Ginninderra Catchment Group is very proud of our FrogWatch Coordinator (and current acting CEO!) Anke Maria Hoefer for winning the 2025 ACT Environmental Educator of the Year. Anke Maria works so hard and inspires so many people to fall in love with frogs. Well done, Anke Maria!
Here’s an article from the Australian Association for Environmental Education (ACT chapter) newsletter announcing the big win:
Caption: Anke Maria Hoefer with AAEE ACT President Julie Armstrong.
At AAEE ACT’s recent Frogwatch event, we were delighted to celebrate the power of frogs in education—and the way they inspire curiosity about the natural world. It was also the perfect moment to announce some exciting news: Anke Maria Hoefer, fondly known as “The Froglady,” has been awarded the 2025 Environmental Educator of the Year by the ACT Chapter of the Australian Association for Environmental Education!
Anke Maria has been the ACT and Region Frogwatch Coordinator since 2011, sharing her passion for frogs with schools, community groups, and countless individuals across the region. Through her workshops, talks, and community programs, she has inspired thousands to care for our local amphibians and to get involved in citizen science.
Her achievements are many—from developing the world’s first remote frog monitoring device to creating the much-loved Capital Region Frog Pocket Guide. She has also authored teaching resources and is soon to release a beautifully illustrated children’s book, The Great Frog Choir, bringing the wonder of Australian frogs to even more young learners.
We warmly congratulate Anke Maria on this well-deserved recognition. Her enthusiasm, creativity, and dedication continue to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.
Article and photo reproduced with permission from the Australian Association for Environmental Education.