Roger Phillips – CEO

Roger has spent most of his working career in senior management and marketing roles having served as CEO of the South Australian Tourism Commission, marketing manager of the Melbourne Tourism Authority and manager of Community Relations with the Wet Tropics Management Authority. Roger took up the position of CEO of the Australian Rainforest Foundation in 2002.

Roger holds a Bachelor of Education degree and numerous graduate certificates in business and training. While at the South Australian Tourism Commission Roger was chosen to attend Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business, International Marketing program in New York and was also awarded the Pacific Asia Tourism Association’s Gold award. Roger has been inducted as a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management.

John Paul McFadden - Operations Manager

John Paul (JP) McFadden was appointed as the ARF’s first Operations Manager in January 2008. Educated in the UK, on leaving school JP undertook a trainee management position with British Airways which included a Diploma in Business Law. During his then 17 years with the ariline he held several senior management positions including Airport Operations, Brands & Marketing and World Sales and gained experience and knowledge in aviation and tourism on a global scale.

In 1992, JP immigrated to Australia and settled in Cairns. Since then he has held senior positions in many iconic Australian products including Total Sports Travel and Captain Cook Cruises.

JP has joined the ARF to oversee the Foundation’s ever expanding operations and field projects as well as assist the CEO in acquiring new corporate partners and capital funding.

Jacinta Allen – Personal Assistant/Office Manager

Jacinta holds numerous certificates and diplomas in Secretarial Studies, Bookkeeping, Training and Frontline management, Child Care and Education and Information Technology.

Over her career Jacinta has gained invaluable administration and finance experience working for the Australian Taxation Office, the Australian Construction and Asset Services, Tourism Tropical North Queensland and the Queensland government’s Department of Communities.

Jacinta was offered to further her community interest and join the team at the Australian Rainforest Foundation in 2005 as Personal Assistant to the CEO.  Jacinta’s position has evolved as the organisation has grown and has managed the establishing of satellite offices in Garners Beach and the Daintree, the ARF’s move to its new office on the Esplanade and overseeing the opening and ongoing management of the Foundation’s Interpretive Centre and Gift Shop.

Adrian Watson – Caretaker – ARF Conservation HQ – Daintree

Vicky Parker – Administration Assistant

Since emigrating from England to Cairns in 2000, Vicky has been enjoying life in the tropics.

She was employed in the UK in local government, and prior to that she ran a successful vegetarian restaurant in Bath.

A mother of 2 children she now works part-time in the ARF Gift Shop and Interpretive Centre and is a Girl Guide Leader.

Helen Cook – Project Officer, Communications

Helen graduated with an honours degree in Design and Communications from the UK over 20 years ago. Since then she has worked in the UK and Australia for; international design and advertising agencies, State and Territory governments, indigenous groups and various media and tourism organisations. Helen ran her own travel publishing business for six years in the UK before immigrating to Australia in 1997.

As Project Officer, Communications with the ARF, Helen works closely with the CEO to raise national and global awareness of the importance of Australia’s rainforests, through community engagement and media and public relations; producing printed and electronic promotional material, and assisting in the organising of events and fund-raising activities.

Julia Cooper – Project Officer, Research and Education

Born in England, Julia grew up in the wildlife filming industry, completely immersed in wildlife and its portrayal to people from a very young age. Julia completed an Honours degree and worked on numerous successful and popular BBC wildlife programs before relocating to Australia.

Julia has developed an excellent knowledge of, and experience with Australia’s tropical wildlife. Combined with her passion for all things great and small, Julia is now a key wildlife advocate and has that unique ability to explain complex biological or ecological processes in an uncomplicated way.

Paul Smith

Paul has always called North Queensland home leaving only to join the military where he served for xx years. Returning home to Mission Beach Paul was concerned to see how numbers of feral pig numbers had dramatically increased during his time away and the damaging impact they were having on the Cassowary’s habitat.

He identified the need for a more professional and strategic approach to pig management in the area and believed he could use his skills and knowledge of the area to deliver the outcomes necessary.

Paul founded Boar Busters in late 2005 and since then has removed more than 1000 feral pigs from the Mission Beach area. The ARF has worked with Paul since June 2006.

Tim Parker - Graphic Designer and Web Designer

Tim has been responsible for all creative aspects of developing and implementing the ARF brand since 2002 - including logo designs, brochures and stationery, websites and newsletters, display material, signage and product packaging.

Tim also has a strong illustrative background including the production of hand-drawn maps and cartoons. Along with running a thriving local graphic design practice Tim is also the co-founder of 'Wild About the Tropics' a publishing enterprise that produces and publishes wildlife books.

Paul Medici – American Representative

Paul was born in New York City and graduated from college with a BA in History from Western Illinois University before moving to Indianapolis in 1998.

Paul has worked most of his professional life in Marketing, non-profit Business Development and Investment Services.  He loves to study history and politics and cares deeply about the environment and rainforest preservation throughout the world.  Paul also enjoys volunteering with Sustainable Travel International, the Salvation Army in Indianapolis and the Indianapolis Climate Action Network. In his spare time, Paul enjoys being with his three children, traveling, watching the Indianapolis Colts and growing a good vegetable garden.