Eight corporate teams will leave the boardroom behind when they switch suits for boardshorts in the inaugural ReefBlitz Corporate Team Challenge on Magnetic Island on Friday 16 October.
Throughout the day the teams of five will race against the clock to find and record as many species as possible on land and in water, with the winning group taking out the prized ReefBlitz trophy – an intricate coral replica cast from marble dust.
Corporate teams competing are from Boeing, Brisbane Airport Corporation, BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance, two from Qantas, Townsville Enterprise and Orica who has entered two teams, each one led by a pro cyclist from the Orica GreenEdge riding team.
Great Barrier Reef Foundation Managing Director Claire Hanratty said it was exciting to see so many corporate teams sign up for the challenge.
“This is the first year we’ve hosted the ReefBlitz Corporate Team Challenge as part of the ReefBlitz event and the idea was sparked by companies often asking us what more they can do to help the Reef,” she said.
“The Corporate Team Challenge provides an opportunity for teams to get out of the office and do something tangible to support science on the Great Barrier Reef as well as helping to raise awareness about preserving and protecting the Reef.”
"Getting into the spirit of the challenge, the teams have selected reef-themed names to compete under including BAC to the Reef, Reef Riders, Purple Peloton, TEL Tiger Sharks, Qoral Bloom, Flying Fish and Sea Midas.
The ReefBlitz Corporate Challenge will serve as a curtain raiser for Saturday’s event, which will see the community rise to the challenge to find, record and document as many of Townsville’s wild species as they can in 12 hours.
ReefBlitz is an initiative of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation with major partners the Queensland Government, Boeing and Qantas, event partner the Earthwatch Institute and community partner Orica. Townsville City Council, the Townsville Bulletin and Townsville Airport have also generously provided support for the ReefBlitz 2015 event which is being held in association with the Celebrate the Reef community event to mark 40 years of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.
Find out more at barrierreef.org/reefblitz