Our volunteers are essential for the work of the Conservation Council.
From researching, policy and submission writing, over running stalls, walks and webinars, over doing hundreds of tasks to help keep our database and website organised and running smoothly, to archiving important historic records or creating pretty banners and signs, we could not do what we do without our wonderful volunteers! Volunteers, who donate their time, expertise and passion to protect our wonderful nature and advocate for our environment are crucial to everything our organisation does. They not only help but inspire others to take action, too.
To show our deep gratitude, this year we introduced two new awards to celebrate their incredible contributions: the Volunteer of the Year Award and the Young Volunteer of the Year Award. While we value all our volunteers, these awards are a small way for us to recognise the outstanding commitment and hard work of two volunteers and to highlight the profound impact they have on our shared goals.
Conservation Council staff nominated volunteers for these new awards and shared their nominations with the board, who then ratified the decision. Staff were looking for particular criteria when considering volunteers – passion for the cause, commitment to the organisation, contribution to key projects and the energy they bring to the team.
We are now delighted to announce the winners of these awards.
Our volunteer of the year award winners, Angela Seymour (centre) and Matt Whitting (right) receiving their awards at the Conservation Council ACT Region 2025 AGM. They were joined by new Conservation Council President Danny Jowers Blain (left), outgoing President Stephanie Booker (second from left) and Executive Director Simon Copland (second from right). Young Volunteer of the Year award winner Molly Sharrock was unable to receive her award on the night.
Volunteer of the Year Award
Joint Winner: Angela Seymour for her tireless efforts to digitise Conservation Council records, increasing security of these documents, as well as clearing up space in our office. Angela was also central to the running of our 2025 Art Auction, including housing art in the garage in the lead up the event. She has been a central member of our office team for the past year and we are delighted to have her.
Join Winner: Matt Whitting for his work chairing the Biodiversity Working Group, helping spearhead the fight to save Canberra’s dragon and writing numerous submissions and letters to Government on a range of issues. Matt also attends meetings with stakeholders and provides ongoing advice to our team on biodiversity issues. We would not be anywhere near as strong on biodiversity matters in the ACT without him.
Young Volunteer of the Year Award
Winner: Molly Sharrock: for her policy work, including developing research on the Canberra Grassland Earless Dragon, researching and writing the Council’s position on the Snowy Water Inquiry Outcomes Implementation Deed (SWIOID) and representing the council at Government consultations on the ACT Catchment Strategy and on the SWIOID.
Thank you to all our volunteers for your amazing work, and congratulations to Angela, Matt and Molly for winning this year’s awards.