About

Marnie Ogg – Bringing tourism, science and people together.

Marnie’s drive and enthusiasm have been borne for a stellar career. She started at the
grassroots of the travel industry building her own successful travel company, taking people
around the world to visit places of scientific interest. She managed Sydney Observatory before devoting her time to one of her passions: preserving the night sky. Thanks largely to Marnie’s unrelenting efforts, in July 2016 the Warrumbungle National Park was designated a Dark Sky Park - the first in Australia. Since then she has spent her time educating the public of this globally expanding movement, re-engaging people with the natural heritage of the night sky and reducing the impacts of lighting pollution.

Past Activities

• Astro-Tourism specialist since 2007
• Festival Director (consultant) for StarFest 2014
• Manager Sydney Observatory
• Instrumental in achieving a successful outcome for the 2016 application to make the Warrumbungle National Park, and the nearby Australian Astronomical Observatory at Siding Springs in north western NSW, the first Dark Sky Park in Australia.
• Winner of the International Dark Sky Defender Award 2018 (one of only five people around the world – and the very first Australian to be recognised for her work in preserving the night sky).
• Organised the inaugural Riding the Lightwave of Technology Conference 2018 bringing together 74 experts from around the world to discuss the effects artificial light at night.
• Consultant on the current Sydney Northern Beaches council proposal for an area of land to be designated an Urban Night Sky Park – which will be one of the first few Urban Night Sky Parks in the world – and the first in Australia.