The Team
Emma Pocock
Emma has a keen interest in the intersection of sports and political, cultural and behavioural change. She has most recently worked in policy and communications in the office of a Federal Senator, helping execute a successful re-election campaign that focussed on climate action and environmental issues. Prior to that Emma worked in research for a think tank and at a university. Before working as a research assistant, she was a youth worker focussed on delivering cultural change programs in West Australian high schools.
Emma has almost a decade of experience working alongside her partner, David, on various projects and building a public profile for good through sport. From 2009 - 2015 they worked on a community development project in rural Zimbabwe and in 2017 they spent seven months living on and running a citrus farm in southern Zimbabwe building a project at the intersection of community development, food sovereignty, and conservation. They have recently co-authored a book, In Our Nature, about that time, as well as stories about rugby, conservation, climate change, and belonging. Emma has a Masters in International Development and a Bachelor of Social Science.
Eloise Wittkowsky
A Social Science graduate from the University of Adelaide, Eloise has long understood the social and cultural power of sport. Her most recent role was as the office manager for a high-profile politician. Working in this fast-paced, dynamic environment for two and a half years provided Eloise with deep experience in stakeholder engagement, policy development, organisational oversight, the management of day-to-day operations and coordinating a diverse team to achieve impact. It also gave her first-hand insight into Australian federal politics and the policy-development process. Growing up a passionate fan of the St Kilda Football Club, Eloise has always loved and participated in a variety of sports, but has recently found her home playing Aussie Rules in the growing women’s league.
Rebekah Giles
With over twenty years of top tier experience in Australia and the United Kingdom, Rebekah has developed a diverse legal practice advising and representing a broad range of clients from directors, executives, politicians, professionals, sporting clubs, and celebrities. She is renowned for acting in high profile disputes, investigations, prosecutions, and inquiries as well as arbitration. Rebekah was awarded Reputational Risk Lawyer of the Year (New South Wales) by Global Law Experts for 2019 and 2020. She was also named Individual for Sports Law by Best Lawyers Australia in the Australian Financial Review in 2019.
Rebekah has curated a diverse portfolio of non-executive directorships in government, sport, and private enterprise. Some of her current and past appointments include Chair of the Board of Governors for the Centennial Parklands Foundation, Western Sydney Football Club (GWS Giants), Clean Energy Partnerships, the Sydney Olympic Park Business Association, and the Association for Women in Insurance.
In 2017 she was honoured with an Award for Excellence from the UTS Faculty of Law and the following year she was named as one of Australian Financial Review's 100 Women of Influence (Boards and Management category).
Lachlan Crombie
An expert in government relations and passionate about sport, Lachlan Crombie co-founded FrontRunners with Emma and David Pocock. He believes in the potential of sport to play a powerful role in driving environmental action and changing climate perceptions within the community.
Lachlan currently works as the Director of Environment and Hospitality at political consultancy firm PremierState. His dedication to politically strategic environmental action transformed PremierState into a pro-climate political consultancy, with Lachlan at the helm of a new dedicated environmental practice group.
Lachlan has a Master of Business in Sports Management from the Australian leading Sports Management School, Deakin University. While at PremierState, he worked with leading NRL clubs in Sydney (including the Sydney Roosters and the Manly Sea Eagles), as well as Australia’s oldest running rugby club, the Sydney University Football Club. He also enjoys volunteering in coaching and officiating cricket, rugby and soccer.
Deeply passionate about sports, Lachlan has travelled the world to attend major sporting events, including the 2011 and 2019 Rugby World Cups, and the 2018 Football World Cup. You can also find him at the nearest dog-friendly pub, watching the sports channel with his four-legged best friend, Jericho.
David Pocock
David Pocock has had almost a decade and a half in rugby, garnering praise for his consistency and standout performances. He played in the Super Rugby competition for the Western Force in Perth, and the ACT Brumbies, as well as representing the Wallabies at three consecutive Rugby World Cups.
Outside of rugby, David has been a consistent voice for action on climate change and social justice. In 2008 he co-founded EightyTwenty Vision, partnering with a rural Zimbabwean community development organisation. In 2012 he backed a price on carbon and has been an outspoken advocate for climate action and conservation ever since. He was arrested alongside fifth generation farmer, Rick Laird, during a nonviolent direct action protest in 2014 aiming to stop the development of a new coal mine in Leard State Forest.
In 2019 David and Emma published a book on conservation, climate change, and belonging entitled In Our Nature. David is currently studying a Masters in Sustainable Agriculture.
Joe Hedger
Joe is a proud Bundjalung man whose family come from the Aboriginal community of Baryulgil on the Far North coast of NSW.
Joe brings a deep understanding and lived insight on First Nations’ issues, a perspective which positions him well in providing strategic guidance and advice on current and emerging issues impacting First Nations’ peoples. Joe is also highly respected for his political astuteness, sensitivity and expertise in First Nations’ social and cultural practices, beliefs and protocols.
Having participated in sport in various capacities, Joe understands the unique value and power sport has had and, continues to play, in positively transforming the lives and communities of First Nations’ peoples.
