THE BOARD AND EXECUTIVE TEAM
The CONSERVATION PARTNERS board and executive team brings together expertise in finance, governance, conservation strategy and on-ground implementation.
Professor Stephen Garnett
Professor Stephen Garnett is globally recognized as an expert in three areas - on conservation management, particularly threatened species; on the importance of the equitable involvement of Indigenous Peoples to conservation; and on the governance of taxonomic lists. In the field of conservation management he has, among other work, reviewed the extinction risk of all Australian birds every decade since 1990, each time producing action plans that have helped set the national agenda. His work with Indigenous Peoples is built on his leadership of a team that created the first global map of Indigenous Peoples lands. Professor Garnett is an inaugural Conservation Partners board member. He applies his considerable expertise to guide the strategic investments made by Conservation Partners.
Kurt Best
Kurt is a Certified Practicing Accounting (CPA) and the Principal and General Manager at Phillipsons Accounting and Financial Planning. Kurt has a long history with Phillipsons, acting as accountant and business advisor to a cross section of clients across Melbourne and Gippsland. Kurt oversees systems and personnel to ensure a consistently high level of service is delivered across all teams. Kurt regularly writes for national magazines on business and financial software reviews.
Brent Butcher
Brent is a Certified Practicing Accounting (CPA) with a Bachelor of Business and a Principal at Phillipsons Accounting and Financial Planning since 2012. Brent is a superannuation specialist, having devoted himself to self-managed super since 2003. With a broad range of skills in tax and business management, Brent works with clients across the full spectrum of financial needs, and guides them through every stage of the super life-cycle, from setup to retirement. Brent is committed to helping clients navigate the ever changing landscape of superannuation to ensure they achieve their retirement goals. Away from the office Brent is kept on his toes with a young family and by shared family interest in thoroughbreds.
Jim Phillipson
Jim is a big believer in building partnerships and working together – something he came to realise growing up and living on farms. Jim developed extensive knowledge of organisational structure and management over his 40 years building businesses, while also supporting a wide range of conservation organisations. In 2018 all accumulated business profits were donated to establish Rendere Trust, a stronger vehicle to drive conservation outcomes. As a philanthropist Jim has found his niche — connecting people, providing organisational support and providing funding to make the environment sector more effective. And with such great recent results over the last three years, it is working.
Steve Murphy
Steve is both an applied ecologist and land manager. He has helped conserve some of Australia’s most endangered species including Night Parrots, Gouldian Finches and Palm Cockatoos. Steve has had roles in government agencies, leading non-profits, private consultancies, tertiary education and Indigenous land management. In 2019 Steve co-founded Artemis Nature Fund, and is now the Chief Executive at Conservation Partners.