Mary Lou Morris joined the Institute’s National Council in 1987 and served continuously on the Council until 1999. Initially representing South Australia, Mary Lou subsequently served as national Vice President from 1989 and President for four years from October 1991 to 1995. As Immediate Past President, Mary Lou continued to have major input to the organisational and professional directions of the Institute.

Mary Lou was the driving force behind the establishment of the Australian Journal of Environmental Management in July 1994. (see: the 20th anniversary special issue of the Australasian Journal of Environmental Management for publication history)

In 1992 Mary Lou represented the Institute at the UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro. On behalf of the Institute, she was a member of the Steering Committee of the Australian Natural Heritage Charter (1995) and of the National Reference Group for the Natural Heritage Places Handbook (1998) as well as a member of the corporate Common Ground Council from 1996.

The Institute has benefited in many ways from Mary Lou’s dedication and vision and in 1997 she was awarded Life Membership in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the EIANZ.

The primary interest and focus of Mary Lou’s professional career included the policy, law and practice of environmental impact assessment.

In 2005 Mary Lou was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in The Queen’s Birthday Honours List. This award was “for service to conservation and the environment, particularly in the field of environmental practices, and through the advancement of a multi-disciplinary approach to managing environmental change”.