Craig Foster
Following a celebrated football career as Australia’s 419th Socceroo & 40th Captain, Craig became one of Australia’s most respected broadcasters with an 18-year, multiple Logie-winning career with Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Australia. Craig is perhaps equally well-known for his work beyond the field and screen, through the social programs he has developed, as well as his advocacy for sport and human rights, refugees and asylum seekers, and humanitarian causes.
Craig is an Adjunct Professor of Sport & Social Responsibility with Torrens University, sits on the Multicultural Council of Australia, and works across a vast range of social programs from indigenous rights and self-determination, homelessness and domestic violence along with refugee advocacy as a Human Rights and Refugee Ambassador for Amnesty Australia, Australia Committee member with Human Rights Watch and Advisory Council member of the Australian Human Rights Institute, UNSW.
He is a former Chairman, Life Member, and CEO of Professional Footballers Australia (PFA), Australia’s representative body of the Socceroos, Matildas and professional players, and has a strong background in athlete advocacy and social justice through leading a global #SaveHakeem campaign to free a young Bahraini footballer from a Thai prison, #GameOver with Amnesty Australia to free asylum seekers and refugees from Australia's offshore detention and #PlayForLives, a humanitarian response by sport to COVID-19 which saw sports, clubs and athletes contribute to vulnerable communities in Australia and, later, India.
Craig was a Finalist in the 2019 Australian Human Rights Medal, recipient of the 2020 NSW Human Rights Medal for his work with refugees, is a strong advocate for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and NZ to be the 'World Cup of climate action', holds a Master’s in International Sports Management, a Postgraduate Degree in Football Management, a Professional Coaching License and a Bachelor of Laws.
Arj Ganeshalingam
Arj is a managing director of leading communications firm Porter Novelli Australia and has delivered standout integrated campaigns and stakeholder programs to organisations across many of Australia’s major industry sectors for more than 10 years. He is focused on effective and creative communication programs which deliver genuine behaviour change and is a continuing advisor to state and federal governments and companies in the automotive, education, food, property, retail and consumer technology sectors.
His professional experience includes leading an award-winning campaign for the Greyhound Adoption Program (which helped place a record 536 greyhounds in new homes in one year), advising the AFL and Special Olympics and providing media relations counsel to support Bupa sponsorship properties including Hawthorn Football Club, Cricket Australia and Tour Down Under. In 2010, Arj also took a sabbatical from Porter Novelli and worked in media relations at Tennis Australia, leading communications programs for community tennis and media handling for the Australian Open.
Arj’s sporting life also includes a passion for both the Hawthorn Football Club and Liverpool Football Club – and despite the events of 2020, he was thrilled to watch the Reds finally lift the Premier League trophy (even if it was in an empty stadium).
Fiona de Jong
Fiona de Jong LLB (Hons), BIT, AMP (Harvard) is praised as one of Australia’s emerging contemporary leaders of globally significant projects. As Head of Australia’s Nation Brand at the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), Fiona is leading Australia’s most ambitious international global brand initiative.
Prior to Austrade, Fiona spent her most recent decade in sport as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Director of Sport at the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC). Over her 12 years at the AOC she successfully delivered 10 Australian Olympic Team campaigns (3 summer, 3 winter, 4 youth) across 9 countries, 5 Australian Youth Olympic Festivals here in Australia and day-to-day management of an iconic Australian sporting organisation including the re-design of the Australian Olympic brand. Fiona’s diplomatic leadership in Australian sport saw her engage with the most senior leaders of sport, business and governments domestically and internationally.
Before commencing her service of sport, Fiona was a lawyer with international law firm Blake Dawson Waldron (now Ashurst) and implemented innovative eCommerce projects with Colonial First State funds management.
She is a board member of Surfing Australia, Trustee of Centennial & Moore Park Trust, Governor of the Centennial Parklands Foundation, Member of International Olympic Committee (IOC) Taskforce on Safeguarding Athletes and various sports advisory boards and former member of the AOC Executive, Australian Olympic Foundation, Olympic Winter Institute of Australia, International Olympic Committee (IOC) Marketing Commission.
Anthony Arrow
Anthony Arrow is a partner at Corrs Chambers Westgarth and is renown as one of Australia’s leading renewable and alternative energy lawyers. He has been formally recognised as a leading practitioner in his field by Chambers and Best Lawyers. Anthony has over 21 years’ experience advising governments, sponsors, developers and contractors in relation to some of Australia’s highest profile renewable energy and major infrastructure projects. He was Head of Energy at his previous law firm and enjoys an extensive network of domestic and international clients and contacts who participate in the renewable and alternative energy sectors.
Anthony is a highly energetic and driven person. He is extremely passionate about the positive contribution that the energy projects he is involved with are making to address climate change and the role that he is playing in driving Australia towards a clean energy future. He advises some of the world’s most recognised renewable and alternate energy sector businesses, including Tesla on the vast majority of its battery energy storage projects and virtual power plant projects in Australia. Anthony’s areas of practice include work on the large scale wind farms, solar farms, battery storage and energy from waste projects. He has published many articles on the renewable energy sector and is a frequent guest speaker at energy conferences, including the International Conference on Power and Energy in Malaysia and the Clean Energy Summit held each year in Sydney.
