Dr Jon Day - How GREAT is the Great Barrier Reef today? The good, the bad… and some ugly aspects of this iconic World Heritage Area

Name: Dr Jon Day
University: James Cook University

Bio: Jon Day commenced his professional career in 1975 after which he spent 11 years in various National Parks agencies around Australia. In 1986, Jon joined the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) and for the next 28 years participated in many aspects of planning and managing the GBR, including seven years in field management (as QPWS Area/Regional Manager) and 16 years as one of the GBRMPA Directors.

As a GBRMPA Director, Jon was variously responsible for biodiversity conservation, park planning, heritage (particularly World Heritage), Indigenous Partnerships, the GBR rezoning and developing methodologies for the first GBR Outlook Report. Between 2007-2011, Jon represented Australia as the natural heritage expert on the Australian delegation to the World Heritage Committee.

Jon retired from GBRMPA in 2014 and undertook a post-career PhD analysing the reasons behind the success of the GBR rezoning. In 2018, he co-developed the Climate Vulnerability Index (CVI), a rapid and systematic assessment tool that is currently being applied in natural and cultural heritage areas globally.

Today Jon is an Adjunct Principal Research Fellow at James Cook University; he still publishes widely on World Heritage, marine management, and climate change matters.