History

The Conservation Ecology Centre, Cape Otway is the life’s work of Shayne and Lizzie.

Growing up in the Australian bush lead them to study Zoology and Natural Resource Management and during this time they learned how fragile the world’s ecosystems are. They understood not only the importance of caring for ecosystems but also the imperative for inspiring and engaging others in conservation.

Together they established the Conservation Ecology Centre in Cape Otway. Demonstrating amazing entrepreneurship their first step was to create the Great Ocean Ecolodge as a social enterprise, raising funds for conservation and broadening engagement opportunities to include the global community.

The Conservation Ecology Centre and Ecolodge opened in 2004 and that year won the Victorian Tourism Award for Best New Business. The following year, Lizzie was named the Prime Minister’s Environmentalist of the Year, the first female and youngest-ever recipient of the award, and in 2007 the Australian Geographic Society bestowed the Conservation Award on the couple.

Dedicated to protecting and understanding Australian ecosystems, the Conservation Ecology Centre is an independent nonprofit organisation located in the Great Ocean Road region in Victoria – an area of significant biodiversity conservation importance.   The CEC is renowned for its innovative and engaging approach to conservation, and a determination to find real solutions to conservation challenges.