. Max is General Manager of Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, a founding member of the Alliance for Sustainable Tourism, a past member of the Wet Tropics Community Consultative Committee and a director of the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre.
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Professor Steve Turton
Steve is dedicated to rainforest research and has published over 90 scientific papers on tropical climatology, rainforest ecology and natural resource management. As Executive Director of the JCU/CSIRO Tropical Landscapes Joint Venture, Steve oversees works on the Skyrail Rainforest Foundation Cyclone Larry Project. Steve is a Councillor of the Institute of Australian Geographers and was recently nominated to the position of honorary treasurer for the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Asia-Pacific Chapter.
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