Coral Sea Ambassadors

Beyond the partners in our alliance, our campaign is supported by some great organisations and influential individuals. We thank them all for their enthusiasm and encouragement.

Dr Sylvia Earle, Patron

Dr Sylvia Earle speaking at the Lowie InstituteWe are thrilled to announce that internationally renowned environmentalist Dr Sylvia Earle has agreed to be a Patron of the Coral Sea Campaign. Sylvia is the global icon of marine conservation. Sylvia won the TED award in 2009, which was won by Bill Clinton in 2007 and Bono in 2005.

"The Coral Sea is a rare thing – a place where majestic ocean-going fish can still be found in great numbers. In the last 50 years, the world has lost 90% of these large ocean creatures due to overfishing. We need to do all we can to protect one of the world’s last remaining refuges. That’s why I support a fully protected marine park in the Coral Sea within Australia’s waters. I call it a “hope spot” for the oceans. The Coral Sea would be the world’s largest protected area, a beacon to all other countries, and a giant leap forward for humanity’s custodianship of the sea" - Dr Sylvia Earle

People in photo from left to right are Darren Kindleysides (AMCS), Prof. Ove Hoegh-Guldberg (Centre for Marine Studies, UQ), Sylvia Earle, and Nick Alford (CEO Brisbane Institute) at the Brisbane Institute, 4 August.

Sylvia and Imogen Zethoven (Director, Coral Sea Campaign, Pew Environment Group), Lowy Institute, 5 August

Jesse Martin, Ambassador

Jesse Martin"Australia is in a better position than most countries to absorb economic hurdles and the initial cost of protecting the Coral Sea will most definitely become the best investment for generations to come. Get involved and feel proud that we are free enough to do this." - Jesse Martin

On October 31st 1999, aged 18, Jesse Martin sailed into the record books when he became the youngest person in history to circumnavigate the globe solo, nonstop and unassisted in his 34-foot yacht Lionheart. Since then Jesse has continued pursuing adventures aboard sailing boats. In 2003 he was awarded the Order of Australia medal for his services to youth.

Watch a video message from Jesse

John Williamson, Ambassador

John Williamson

“It is easy to forget our natural heritage under the ocean waves. There is more colour among our fish and coral than even the amazing birdlife that we treasure. Let’s do something our grandchildren will be thankful for and preserve the Coral Sea. I am 100% behind it”- John Williamson AM

John Williamson, through his music, has been a champion of Australia’s Flora and Fauna throughout his forty year career. He is a founding member of Bush Heritage. His anti-woodchipping song ‘Rip Rip Woodchip’ and his song ‘Goodbye Blinky Bill (to raise money for the NSW Koala Preservation Society) are just two examples of his ongoing crusade. He believes it is the spirit (or nature) of this land that brings us all together; casting religion, politics, race and colour aside.

Watch a video message from John here.

Isabel Lucas, Ambassador

Isabel Lucas, Protect Our Coral Sea Ambassador Isabel Lucas“Declaring the Coral Sea a marine heritage park is a truly unique and empowering opportunity for our generation to raise awareness of the amazingly diverse richness of this marine environment.

By taking this step we can embrace the future and show what we mean when we talk change. How many nations can even consider the choice of declaring the largest marine heritage park on Earth?

This is our chance – let’s make it happen.” - Isabel Lucas

Isabel Lucas is a popular actress and a big animal lover; she travelled to Japan to appear in the deeply moving documentary ‘The Cove’. Isabel grew up in northern Queensland and is a well known environmentalist who cares deeply about the state of the world’s oceans.

Watch the video Coral Sea Love, created by Isabel Lucas and Angus Stone

Pat Rafter, Ambassador

Pat Rafter"Wouldn't it be great to see one of the most beautiful bodies of water in the world protected. I am proud to support the protection of the Coral Sea, just off our own Great Barrier Reef.

Help the large and small marine creatures restore their numbers by joining with me to support this campaign.

Let us all be responsible for helping to make the Coral Sea the largest marine park in the world, so our children and grandchildren can enjoy this marine paradise instead of watching it slowly being destroyed." - Pat Rafter

Pat Rafter was born in Queensland and won the US Open in 1997 and 1998 and reached the finals of Wimbledon in 2000 and 2001. He also reached Davis Cup finals in 2000 and 2001. Rafter retired from professional tennis in 2002 and is a keen supporter of numerous charities.

