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The Living Future Institute of Australia (LFIA) is seeking three new Board Directors to help deliver big plans for 2018 and beyond, looking to further enrich the current, diverse mix of team players looking for a way to make a high-value, high-energy contribution to our industry and create positive change. In particular, the LFIA is specifically seeking candidates that are able to raise funds and attract financial sponsors for the organisation, are key influencers, can contribute to financial management and/or possess connections to new industries and regions.

The Board Director term is 2 years. As three of our Board Members have come to the end of their term, Mary Casey, Brian Coughlin, and Caroline Pidcock, we are excited to invite LFIA Members to vote for their top three of the following applicants to be a Director on the Board of the LFIA.

The nominees for Directors of the Board are as follows:
Anthony Marklund
Jason Twill
Lucy Shannon (Carse)
Chris Arms
David Rowlinson

All of the candidates were asked the same question: Why should you be considered for the role of Director? Each of their answers are below, and their full application can be found by clicking on the their name.

Anthony Marklund

I believe I can add value to LFIA by way of my position as a key influencer with connections to property sectors that are generally unaware of LFIA activities nor LBC certification.
Primarily I can assist by way of advocating and disseminating LFIA information and updates to key industry stakeholders and by providing LFIA with relevant industry information and feedback from Floth’s significant contact pool, which includes many public and private institutional organisations. I also have a strong relationship with the Property Council of Australia, having been involved in its diverse committees in Victoria and Queensland for around 10 years. In addition to many private sector key stakeholders, these committees include senior representatives of Brisbane City Council and QLD Department of Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning.
I can also form an additional link with the Green Building Council through my involvement there.
For an example of my advocacy for living buildings, please refer to my contribution to AIRAH Ecolobrium Journal at http://www.airah.org.au/Content_Files/EcoLibrium/2017/07- 17-Eco-005.pdf (Trend 8 Living Buildings, PDF page 7).
Thank you for your consideration.
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Jason Twill

I wish to be considered for a Director role because I firmly believe my purpose is to support a world that is socially just, culturally rich and ecologically restorative and the Institute has been a “family” for me since its inception (I recall the day we drafted this slogan). Our industry must move beyond sustainability toward regenerative development paradigms and that will only happen when Living Buildings and Communities become the mainstream. I wish leverage my career/board/fundraising experience and international network to support LFIA in growing its staff, membership base and influence within the property sector to become the preeminent think-do tank in Australia for the built environment.
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Lucy Shannon (Carse)

My number one strength is my energy and dynamism, that inspires others to jump on board, take risks and create, prototype and test customer-focused, practical solutions. My goal is to encourage everybody to be passionate about positive change and be at the cutting edge of trends and disruptions so we can build truly sustainable, technology-driven, smarter, more affordable urban environments.
Whilst I may not have exceptional experience in raising funds or attracting sponsors I am an activist at heart and highly persistent when I focus on something; I feel that I can bring a positive message to Toga about Living Future Institute and with time, convince them to participate.
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Chris Arms

I am an engineer in the water industry and have run my own consulting business in construction and development for over 30 years – we have a team of disruptive thinkers, civil and hydraulic engineers, scientists, architects and landscape architects – we understand water and how it is used within the built environment.
We work for most of the largest developers and constructors in Australia and have relationships within those areas at the highest level.
I am always inquisitive and asking myself why do we do what we do, how can we do it better, how can we use less energy and how can we do it passively and wherever possible utilise a cradle to cradle approach to design.
I am not good at following rules and regulations – however I always strive to do what I feel is the right thing to do.
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David Rowlinson

I have been extremely impressed by the great work and advocacy provided by LFIA. In particular, the focus on ‘creating genuine change’ via the four key international programs is, I believe, a very important initiative.
I am confident that my long-term experience in the building industry, in both the commercial and not-forprofit sectors, will provide an excellent basis to help in the growth and success of LFIA. I believe that the skills, experience and gravitas that I would bring to the organisation will help to overcome some of the main challenges that have been identified, such as raising funds and attracting financial sponsors, influencing key stakeholders, financial management and reporting and to provide a conduit to new industries and regions. I am also intimately involved in creating a higher level of awareness of the importance of ‘nature connected design’ (biophilic design) and think that there is a high level of synergy between this focus and the goals of the LFIA.
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