Rob Gell AM FRGS FEIANZ

Rob Gell is a geographer and specifically a coastal geomorphologist, specialising in the environmental processes that continually shape our coastlines. As such, he has an expert understanding of the Victorian coastline and its formation.

In his professional life he works as an advisor and company director. He is a director of Attentis®, an advanced, real time, sensor and intelligence network technology company; Circular Things which has developed an Eco Waterwall -a water tank as a fence; GreenCo Water which has patented a Pak Flat Tank and recently Utilium a new company that has developed a plant-based antifouling treatment. Rob also has sustainability advisory roles with Solar Recovery Corporation which has partnered with a world-leading Italian technology company to recover 99% of materials from decommissioned solar panels, Global Aquatica which has developed BioAqua technology to treat Acid Mine Drainage and recover water and valuable minerals from mine tailings dams and Empauer, a software company that has developed a decision support tool for Food Loss and Waste (FLW) accounting with RMIT University’s School of Design.

Rob completed his Science Degree with Honours at Melbourne University in the early seventies and taught Environmental Science and Physical Geography at Melbourne State College and Melbourne University. For thirty-one years after that he presented television weather in parallel with a career as an environmental consultant with Environmental Business Strategies, Access Environmental and World Wind Pty Ltd.

Rob’s business activities focus on business strategy and sustainable development project design, product stewardship, communications and marketing, responding to the need for business to be informed about new issues, take up smart technologies and actively develop new development plans and programs to ensure an understanding of changing markets, the emerging green economy and the need for a positive and accountable contribution on behalf of shareholders and stakeholders alike.

Rob is President of The Royal Society of Victoria and Patron of Geography Victoria. In previous roles he has been the national President of Greening Australia Limited, Chairman of the Mornington Peninsula and Westernport Biosphere Reserve Foundation Ltd. and a member of the Victorian Coastal Council. Rob is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and an Inaugural Fellow of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand. He was Environment Ambassador to the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games. Rob has been a local government councillor and was a councillor of the Australian Conservation Foundation through the 1990s. He is a published author and photographer.

He has served as the Patron of the Geography Teachers Association of Victoria, Wildlife Victoria and Life Education Victoria. He was a Life Ambassador for Australia Day for the State of Victoria (recently finalised). On Australia Day 2014 he was made a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for significant service to conservation, to the protection of coastal and marine environments, and to the community.

Rob Gell talks about:

• Climate shift – the science, current impacts and options for the future
• Natural capital, biodiversity and ecosystem services
• Water, energy and waste: the keys to sustainable development
• Business as usual or sustainable business.