Environmental Leadership: Baseline Surveys and Lessons from Australia's Leaders

Abstract

This study of 49 senior environmental leaders from 14 organisations revealed baseline information on leadership style, organisational culture and job satisfaction in individual, organisational and industry categories. While the findings were generally consistent with an Australian Business Leaders Survey of 1,918 Australian business leaders, environmental leaders used ‘Intellectual Stimulation’ in leadership, a factor not widely used by business leaders. Compared to business leaders, environmental leaders recorded a higher mean score for job satisfaction, commitment, trust and loyalty and a lower mean score for stress and respect.

The best environmental organisation and the best individual leader were identified from responses to a questionnaire by 95 members of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand. The best environmental organisations were perceived to be the Australian Conservation Foundation, World Wildlife Fund and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. The best individual environmental leaders were perceived to be Dr Tim Flannery, Peter Garratt and Ian Kiernan. These findings were generally inconsistent with nominees acknowledged by the Australian Banksia Environmental Awards.

Environmental leadership in Australia could be improved by initiating stronger formal links between business and environmental leaders and by implementing an annual public ‘environmental leader’ survey.