The Unico Conservation Foundation’s board consists of highly talented individuals with complementary skills and board experience. Together they share a passion for protecting our blue planet, contributing to the wellbeing of others who are less fortunate and creating more sustainable communities and environments.
Geoff Illing
Geoff co-founded Unico in 1984, remaining involved as Technical Director until the sale of the company to CGI in early 2022. He remains as an employee of CGI, but the company name Unico will disappear in May 2022.
Unico Conservation Foundation will then be the only reference to the Unico name.
Geoff was the first of the Illing family to take up scuba diving, but he was quickly followed by the rest of the family, and all of them were part of CCEF expeditions. The CCEF were the first recipients of support from UCF. Unico Conservation Foundation is now incorporated, and Geoff is the Chairman.
John Rowland
John is a senior Vice President for global consulting firm CGI and was previously the Managing Director and co-owner with Geoff of Unico. John’s primary focus is to provide strategic guidance and direction to executive leadership and drive a strong inclusive team culture.
Teamed with over 30 years’ experience and a Master of Engineering, John has a deep understanding of how connected business technology drives business productivity and competitiveness. He is well regarded by his peers for his innovative style of leadership and during his career has led large technology companies across Asia Pacific.
John is actively involved in agriculture and equine with his family and is a technical scuba diver with a passion for marine life and sustainability of our planet. He has been an active supporter of the Unico Conservation Foundation since its inception.
Denise Illing
Denise Illing grew up in the UK, and moved to Hong Kong, USA and Australia as a ‘trailing spouse’. Australia has now been home for 42 years.
Since 2003 she has been involved in venturing to the Philippines to help with ‘Saving Philippines Reefs’ expeditions organised by the Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation there. This involvement of the Illing family led to the creation of Unico Conservation Foundation.
Denise is also a watercolourist and photographer. Her passion for photographing and painting wildlife has led her to many countries and amazing experiences both above and below the surface of the sea.
Prof. Grahame Coleman
Grahame is a Professor of Psychology at Monash University.
His research projects focus on sustainability in agriculture and the environment through humane farming and by monitoring community attitudes and changing human behaviour.
Grahame has been appointed to the Public Fund Committee since the Public Fund Committee was established on 7 January 2010.
Sheree Marris
If Sheree had her choice, she would have gills instead of lungs, a breath hold to rival the sperm whale and a sparkly green mermaid-esque tail.
Since she doesn’t this marine biologist she spends most of her time blowing bubbles and developing innovative environmental projects that bridge the gap between science and the public.
An Adjunct at James Cook University, Sheree is an award-winning author, documentary maker, former Young Australian of the Year and scholar with the Centre for Sustainable Leadership.
Roland Thomas
Roland mentors and consults with software businesses to help them navigate the strategic, operational and financial challenges they face as they grow.
He has over 30 years of experience in the software industry leading businesses in the US and Australia including public, private and not for profit board positions.
Brett Connor
Brett was a patent attorney for 30 years and a partner of a firm for 20. He brings exceptional communication and cultural awareness skills having lived and worked in Japan and Singapore. Known for his emphasis on client relationships and collaboration, he can identify opportunities, develop a strategic plan of action and successfully bring them to fruition.
He has been a diver since 1990 and has a passion for the sustainability of the planet and marine life. Brett recently became involved in Unico Conservation Foundation to help progress their objectives.
