Penny is a political scientist by training she has been a senior member of the Australian environment movement for over thirty years, including seventeen years as Vice President of the Australian Conservation Foundation. Penny has written and lectured on Protected Areas and World Heritage, innovative nature conservation and sustainable tourism. She has served on many statutory and NGO boards including the Australian Tourist Commission, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Uluru Katatjuta National Park, the Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Council, Bush Heritage Fund, Landcare Australia, Jenolan Caves Trust, Commission for the Future and NSW Environment Protection Authority.

When asked about joining Parks Forum as a Trustee Penny said “ Parks really matter - whether our urban green spaces or our great sanctuaries of wild Australia and New Zealand. Parks Forum can be a key force for sharing knowledge for better managed parks and better appreciation by the community of these great assets”