Managing DirectorGreat Barrier Reef Foundation
Claire is CEO and Managing Director of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, a role she took on in 2011. By leveraging the financial and technical resources of the Foundation’s network she seeks to catalyse and fund science that will support the Foundation’s vision of ‘a resilient reef’.
She is particularly enthusiastic about bringing the power of business and science together to generate outcomes including new sources of capital, market-based mechanisms such as bonds and technology applied to benefit the environment.
Claire joined the Foundation in 2008 as General Manager, running the operational aspects of the organisation including financial management, investor/donor relationships, and the management of research investments. She also convened the Foundation’s network to develop its first research portfolio for investment - ‘A resilient reef successfully adapting to climate change’
Prior to joining the Foundation, she spent eight years with Rio Tinto in senior management roles facilitating innovation and improvement across technology, shared services, procurement and operational teams in the US, Canada, Australia and South Africa.
Claire began her career in finance with BP, working in accounting, treasury and corporate finance in New Zealand, Australia, the UK and Europe.
She holds an MBA from INSEAD in France and a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration (First Class Honours) from Victoria University in Wellington. Claire is also a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.