Vale Rod Welford (FEIANZ)

The Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ) is saddened to notify members of the passing of Rod Welford (FEIANZ).

A Queensland Member of Parliament from 1989 to 2009, Rod became an EIANZ member in 2008 and was awarded Fellowship in 2024. In the same year, he was also presented with the Simon Molesworth Award - the highest award bestowed by the Institute, recognising outstanding service to the Institute at an Institute level.

Rod demonstrated exceptional and sustained leadership within the Institute, the environment profession and government across Australia for more than twenty-five years. He was a thought leader who actively championed environmental practitioners and the industry, contributing broadly to environmental policy and practice.

A few of Rod's notable professional achievements include overseeing the establishment of one of Australia's most innovative EPAs; representing Australia at the United Nations Sustainable Development Commission; leading the Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR) and transnational professional practice in energy management, serving some of the largest resource industry companies in the world.

Rod's work in Chairing EIANZ's Disciplinary Committee (DC) helped set the standard for what is expected of our members and practitioners. On a local level, Rod also provided invaluable support to EIANZ's South East Queensland (SEQ) Division. His work behind the scenes demonstrated Rod's humble approach and exemplified his personal efforts to improve the Institute. Rod always operated in a highly professional manner, maintaining absolute integrity and demonstrating the values of the Institute and its Certified Environmental Practitioner (CEnvP) Scheme.

Rod's contribution to both the Institute and the environmental profession has provided a positive legacy that will continue to guide practitioners and ethical businesses to strive for global sustainability for decades to come. His contributions to the Institute have helped to earn the highest confidence from our regulators in those who identify as EIANZ members and Certified Practitioners. The Institute considers our time with Rod to be a great privilege and we are grateful to have worked so closely with him. 

Our deepest sympathies are with his loved ones.