The Climate Change Matters Team

Dr. Richard Pearson
Dr. Richard Pearson grew up in Yorkshire, England. He graduated at Cambridge University (MA), and gained his degree in medicine at the University of London.
His post graduate study has included training in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene at the University of Liverpool. He has worked and traveled widely around the world.
He has been interested and active in local and global environmental and social issues since childhood. Reading Al Gore's book “Earth in the Balance” in the early 1990's greatly heightened his concern for the planet. He sees climate change as the greatest challenge of our age, and regards education as a key to changing the attitudes and actions of individuals and society.
Our environment impacts strongly on our quality of life. He considers this a greater measure of health than the much promoted “standard of living”.
He sees our connection with nature, together with biodiversity and sustainable development, as essential for healthy living, a healthy planet, and a healthy future for coming generations.

Jon Hosford
Jon Hosford grew up in Geelong Victoria and during his childhood and youth developed a keen interest in the environment. He entered the teaching profession in 1965 and trained as a Primary teacher and Teacher of the Hearing Impaired. He later obtained a Degree of Special Education at Monash University and completed course work for the Master of Education Degree in 1981 at The University of Melbourne.
Jon led curriculum development at the Geelong College Preparatory School in the 1970's and established an environmental School Camp on the Murray River with his wife Margaret in 1982.
He actively pursued education in environmental harmony and later taught Environmental Studies at Lockington Primary School, developing programs for action to mitigate rising salinity in the district and re-establishing corridors of native trees for wildlife shelter. He is a keen bird observer and represented environmental groups in the development of a water plan for the Barmah Millewa Redgum Forest in the early 1990's.
A retired Primary School Principal who led the Primary Years programme at Launceston Church Grammar School, Jon is well qualified to advise in the development of curriculum.
Jon served as a member of the National Executive Committee of the Australian Primary Principals and is a Fellow of The Independent Primary School Heads of Australia.
Jon is an educator who believes in the sustainability of the planet and is an active member of The World Education Forum Tasmania. WEFT is the Tasmanian Section of the World Education Fellowship, which is an international education association with sections in many countries. It has played a continuing role in promoting progressive and forward-looking educational ideas since its inception in 1921.
WEFT has no political or religious affiliation or purpose. It enjoys consultative status with UNESCO.