Watch a video message from Pat

Tim Winton, Ambassador

Tim Winton“The Coral Sea is one of the last places on Earth where the greats of the ocean deep like tuna, sharks and marlin swim wild in healthy numbers. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to protect them.

Together we can create the world’s biggest marine park on our doorstep and leave a legacy we can all be proud of. Please lend your support to this bit of history in the making and help preserve the Coral Sea for future generations.” Tim Winton

Tim Winton lives in Western Australia and is a passionate environmentalist. Tim is one of Australia’s most respected authors, winning prizes for Cloudstreet, Shallows and The Riders to name a few. Tim was also shortlisted for The Booker Prize in 2002 for his novel Dirt Music.

Watch a video message from Tim Winton here.

Kristy Hinze and Jim Clark, Ambassadors

Kristy Hinze and Jim Clark“We were thrilled when Minister Garrett announced a Conservation Zone over the Coral Sea. This kind of bold and large-scale action is exactly what our planet needs right now, as it faces enormous environmental threats, not only from climate change but from overfishing and pollution. The Coral Sea is a fragile ecosystem. It has coral reefs and many different habitats and threatened species that could be at risk from climate change. We both have been privileged to engage in the detail of these issues and see firsthand the need for the protection of vital and fragile eco-systems. We are more convinced than ever that preserving our oceans is a major concern for us all. That's why we are supporting this campaign and urging our federal government to set aside the whole Coral Sea within Australian waters as a fully protected marine park.” Kristy Hinze and Jim Clark

Kristy Hinze is an Australian model, actress and television host. She was born on the Gold Coast where she was raised on a horse and cattle station. Kristy recently married Jim Clark, the founder of Netscape. Jim was the Executive Producer of the award winning documentary ‘The Cove’; both Jim and Kristy are committed to saving our oceans.

Watch a video message from Kristy

Akira Isogawa, Ambassador

Akira Isogawa

"I am inspired by the discovery of precious and exotic colours of Australia. The Coral Sea has all the elements of inspiration. Let us be reminded of how important it is to protect it." Akira Isogawa

Akira Isogawa is one of Australia’s most celebrated designers. He has achieved international recognition for his exquisite contemporary designs. He has designed costumes for four Sydney Dance Company productions – Salome, Air & Other Invisible Forces, Ellipse, Grand – and for the players in the Australian Chamber Orchestra. Born in Kyoto Japan, Akira moved to Australia in 1986 where he studied fashion design at the Sydney Institute of Technology, drawing inspiration from contemporary Japanese design.

Watch a video message from Akira

Vice Admiral (Rtd) Chris Ritchie AO, Ambassador

Vice Admiral (Rtd) Chris Ritchie AO"The sea is a significant resource; it is the nation’s major highway for trade, a magnet for recreation and tourism, and the first line of Australia’s defence and border protection. The Coral Sea holds a special place as part of Australia’s oceanic boundary. A large fully protected marine park in the Coral Sea makes environmental and economic sense and would be in the long term interests of the nation”. Vice Admiral (Rtd) Chris Ritchie AO

Vice Admiral (Rtd) Chris Ritchie AO joined the Royal Australian Navy as a 16 year-old Cadet Midshipman in January 1965 and retired as the Chief of Navy more than 40 years later in July 2005. In the course of his career, he qualified as a Principal Warfare Officer and commanded three ships including HMAS Brisbane during the Gulf War of 1991. He held appointments at flag rank as Maritime Commander, Head of Capability Systems, Deputy Chief of Navy and Commander Australian Theatre. He became the Chief of Navy in July 2002.

Vice Admiral (Rtd) David Shackleton AO, Ambassador

Vice Admiral (Rtd) David Shackleton AO“Australia has a unique relationship with the sea. Australians live on the only inhabited island continent on earth. Our oceans and coastline is of great importance to our identity, prosperity, lifestyle and security. The Coral Sea is a highly significant part of our maritime heritage as it relatively intact with healthy populations of large ocean-going species. Fully protecting this part of our ocean heritage would be an act of great national leadership”. Vice Admiral (Rtd) David Shackleton AO

Vice Admiral (Rtd) David Shackleton AO joined the Navy in 1966 and commanded the Royal Australian Navy form July 1999 to July 2002. During his Navy career of 36 years, David had Vietnam service as well as extensive sea experience, including foreign exchange with the Royal Navy and command of the frigate HMAS Derwent and the destroyer HMAS Brisbane.