Premier’s Climate Change Council members
Council members can be appointed from a range of sectors, including state and local government, the business community, the environmental and conservation sector, the scientific community, and other sectors of the State’s community more generally.
Martin Haese (Chair)
Martin Haese is an entrepreneur, educator, public figure and strong advocate for Adelaide’s standing as one of the world’s most liveable cities. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Business SA, Chamber of Commerce and Industry South Australia.
In 2014, Martin was elected as the 78th Lord Mayor of Adelaide and held that position until November 2018. As Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Martin drove strong sustainability and technology agendas culminating in Carbon Neutral Adelaide 2025, Ten Gigabit Adelaide (one of the world’s fastest fibre optic data networks) and many Smart City initiatives.
He was a guest speaker at the Paris COP21 in December 2015 and continues to advocate that addressing climate change is both an environmental necessity and an economic opportunity. As a musician, he widely promotes Adelaide as a UNESCO City of Music.
As a former retail entrepreneur, Martin built and sold a national retail chain prior to becoming the General Manager of the Rundle Mall Management Authority. He also holds an MBA and was a guest lecturer for universities and colleges across Australia for several years.
Daniel Bennett
Daniel Bennett is an award winning registered landscape architect and urban designer with 20 years’ experience in cities, movement, places and green infrastructure. He has helped shaped projects of all scales in both the private and public sector across Australia. His focus is on shaping better cities through infrastructure, including leading roles on Melbourne’s Airport Rail Link, Sydney’s light rail, Canberra’s capital metro, Gallipoli Underpass (SA), Adelaide’s light rail expansion, the Seaford rail extension (SA), and the O'bahn City Access Project (SA).
Between 2014 and 2019 he was Associate Director of Strategy and Design at the City of Adelaide included development of the award winning Adelaide Design Manual, the city’s guide to creating great public spaces and streets; the Adelaide Park Lands Strategy and the Smart Move Transport Strategy.
Daniel is the State President of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) South Australia, and Co-Chair of the National Advocacy Committee. He also co-hosts Adelaide (un)Planned, a podcast with Planner Michael McKeown, discussing design and planning in Adelaide. Daniel will provide knowledge and expertise relating to planning, transport and infrastructure.
Daniel Conley
Daniel is the Council’s youth member. This appointment was an action in the Strong Futures: SA Youth Action Plan 2020-2022, which among other things, aims to provide young people with opportunities to influence policy and decision making.
Daniel is a Transport Planner with built environment advisory firm Arup, specialising in sustainable transport. Daniel was one of two inaugural Westpac Future Leaders PhD Scholars in South Australia, with his PhD at the University of Adelaide focusing on the governance of urban sustainability transitions. He is also a Director of Trashd, a circular economy company commercialising innovations to create value from plastic waste, agricultural waste, and electronic waste.
Daniel was the Founding President of the international-award winning Adelaide Sustainability Association, and the Founding Curator of the Adelaide Global Shapers Hub (an initiative of the World Economic Forum). Daniel will provide knowledge relating to cities, infrastructure, innovation and provide a valuable youth perspective strengthened by his ongoing delivery of civic initiatives that empower young people to be part of solution building for climate change.
Susan Jeanes
Susan Jeanes is a nationally respected leader with over twenty years’ experience in the renewable energy and sustainability sectors. She is currently Chair of the Heavy Industry Low-emissions Transition Co-operative Research Centre (HILT CRC) and a Director of Jeanes Holland and Associates (JHA).
Susan has experience working with industry, research organisations and governments to build relationships and foster collaboration on shared goals, and is able to develop pathways for reaching agreed outcomes from differing perspectives.
She has previously held the roles of Director of The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), CEO of the Australian Geothermal Energy Association (AGEA), and of the Renewable Energy Generators of Australia (REGA).
Penny Schulz
Penny Schulz is a respected leader in the agricultural and livestock industries. As well as co-owner and manager of the agricultural production and consultancy business, Schulz Livestock, she is the current Vice President of the Livestock SA Board and Vice-Chair of the Australian Beef Industry Foundation Board.
Holding a number of scientific qualifications, Ms Schulz is also an educator and researcher and is currently completing a PhD research project to assess and support the uptake of technology to improve agricultural practices. She will provide a valuable rural and agricultural perspective, as well as knowledge and experience within the scientific community.
Richard Turner
Richard Turner is a renowned Australian Entrepreneur, Leader and Innovator. He currently holds the position of Industry Professor of Practice: Entrepreneur in Residence at UniSA. He has founded four successful companies / organisations across four different industry sectors including ZEN Energy, which was recognised as the 4th fastest growing company in Australia in 2012.
Richard is a specialist in re-invention and industry disruption, is passionate about sustainability and works to assist companies that are driving change for the better, believe in their purpose and add value to future generations. He will provide an important insight to engage with innovators and build our states clean technology industries as well as providing business and energy related expertise.
Sandy Verschoor
As Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Sandy Verschoor has remained committed to progressing the Carbon Neutral Adelaide initiative. She has enjoyed a long career in both public and private enterprise, not-for-profits, and Local and State Government.
Sandy is a successful cultural strategist and has contributed to the success of Adelaide’s thriving arts and culture community for more than two decades, including having been CEO of the Adelaide Fringe and the Adelaide Festival, as well as producer of the Adelaide Festival of Ideas.
Sandy has a sound knowledge of climate change strategy, policy and programs. She also leads the City of Adelaide’s ambitious goal to make the City of Adelaide one of the world’s first carbon neutral cities, through Carbon Neutral Adelaide initiative.
She provides valuable knowledge and understanding of the practical application of climate change mitigation and adaptation actions relating to the local government sector.
Craig Wilkins
Craig Wilkins is Chief Executive of the Conservation Council of South Australia (CCSA), leading and assisting community campaigns and movements for change. His career spans almost 30 years, working in the areas of public health, social services, environmental change and politics with a variety of not for profit and government organisations. He sits on a range of advisory boards and committees including the Adelaide Parklands Authority and the Grote Street Business Precinct.
Mr Wilkins provides valuable knowledge and understanding of the practical application of climate change mitigation and adaptation actions relating to environment and conservation as well as input relating to social justice.
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