“The reef is like the relationship of an old married couple… you’re happy it’s there but you don’t think about it every day”

AFTER A STELLAR CAREER IN THE ARTS (AS CEO OF THE QUEENSLAND BALLET AND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR OF THE QUEENSLAND ART GALLERY AND GOMA), ANNA MARSDEN TURNED HER ATTENTION TO SAVING OUR MOST PRECIOUS OCEAN ECOSYSTEM. AS MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE GREAT BARRIER REEF FOUNDATION, SHE’S HELPING ROLL OUT INNOVATIVE SCIENTIFIC PROJECTS AND SMASHING FUNDRAISING RECORDS. HER SECRET WEAPON: HER OWN PERSONAL BRAND OF POSITIVITY

“ I hadn’t visited the reef before I took on this role [in 2016], so the third week into the post I was taken to Heron Island and went snorkelling. On my very first snorkel I saw sea turtles and so many incredible fish and corals, but then I turned around and there was a shark behind me! But seriously what struck me was the absolute abundance of life, and because I was with a marine scientist I really did see it in all its complexity and richness. Going there on the boat was also the first time I realised I get profoundly seasick, but that’s another story.

I often think the relationship Australians have with the reef is like the marriage of an old married couple: you know it’s there, you’re happy it’s there, but you don’t really think about it every day. But finally we’re seeing a stirring where people are noticing the reef is struggling and trying to deal with it in a positive and meaningful manner. Deep down, Australians feel the reef is part of our identity in the same way that Uluru and the Sydney Opera House are icons collectively owned by the people in a very fundamental way. Now with the reef I feel our identity is being questioned: ‘Are we a nation that steps up and looks after our mates?’

When I worked in the arts my role was all about enabling artists to do great work and this role is all about enabling scientists and conservationists to do great work. I’ve swapped tutus for scuba equipment but the job is uncannily the same. However, this job has a spotlight and a political dimension I’ve never come across before and I’ve learnt a lot about understanding the complexities of politics through working for an icon that means a lot of different things to different people. Some people hear the phrase ‘Great Barrier Reef’ and they think climate change, for others it’s a tourism destination and for others it’s an economic driver. For many people it’s simply something special and for scientists it’s a puzzle to crack.

The new $500 million federal government package to save the reef now allows us to plan strategically and purposefully. There is still so much we don’t know about it and a lot of the solutions are in design and piloting stage, so this funding allows those pilots to be scaled and to grow to save the reef. There are three simple things everyone can do to help: they can learn more about it by watching documentaries and reading, they can visit it, which is the best thing of all, and they can look at what they can do every day as a citizen by treading lightly when it comes to plastics, energy use and making smarter decisions to help the planet. This is really a moment for everyone to step up and do more. Tiffany & Co. recently donated $1.4 million to saving the reef. What was great about that funding is they are supporting innovative and disruptive projects that others may steer away from. Their Out of the Blue Box Innovative Challenge was launched as a $300,000 global competition for new ideas to help the reef, and through their stores they can also provide a strong platform to help connect their customers to the cause.

When I walked into the job all the messaging was ‘fight for the reef, save the reef’ and it was quite negative leaning, but the message we are now promoting is positive and uplifting. I want to attract people to the beauty of the reef and the good feeling that comes from working together for an inspiring cause. My whole working life has been about selling inspiring and uplifting pursuits. I don’t know how to sell a negative, I only know how to say,

” ‘Isn’t it glorious, shouldn’t we support that?’