Martin Rice
Dr Martin Rice is Head of Research for the Climate Council. Previously he was the Co-ordinator of the Earth System Science Partnership (ESSP) in Paris, France. The ESSP is a global interdisciplinary program with joint projects on the carbon cycle, global water system, human health and food systems. Prior to working for the ESSP he was a Programme Manager for the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) in Kobe, Japan. The APN is an intergovernmental network that promotes policy-oriented research and capacity-building activities related to global change in the region.
Martin’s PhD research at Macquarie University was on integrated Earth System Science: research practice and science communication. He is an Honorary Associate, Department of Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University. Martin has published in peer-reviewed journals, books and reports and is frequently interviewed by the media on climate change (e.g. New York Times, BBC World, ABC Radio National, Al Jazeera).
Martin has a passion for sport. He played competitive squash (Scottish championships) and soccer/football at university in Scotland and while living and working in Japan. Martin is passionate about the outdoors, especially hiking, camping and skiing.
Lincoln Magee
Lincoln is an analytical creative who has worked with global brands, government departments and iconic venues, helping them define their visual identity. After completing a Bachelor of Sports Coaching and Exercise Science and an MBA with a focus on entrepreneurship, Lincoln worked with numerous e-commerce companies in the U.S. developing and executing innovative digital marketing campaigns. After returning to Australia, he developed and implemented social strategies and marketing plans most notably with the Australian Bureau of Statistics and The Grounds of Alexandria.
Growing up in Canberra, Lincoln has always had a strong connection with sport and the environment. He played elite level tennis before a late transition to Rugby Union which took him to the U.S. He understands the impact sport can have, through personal experience as a player and professional experience as a Performance Analyst at both the ACT Brumbies and Canberra Raiders. When he's not working, you'll find Lincoln outside riding, hiking or visiting new places.
Stephanie Hall
Stephanie is an environmental communications specialist at Monash University’s Climate Change Communication Research Hub. As the only dedicated climate communication institute in the southern hemisphere, the Hub delivers evidence-based communication initiatives to improve public understanding of climate change.
Passionate about making climate change information accessible to everyday Australians, Stephanie leads the Hub’s flagship initiative, Climate Communicators: a national climate education program equipping television weather presenters with research-led climate graphics for broadcast. Designed with both impact and accessibility in mind, Climate Communicators reaches millions of Australians every month across four major national networks.
As an experienced writer and environmental researcher, Stephanie also publishes on Australians’ views on climate change and was co-author of a Victorian Government-commissioned review of best-practice climate communication. In 2020, she authored a series of reports for the Australian Conservation Foundation examining the impact of climate change on Australia’s premiere sporting events of the Boxing Day Test, the Tour Down Under and the Australian Open. In addition to examining how extreme heat will impact players, officials and fans under current emissions scenarios, the reports provided a range of recommendations that national governing bodies could consider. In response, Cricket Australia announced the development of a sustainability policy for 2020.
Stephanie graduated dux of Monash University’s Master of Environmental Management and Sustainability and also holds a Bachelor of Arts in politics and communications from the University of Melbourne, where she interned as a journalist for Australian University Sport.
Growing up, Stephanie was a keen cricketer and aerobics champion and is currently relishing the reign of her beloved Richmond Football Club.
Amy Steel
As a former international netballer, Amy has experienced first hand the impact climate change is already having on sport. Amy suffered a heat stroke in 2016 which forced her to retire from the sport. Today Amy takes an advocacy role supporting sport to address climate change through her involvement in advocacy groups including: Sports Environment Alliance and EcoAthletes.
Her professional career, as a senior manager of climate change at Deloitte, allows her to switch focus to the business world, and work with the world's major emitters to transition to a low-carbon business model.
David Lindenmayer
Professor David Lindenmayer is a world-leading expert in forest ecology and resource management, conservation science, and biodiversity conservation. He currently runs 5 large-scale, long-term research programs in south-eastern Australia, primarily associated with developing ways to conserve biodiversity in farmland, wood production forests, plantations, and reserves. He has maintained some of the largest, long-term research programs in Australia, with some exceeding 37 years in duration.
David Lindenmayer has published 1290 scientific articles including 815 peer-reviewed papers in international scientific journals. He has also published 46 books, including many award-winning textbooks and other seminal books. He is among the world's most productive and most highly-cited scientists, particularly in forest ecology and conservation biology.
David Lindenmayer held a prestigious Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow from 2013-2018. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science (elected 2008), a Fellow of the Ecological Society of America (elected in 2019), and was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2014. His research has been recognised through numerous awards, including the Eureka Science Prize (twice), Whitley Award (10 times), the Serventy Medal for Ornithology, and the Australian Natural History Medallion. In 2018, he was awarded the prestigious Whittaker Medal from the Ecological Society of America.
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