Tim Flannery is one of Australia’s leading thinkers and writers. An internationally acclaimed scientist, explorer and conservationist, he has published more than 130 peer-reviewed scientific papers. His books include the landmark works The Future Eaters and The Weather Makers.
As a field biologist he has discovered and named more than thirty new species of mammals (including two tree-kangaroos) and at 34 he was awarded the Edgeworth David Medal for outstanding research in zoology. His pioneering work in New Guinea prompted David Attenborough to put him in the league of the world’s great explorers, and Redmond O’Hanlon to remark, “He’s discovered more new species than Charles Darwin.” He received a Centenary of Federation Medal for his services to Australian science and in 2002 he became the first environmental scientist to deliver the Australia Day address to the nation. In 2005 he was named Australian Humanist of the Year, in 2006 the NSW Australian of the Year, and in 2007 honoured as Australian of the Year.
Tim Flannery is the former director of the South Australian Museum, and is currently a Professor at Sydney’s Macquarie University, taking up the Chair in July 2007. He spent a year as professor of Australian studies at Harvard, where he taught in the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology. He is a founding member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, a director of the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, and the National Geographic Society’s representative in Australasia.
The Weather Makers has received widespread praise for its informed and balanced approach to the global issue of climate change. It has been translated into more than 20 languages and in 2006 was awarded the NSW Premier’s Literary Prizes for Best Critical Writing and Book of the Year. In the same year Tim Flannery received the US Lannan Award for his Non-fiction works.
In 2007 Tim Flannery co-founded and was appointed Chair of The Copenhagen Climate Council, a coalition of community, business, and political leaders who have come together to confront climate change. Tim Flannery is on a mission. He believes that human activity is drastically altering the earth's climate, and that before too long these changes will have a devastating effect on life on this planet. He wants to mobilize the social and political will to address this problem before it's too late. That's why Tim Flannery wrote The Weather Makers.
In this important and provocative book, which debuted on The New York Times bestseller list, Flannery tells the fascinating story of climate change over millions of years to help us understand the predicament we face today. In authoritative yet accessible language, Flannery carefully lays out the science, demonstrating the substantial, human-induced climate change and the likely ecological effects to the planet if this process continues. He then proposes a game plan to halt, and ultimately reverse, this damaging trend. The Weather Makers has sold over a million copies worldwide, and is proving to be one of the most pivotal and influential texts in our understanding of global warming.
Professor Justin Beilby MD, MPH, MBBS, FRACGP, DRACOG, DA
Professor Justin Beilby is the Executive Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Adelaide and was the Head of the Department of General Practice from 2002-2005. He currently oversees academic and research programs in medicine, dentistry, nursing, health sciences and psychology.He has been involved in research, both clinical and policy related, in the areas of workforce planning, primary care financing, chronic illness and the quality use of medicines for over fifteen years, in urban and rural settings.
Professor Beilby was the Independent Chair of the Medical Benefits Scheme Item Restructuring Working Group that developed the 7-Tier consultation model which involved all general practice stakeholder groups. He has published widely in the area of new models of chronic illness management, asthma, diabetes and primary care financing.
Professor Beilby has been a member of the Strategic Research Initiatives Working Group of the NHMRC. He is a member of the South Australian Department of Health Clinical Senate. He has been Deputy Chair of the Childrens, Youth and Womens Health Service from 2005-2007. He has been appointed by the Minister of Health to the National Health and Hospital Reform Commission. He is still in active general practice.
