Jean Thomas
Multi-award winning conservationist and change advocate
Profile
Jean Thomas is a multi-award winning conservationist, having worked extensively in Papua New Guinea (PNG) to protect the rainforest and save tree kangaroos from extinction. Along with developing environmental education programs in PNG for conservation, Jean created training programs for PNG communities that resulted in improvements in health for over 12,000 people in 50 villages.
Her life story is one of passion and purpose that inspired Independent filmmaker Mark Hanlin to document her life in a full-length feature film called Into the Jungle. This success story of her work in PNG provides fantastic insight and a unique perspective on a multitude of topics for all audiences.
Current Work:
As a passionate conservationist, Jean is the real deal and wants to fix the worlds environmental and social problems. She knows how to do it.
Jean is a powerful inspiration to motivate you to effect real social and environmental change in your organisation or community.
As a keynote speaker, Jean wears her heart on her sleeve and shares her story in a way that has you experiencing it as if you are there with her. This invites an opportunity to reflect on your own experience and tap into the part of you that wants to make a difference but doesn’t know-how. Jean will help you see how you can make a valuable contribution to society and the environment.
Previous experience
Awards: Her awards include The Future for Nature Award (Netherlands), Australian Geographic Conservationist of the Year and Telstra Business Women for Social and Purpose Enterprise in Victoria.
Feedback
The basis of effective wildlife conservation is working well with people; and this is where Jean has excelled. She is a great communicator and educator. She communicates well with people at all levels: in community education with traditional people and also in high level presentations and in global forums. Her passion and love for her work speaks to any audience and I believe that her story needs to be shared with the world.
I have great admiration for the work she does with the Tenkile Conservation Alliance. I totally understand why she is an award winning conservationist. She is also an accomplished presenter. She was able to convey her passion for a small animal in a remote part of the world to a very mixed audience which was fascinated to learn of the development of her career and the impact her work was having.
I’ve watched and listened to Jean as she’s presented formally and also when providing input to open forums. She has important lessons to share with others in conservation work and she has the ability to expresses herself plainly and with natural conviction. Her speaking style is clear, confident and engaging, whether the audience is large or small and no matter what the composition.
Her passion for her work and lifestyle choices connects with audiences who, while recognising the often tough and pragmatic path she has followed, are often touched by her vulnerability and the obvious emotional bonds she develops with the communities she supports.
Jean has presented her complex work at several zoo-based events, workshops and conventions including the World Association of Zoos and Aquaria (WAZA) conference in front of hundreds of delegates. She has a professional and precise articulation and is able to speak confidently and with intense passion.
