Tim’s diverse career as an environmental scientist/campaigner, adventurer, author, documentary film-maker and public speaker began with his childhood curiosity about the world around him. His qualifications include:

• BA Hons Geography, University of Brighton, UK (1988)

• MSc in Environmental Science, Cranfield Institute, UK (1993)

• MEnvLaw, Sydney and Adelaide Universities/Australian Centre for Environmental Law (2002)
• Leading Sustainability: High Impact Leadership course, Cambridge University Institute for Sustainability Leadership (2023)

Tim is honoured to have received the following awards:

• SA Australian of the Year 2024 (awarded November 2023)
• Bragg Fellow of the Royal Institution of Australia (2017)
• Bettison James Award for documentary film making for project 25Zero that highlights climate change through the plight of melting equatorial glaciers (2016)
• Australian Geographic Society Conservationist of the Year (2016). Tim is the first person ever to receive both this and the Adventurer of the Year award.
• Explorer (‘Trailblazer’) in Residence, the Australian Museum (2016)
• Classic Boat Magazine’s Person of the Year, following a global survey of readership (2014)
• Shackleton Epic Expedition Team awarded Royal Institute of Navigation’s Certificate of Achievement, with Tim as Expedition Leader (2014)
• Emerald Award from the Sydney Institute of Marine Science for services to the environment (their highest award) (2013)
• Australian Geographic Society Adventurer of the Year (2013)
• SIP Distinguished Fellow, Singapore. The award honours global leadership and innovation; other awardees include Robson Walton, founder of Walmart, and actor Jet Li (2012)
• Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for services to environment, community and exploration (2010)
• Fellow of the Yale World Fellows Program, based on demonstrated leadership in the field of environmental sustainability (2009)
• Mawson Life and Death in Antarctica book officially endorsed by the United Nations Environment Programme (2009)
• Australian Geographic Society’s Spirit of Adventure medal for kayak journey across Australia’s largest salt lake, Lake Eyre (2004)