IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature

Brendan Mackey, Australia

18 April 2012 | Article

In my first term as a member of the IUCN Council, I have been serving as co-chair of the Programme and Policy Committee, as a member of the Private Sector Task Force, and also as a member of the Climate Change Task Force.

In these capacities I have developed an appreciation of the role general policy can play in promoting harmonious collaboration between all components of the Union, and the value to be gained from the Secretariat, Commissions and Members working collaboratively in developing standards, protocols and regulatory frameworks, advancing conservation knowledge and practice, and advancing nature-based solutions through international processes.

In the coming four years and beyond, the IUCN will be needed more than ever as the pace and impacts of globalization and conventional economic development continue to soar. Not only must we contend with the intensification of existing threatening processes to the conservation of biodiversity, but new threats continue to emerge in the face of growing demand for land and natural resources, among other things.

My experience serving on Council together with my professional expertise in the fields of climate change, ecosystem management, biodiversity conservation, ethics and policy development, provide me with a sound foundation to serve a second term on Council and help ensure that IUCN continues to be a healthy and effective organisation.