A gala event in New York has launched a major new partnership. But before the event Nature Conservancy Australia Program Director Michael Looker had to give Gondwana Link Coordinator Keith Bradby some tie tying tips. Ties in place they then headed off to the New York Museum of Natural History for a ‘G’day USA’ fundraising dinner, where The Nature Conservancy and Pew Charitable Trusts jointly announced a $12 million ‘Wild Australia’ program. Hosted by the Australian Consul General John Olsen, the event was a celebration of Australian conservation and biodiversity, with a special focus on The Nature Conservancy’s Australia program. The key note presentation was from Steve McCormick, CEO of The Nature Conservancy. Steve made special mention of Gondwana Link in his presentation of the TNC’s work in Australia.

Among the 400 guests were many of our American colleagues and supporters including Peg Olsen, Olivia Millard, Kent Wommack, and Trustees and staff from TNC’s Maine Chapter, as well as Bush Heritage Australia Chair Phillip Toyne, and Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer. The evening was held under a life size model of a blue whale and featured aboriginal dancers from the Kimberley, Noongar dancer and musician Richard Whalley, Australian artist Brendon Darby, celebrity chef Shannon Bennett and songs from the Qantas choir. According to Keith ‘It was a night when I was very proud to be Australian, and delighted to see the good work underway in Australia so strongly supported and warmly received.”

While in New York, Keith also recorded a ‘sense of place’ interview in Central Park for the NPR (National Public Radio) network. Photo by Olivia Millard (who also fed and shepherded the bewildered Bradby).