Natalie Isaacs

Conservationist of the Year

NATALIE IS THE fearless founder of 1 Million Women (1MW), a global movement that so far involves more than 330,000 women and girls taking action to fight climate change by altering the way they live. Natalie believes that because women make most household-buying decisions, they are well placed to make more sustainable choices to reduce their families’ carbon footprints.

By sharing her own story of transformation from apathetic cosmetics manufacturer to strong and focused climate-change activist, Natalie is an inspiration to women the world over. The 1MW movement empowers women through support and education to make positive contributions to the environment through simple lifestyle changes such as reducing energy use and food waste.

Natalie’s core belief is that women, through their collective power, can make a real impact on climate change. Successful 1MW campaigns have so far included #leaveitontheshelf to reduce plastic purchases from supermarkets and 1M Declaring the Reef in Danger, a petition to save the Great Barrier Reef. PIONEERS IN MARINE biology, Curt and Micheline-Nicole head the Centre for Whale Research in WA where they study all aspects of whales, from population biology to their migratory pathways and behaviour. Exciting discoveries made by the Jenners during their lifelong adventure aboard their hand-built research vessel, WhaleSong, include identifying Perth Canyon as one of only two known high-density feeding locations for endangered pygmy blue whales in Australian waters and finding a humpback breeding haven in Camden Sound off the Kimberley coast. The couple has spent a lifetime committed to improving our understanding of whales through painstaking scientific research (see AG 52 and AG 133).