ARK recognises Genevieve Tanner for more than a decade of service
During an ARK event held alongside the CCAMLR annual meeting in Hobart, Tasmania, on 28 October, ARK President Pål Skogrand acknowledged the long service of Genevieve Tanner, who is retiring after supporting ARK since 2012.
At the ARK 2025 event, Genevieve received a commemorative gift from Pål Skogrand (left, ARK President) and Javier Arata (right, ARK Executive Officer).
With a long career in Antarctic affairs, Genevieve served as ARK’s Secretary and Public Officer from 2012 to 2025, guiding the organisation through key stages of growth and providing continuity across multiple CCAMLR cycles.
Genevieve previously worked at the CCAMLR Secretariat, where she served as Communications Officer and supported multiple Commission, Scientific Committee and workshop meetings over many years. This year marked her 40th attendance at a CCAMLR Commission meeting, a rare milestone in the Antarctic community. Her experience and commitment helped guide key stages of ARK’s development, from an initial three member companies to the current ten, along with a stronger internal support structure.
Genevieve grew up in Margate, south of Hobart, where her family ran a well-known local hardware business. Throughout her life she remained closely connected to the town and its community life. In 1975 she received the title of Miss Tasmania, a detail still remembered in local archives and media.
Her skills in communication and editing also extended into Antarctic science publishing, where she provided technical editing support to specialised volumes on Antarctic wildlife and conservation. These roles helped bring complex scientific and policy work to a broader audience.
In her remarks at the ARK event, Genevieve noted that the time had arrived to pass her responsibilities to Fernanda, who will guide ARK’s Secretariat into its next phase. She also shared her wish to spend more time with her fifteen-month-old grandchild and with her family.
Gen (left), Javier (center) and Natasha (right) at the CCAMLR 41 annual meeting.
She reflected on her transition after leaving the CCAMLR Secretariat, explaining that she still felt a strong commitment to Antarctic matters. At that point, former ARK Secretary Natasha Exell invited her to support the Association. Since then, Genevieve has played a central role in ARK’s work at CCAMLR and in the wider Antarctic community.
The event gathered many CCAMLR delegates, who joined ARK in recognising Genevieve’s long-standing contribution to Antarctic conservation and to responsible krill management.
Genevieve (center), along with ARK’s Delegation to the CCAMLR-42 annual meeting at Hobart, Tasmania.