Planet Ark Environmental Foundation (Planet Ark) has officially exited voluntary administration today, following the unanimous approval of a Deed of Company Arrangement (DOCA) by creditors at a meeting held on 13 June.
The development marks a pivotal moment in the organisation’s three-decade history, paving the way for a return to normal operations under the leadership of its original directors. Planet Ark said the outcome reflects the strong support of its employees and stakeholders, and signals a fresh chapter in its long-standing mission to empower Australians to take positive environmental action.
The move brings to a close a challenging period for the not-for-profit, which entered voluntary administration in May after grappling with financial pressures exacerbated by reduced stakeholder support and the ongoing economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement at the time, the Board said the decision to appoint voluntary administrators Michael Jones and Bruce Gleeson of Jones Partners Insolvency & Restructuring was made to enable an independent assessment of the organisation’s affairs and explore restructuring options to ensure its ongoing viability. Planet Ark has now thanked Jones and Gleeson for their leadership through the process, which it says was handled with professionalism and care.
With its future secured, Planet Ark says it will continue delivering its suite of flagship environmental programs with renewed focus and vigour. These include National Recycling Week, National Tree Day, Cartridges 4 Planet Ark, and the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL), developed in partnership with the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO). Over the years, these initiatives have helped drive circular economy principles and support better recycling behaviour across Australian households, schools, communities and businesses.
As part of the organisational restructure, the leadership team at Planet Ark is also evolving. Current chief executive officer Rebecca Gilling, who has played a key role in steering the organisation through recent challenges, will transition out of the CEO role by 31 December 2025 under the terms of the DOCA. The current executive team includes deputy CEO Adam Culley and chief operations officer Claire Bell.
Former chief finance officer Scott Dickson is moving into a new role, and Planet Ark will outsource its bookkeeping and accounting functions moving forward to streamline operations. Additionally, the process of refreshing the organisation’s board of directors – already underway prior to the administration – will continue as part of the governance renewal strategy.
“This milestone reaffirms our belief in the strength of Planet Ark’s mission and the value it brings to communities, schools, businesses, and governments across the country,” the organisation said in its statement.
PKN will continue to follow Planet Ark’s progress as it moves into this new phase of operation.
