Formerly a lecturer in economics at the University of Tasmania, Whish-Wilson was appointed to the Senate to fill a casual vacancy caused by the retirement of former party leader Bob Brown and has since won election in his own right in 2013, 2016 and 2022.

[2] He attended the Australian Defence Force Academy from 1986 to 1988, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Politics.

[3] He also attended Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1989, and was medically discharged from the Australian Army shortly afterwards.

He then worked in international sales for Deutsche Bank from 1998 to 2004, and as Lecturer in Economics and Finance at the University of Tasmania from 2005 to 2012.

The other members were Alex Antic, Barnaby Joyce, Monique Ryan, David Shoebridge, and Tony Zappia.