Tim Flannery (b. 1956) is a scientist, explorer, conservationist and author of best-selling books on climate change The Future Eaters (1994), The Weather Makers (2005), Here on Earth (2010) and Atmosphere of Hope (2015). After completing degrees in English and earth sciences, Flannery gained a doctorate in palaeontology for work on the evolution of kangaroos (he has discovered 30 new species including two tree-kangaroos). His academic posts include Harvard University, the University of Adelaide and Macquarie University. Principal research scientist at the Australian Museum from 1984 to 1999, he was director of the South Australian Museum from 1999 to 2006. Flannery was the first (and to date, only) chief commissioner of the Climate Commission, a Gillard government initiative of 2011 which was defunded by the Abbott government in 2013. With crowd-funding, he and his fellow commissioners established an independent Climate Council of which he is the chief councillor.
Robert Hannaford painted this portrait of Flannery when he was director of the South Australian Museum. 'Tim is such a vital person, so sparking with enthusiasm for life. Often he'd be bothered in his chair, talking and enthusing about whatever we were talking about. I painted him like that and the picture was larger than life, too.'
Gift of Professor Tim Flannery 2016. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
© Robert Hannaford/Copyright Agency, 2023
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