Lunch with a Leader - Bob Speirs

The Peter Cullen Trust “Lunch with a Leader” is a small gathering of Fellows and Friends with interesting, friendly and lively discussion led by some of Australia’s most informed people in the water and natural resources sector.

The first Brisbane Lunch for 2024 features Bob Speirs, practitioner in climate risk, natural resource and environmental management. Bob’s link with Peter Cullen goes back to his student days. In Bob’s words:

"Peter was one of the academics at what is now the University of Canberra, when I did my first Degree there in 1973-75. I did not have Peter Cullen as a lecturer. However, he was a ‘presence’ in the School even then.

He came with a small number of us students, probably in late 1975, when we learnt to scuba dive in Jervis Bay. I’m not sure if he was learning to dive, or whether he was keeping watch over us. However, I see him now, in the Zodiac with us off Point Perpendicular on 40m of cold water, mindful of tiger sharks, when the fin of a sunfish broke the surface … “get in and have a look at that!” We did.

Bob’s career started as a field officer in the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, progressing through 18 years as a Senior Executive in the Queensland Government. Bob’s responsibilities included regional natural resource management, Great Barrier Reef water quality initiatives and Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger programs. After retiring from the public service, Bob taught at the University of Queensland, is active in his local community as a founding member of Resilient Kurilpa, and continues to work as a consultant on climate risk management, environmental planning and natural resource management, sharing his wealth of experience and talent for stakeholder relationships.

Places are limited (12) so please register and pay to secure your spot.  And please contact Brisbane Lunch Lead Matthew Fullerton on 0466 393 001 if you have any dietary requirements.