PANEL DISCUSSION : The importance of National Parks and their future.

Nadia O’Carroll was Division 2 Councillor for the Scenic Rim Regional Council from 2012 to 2020 appointed to a number of committees including Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Community Advisory Committee.
Nadia has a long history of volunteering in the not for profit sector including emergency services, natural environment, animal welfare, citizen science, arts and culture, sport and public health.With a strong interest in the natural environment, science and biodiversity Nadia is a Director of Healthy Land and Water an organisation dedicated to protecting and improving the environment of South East Queensland and beyond.

Lisa Groom is the daughter of interNATIONAL PARKtours founders Tony & Connie Groom and grand-daughter of Binna Burra Mountain Lodge founder Arthur Groom. You could say the great outdoors is in Lisa’s blood. Growing up with the business she commenced working as a tour leader and co-ordinator with interNATIONAL PARKtours in 1991, and took over the helm of the company from her parents in 2001. Leading walking holidays in Australia and Europe, her passion is for regional ecotourism, discovering local characters and showcasing nature from a different perspective.

Todd Brown Father of three little Beech mountain rascals. Born in the south of NZ and found home in the Australian bush over the last ten years. Park Ranger in Queensland for last 9.5 years. Working in the unique and beautiful Eungella National Parks chasing fires and platypus earning my stripes as a caretaker of country.Gained admiration and respect for the vast biodiversity of our local mountains for past four years, based at Springbrook and Binna Burra.

Gary Opit is a researcher , Cryptozoologist, and educationalist on a broad array of subjects, particularly on cosmology, geology, geography, anthropology, ecology, zoology and botany.He is interested in understanding reality, from quantum mechanics, physics, chemistry, microbiology, ecology to human behaviour and how we exist as a part of the living surface of our planet and the awakening of the planetary mind through technology. Gary hosts a wildlife talkback radio show on ABC North Coast NSW Local Radio.

Panel Facilitator- Bronwyn Davies