MEET THE TEAM

Working to protect our coastlines from marine debris.

Staff and volunteers across Australia

The dedicated team of staff and volunteers at Tangaroa Blue Foundation work to reduce marine debris on shorelines across Australia. 

Tangaroa Blue now has more than thirty permanent, part-time and casual team members, including 24 project coordinators who bring volunteers together in their region to conduct beach clean-ups and regular monitoring for the Australian Marine Debris Initiative (AMDI) Database.

We also have team members working behind the scenes on scientific reports, evidence for government inquiries, analysing marine debris data and producing source reduction plans to help stop marine debris at its source.

GET IN TOUCH

MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

As a registered charity and not-for-profit organisation, Tangaroa Blue Foundation is governed by a board of independent and volunteer directors who are appointed by the organisation’s members.

The Tangaroa Blue Foundation Board is made up of seven Directors who are based around Australia and bring strong guidance to the organisation as it continues to grow and deliver our mission and vision.

Get in touch with our Board of Directors via email at board@tangaroablue.org.

HEIDI TAIT

Director and CEO
In 2004, Heidi co-founded the Tangaroa Blue Foundation and the Australian Marine Debris Initiative to bring communities together to tackle the ever-increasing loads of rubbish in our oceans, and find ways to prevent marine debris at its source.
LEARN MORE

SHOANNE LABOWITCH

Director and Chair
A passionate environment and sustainability specialist, Shoanne joined the Tangaroa Blue Board in 2021 and became Chair in 2025.
LEARN MORE

MARC JACOBSON

Director and Treasurer

Marc is an experienced finance executive and CFO of a leading transport and logistics business in Australia.
LEARN MORE

MICHELLE CAMERON

Director and Secretary
Michelle brings decades of leadership experience in financial services, specializing in sustainable finance and investment data solutions.
LEARN MORE

DR LYNDON WALKER

Director
Lyndon is an academic and advisor with extensive experience as a member and chair of academic and commercial boards and committees.
LEARN MORE

TOM GODFREY

Director
A proven media and public relations professional, Tom has extensive international experience with both public companies and not-for-profit organisations.
LEARN MORE

CAM MACKELLAR

Director

Cam is a creative and strategic communicator with extensive experience across the social, government, and corporate sectors.
LEARN MORE

HEIDI TAIT

Managing Director and Co-Founder
Heidi’s love for the ocean comes from 20 years as a scuba diving instructor. In 2004 Heidi co-founded the Tangaroa Blue Foundation and the Australian Marine Debris Initiative as a way of not only removing the ever-increasing loads of rubbish in our oceans, but more importantly finding ways that prevented marine debris from being released in the first place. Her mantra is “if all we do is clean-up, that’s all we’ll ever do”. Heidi has been sitting on the Board of Directors since the organisation started in 2004 and is contracted outside of her role on the Board to oversee the administration and day to day operations of the organisation as well as assist in strategic direction and partnerships. Heidi was named one of the “18 Most Influential Women in Ocean Conservation” in the July 2018 edition of Ocean Geographic.
Linkedin-in

SHOANNE LABOWITCH

Director
A passionate environment and sustainability specialist, Shoanne is driven to improve on environmental and sustainability outcomes at the local, regional and global level.

Inherent in Shoanne’s current and previous roles was the need to be self-driven, and motivated. A vital component of those roles has required constant consultation and communication with stakeholders at all levels including internal and external stakeholders and regulatory authorities. Reporting, investigating and negotiating with regulatory authorities is also a key component of current and previous roles along with the coordination and delivery of internal monitoring, review, auditing and incident investigation.
Linkedin-in

Marc Jacobson

Director

Marc is an experienced finance executive, who is currently the CFO of a leading transport and logistics business in Australia. He has worked across a number of industries including retail, investment banking and industrial services. He is a Chartered Accountant (ICAA), with a Masters in Applied Finance from Macquarie University. Marc is passionate about the environment and the conservation of Australia’s oceans and beaches. His love for the ocean and marine biology started at a young age in Cape Town, where he saw the impact & damage of marine debris on local penguin colonies. He hopes to continue to have a positive impact and make improvements to the natural environment for current and future generations.

Linkedin-in

MICHELLE CAMERON

Director

Michelle brings decades of leadership experience in financial services, specializing in sustainable finance and investment data solutions. Her career includes key roles at Reuters, the London Stock Exchange Group, and serving as Chief Commercial Officer for a global carbon data and technology company. She currently leads the Commercial Business for Morningstar Sustainalytics in the Pacific region.

 

Michelle holds an Executive MBA in Sustainable Business and has played a pivotal role in advancing sustainable investment initiatives across the APAC region.

 

Residing on Sydney’s Northern Beaches with her family, Michelle’s passion for the ocean is personal—being a family of surfers, she’s deeply committed to preserving our marine environment for future generations and the protection of marine life.

Linkedin-in

Dr. Lyndon Walker

Director/Treasurer

Lyndon is a highly experienced academic and advisor with extensive experience as a member and chair of academic and commercial boards and committees, including start-up advisory boards, academic programme committees, and institutional academic boards. He has qualifications in education, finance, statistics and sociology, including a PhD in Statistics and Sociology, and is on TEQSA’s register of experts for statistics, data science and finance. He is passionate about saving the environment and has previously been involved in a range of social and environmental causes through Rotaract and several animal protection groups.

Linkedin-in

TOM GODFREY

Director
A proven media and public relations professional, Tom has extensive international experience with both public companies and not-for-profit organisations. He has worked on major environmental and consumer campaigns, product launches, events, corporate branding and positioning. Tom has a strong track record providing media and public relations support, acting as company spokesperson, managing media and working with a range of stakeholders. He is also a high profile media commentator with regular appearances on TV and radio programs across Australia. Tom has an extensive network across Australia, Asia, North America and Europe at board and senior management level. He also holds a Masters in Communication Management and an Honours Degree in History and Economics. Tom has held senior media and communications roles with the consumer group CHOICE, the British Standards Institution (“BSI”), Standards Australia, SAI Global (ASX: SAI) and is the Owner and Managing Director of Bell George Communications and BG Mobile Apps. Tom is currently Managing Director of Bell George Communications and a non-executive director at Good Environmental Choice.
Linkedin-in

CAM MACKELLAR

Director

Cam is a creative and strategic communicator with extensive experience across the social, government, and corporate sectors.

 

As the founder and director of Village Bells Communications, he served a broad range of local and international clients, including as an expert advisor to McKinsey and Company and the City of Sydney.  Cam was a founding member of the City of Sydney’s Disability and Inclusion Advisory Panel and is a dedicated advocate for sustainability and inclusion.

 

With a strong academic background as a lecturer in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at The University of Sydney, he brings a wide range of knowledge to Tangaroa Blue’s mission of protecting Australia’s marine environment. A lifelong surfer, dedicated backcountry skier, and bushwalker, his commitment to protecting our environment is grounded in a passion for preserving wild places for his children and their generation to enjoy.  

Linkedin-in