Experience

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

• Australia
• Research Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Advisor - Governance and Projects

  • Feb 2018 - Present

  As the first position at the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (RBGV) that focuses on cross-cultural governance and climate resilience, I lead on strategic direction and advice in both areas to the Executive Team, Board, staff and stakeholders. I head RBGV’s engagement with Traditional Owners and Aboriginal Victorian communities in native plant science, education, community development, employment, and mentoring. I am also charged with planning, coordinating, and reporting on climate resilience, environmental and social sustainability, and procurement. I Chair one RBGV committee and am an active member of two working groups.



Kakadu National Park, Parks Australia, Commonwealth Government

• Manager - Cultural Heritage and Biodiversity Management

  • Jun 2015 - Nov 2017

  Kakadu National Park is an Australian Government join managed park and World Heritage area, listed for its outstanding cultural and natural values. The park has over 70 full time staff looking after its 20,000 km² of land and water ways. At the time, the Cultural Heritage and Biodiversity Management Unit had 23 full time staff that serve as the technical adaptive management advisors for the park's best practice management, as well as some 50 casual field staff. My role was to provide leadership and strategic direction to my staff and other operational park units to deliver the following park wide programs:• Strategic Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation• Climate change• Fire, weeds and feral animal management• Threatened species and habitats• Socio-environmental research and impact assessment• Rock art monitoring and maintenance• Archaeology• Living cultureThe role also involved: - Leading the coordination and consultation with Aboriginal Traditional Owners, scientists and stakeholders to collaboratively develop and implement park wide biodiversity and cultural heritage management programs. - Implement priorities as directed by the Kakadu Board of Management and management plans and allocating resources for efficient and effective implementation of park wide programs.- Provide advice to the Kakadu Board of Management and participate as required in the formulation and review of park management policies and procedures.- Budget, procurement and contract management.- Support and facilitate the implementation and development of joint management Aboriginal Traditional Owners and staff.- Represent the park on various committees.



Olkola Aboriginal Corporation (casual)

• Sustainable Development & Land Management Advisor

  • Feb 2015 - May 2015

  Olkola Aboriginal Corporation manages one of the largest Aboriginal land hand-back freehold and protected areas in Queensland (< 887,000ha). Located in south central Cape York Peninsula, the Corporation represents over 400 hundred Traditional Owners. To be able to manage their land effectively, Olkola is currently trying to expand their governing and paid staff operations (currently 17 mainly casual staff). My role as a Sustainable Development & Land Management Advisor included coordinging the Country Based Planning - IUCN Open Standards participatroy planning, working closely with the CEO to help develop the organisation's monitoring and evaluation framework. The role also involved undertaking various desktop project management activities, including writing up of funding submissions, land management plans and scientific data analysis and using monitoring and planning tools such as Miradi.



Australian Business Volunteers (ABV)

• Australia
• Non-profit Organization Management
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Project Manager - SE Asia

  • Jul 2013 - Dec 2014

  ABV is a medium sized International NGO. It focuses on sending experienced business executive volunteers to third-world countries to undertake sustainable organisational strengthening skill transfer (e.g. finance, governance, strategic planning). Organisations include local, national and international, environmental and community development NGOs, social enterprises, ethical trade businesses and Government departments.As Project Manager – South East Asia, I headed all ABV volunteer projects in Cambodia, Laos, Viet Nam, Thailand and Myanmar. Conducting regular country field trips, I worked closely with the In-Country Management teams in developing country strategies, developing new projects, monitoring and evaluating existing and past projects, recruiting volunteers, developing new partnerships and promoting ABV to In-country Government officials, corporations, businesses and NGOs.Key Achievement: • Set up of the first ABV volunteer program in Myanmar.• Effectively delivered ahead of time the annual deployment target of 37 volunteers to SE Asia.• Developed new policies and procedures for more effective volunteer deployment and project delivery. • Acting as the organisation's Volunteer Program Manager for 11 Pacific & South East Asian countries for several months.



Department of Environment and Resource Management

• Israel
• Higher Education
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Indigenous Engagement Coordinator - Cape York World Heritage

  • Mar 2011 - Jun 2013

  The Cape York Peninsula (CYP) World Heritage Unit was set up within Queensland Government to work in partnership with the Australian Government in developing a potential World Heritage nomination for CYP (including Torres Straight Islands). As the first Indigenous Engagement Coordinator in Qld Gov. I reported to the Unit Manager (11 staff) who then reported to the Department’s Director and then the Minister(s).My role involved developing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating a new World Heritage participatory engagement land management program across CYP (50 Indigenous clan groups); supporting community driven land management strategies, governance and sustainable livelihood arrangements; extensive cross-cultural, organisational and Governmental (internal and external) partnership development, consultation, promotion and negotiation, reporting and presenting to 3 high-level advisory boards and Ministerial briefs. Key Achievements: • Designed, managed and monitored the Country Based Planning $2 million funding program that led to:o Development of 8 Country Based Plans that increase funding opportunities;o Training of over 400 Indigenous land holders in cultural preservation laws and techniques;o Employment and management of 20 contractors (e.g. planners, anthropologists, linguists) and some 60 casual Indigenous land managers, administrators and cultural advisors. • Established the Unit’s Indigenous engagement strategy, implementation tools and staffing structure, including supervision of two Indigenous Liaison Officers.• In absence of Manager, nominated as Acting Unit Manager for several months.



Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation Pty Ltd

• Australia
• Non-profit Organization Management
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Senior Project Officer - Cape York Land Reform

  • Mar 2010 - Mar 2011

  Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation (‘Balkanu’) is a medium sized Indigenous run NGO (< 70 staff). It is one of five organisations headed by Noel Pearson, set up to support and represent the interests of Cape York Peninsula (CYP) Indigenous peoples in land rights, management and sustainable livelihoods.As Senior Project Officer I reported to the Land Reform Unit Manager (7 staff) and CEO. My tasks included representing Indigenous people in land tenure negotiations with Qld. Govt; coordinating and facilitating National Park and State Land transfer / management meetings (< 400 people); extensive remote community field-trip consultations; closely working with lawyers to develop legal land agreements; and complex stakeholder negotiations, partnership development and strategic planning.Key Achievements: • Developed and managed 12 anthropologist contracts (aprox. AU$50,000 each) to provide advice on genealogy, cultural and natural resource management and cross-cultural communication strategies.• In partnership with lawyers and anthropologists, negotiated and facilitated numerous land transfer agreements resulting in the successful return of 3 National Park and 2 State Lands to Traditional Owners.• Undertook Managerial duties for 7 months in absence of Unit Manager, in which time I successfully mentored 3 Indigenous staff and managed the unit’s budget (AU$2.5 million annually).



Live & Learn Environmental Education & Australian Government

• World Heritage Project Advisor - Solomon Islands

  • Feb 2008 - Oct 2009

  ERWHS had been enlisted as a World Heritage (WH) site for over 10 years. However, almost no financial or technical support had been provided to manage the site and to support the sustainable livelihoods of the 700 East Rennell Indigenous inhabitants. ERWHS is the most remote region in the Solomon Islands, with major food security issues, very limited transport, sanitation, electricity and health services.As one of the only two Westerners living on Rennell Island, we were the first WH Advisors appointed to live and work in ERWHS. We were tasked to strengthen the governance and capacity of the local ERWHS Indigenous people, Solomon Islands Provincial and National Government and NGOs in natural resource management and sustainable livelihoods. We reported to the Manager of Live & Learn Environmental Education (NGO) Solomon Islands and the Manager of the Department of WH, Australian Government. Key Achievements:• Facilitated and supported the 21 Indigenous tribal groups of ERWHS to form a legal and democratically functioning association to represent them in World Heritage matters.• Successfully negotiated numerous partnerships with international and local governments and NGOs and international donor agencies to help support local East Rennell livelihood projects and site management.• Implemented milestones and provided narrative, financial and evaluation reports for a successfully acquired SBD$1 million EU grant and AU$350,000 AusAID grant. • Delivered local education, training, and employment (8 Rangers) related to the World Heritage site.• Produced a high distinction Minor Thesis assessing the effectiveness of the project (see publication list).



Desert Knowledge Australia

• Australia
• Non-profit Organization Management
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Lead Researcher - Desert Fire & Aboriginal Land Management Funding

  • Oct 2004 - Dec 2007

  The Desert Knowledge Communications Research Centre (DK-CRC) was a large research initiative set up to work across organisations and landholders in Central Australia. I worked on two projects across four organisations: DK-CRC / CSIRO Sustainable Livelihoods Unit; NT Parks & Wildlife Scientific Branch; Aboriginal Land Council Land Management Unit; and NT Bushfire Council.Project: Funding Aboriginal Land Management in Central Australia My role involved leading and coordinating a research-team of three in project design, reporting and scientific forum presentations; establishing ongoing consultation with government, business and NGO representatives; remote field-trip consultations to most of Central Australian Indigenous communities, socio-economic qualitative and quantitative data collation, analysis and reporting.Key Achievement: Produced a major report used as part of a Northern Territory Aboriginal land-management policy restructures by the Australian Government that led to increased Indigenous funding.Project: Desert Fire • Conducting social and environmental science consultations on fire issues with; Aboriginal and pastoral stakeholders, government and NGOs, scientists, land managers, anthropologists and researchers;• Extensive research and data collation to produce a comprehensive Desert Fire bibliography database;• Producing scientific reports, journal papers, GIS maps and cross-cultural education materials; and• Researching into best practice burning techniques, management plans and reporting systems.Key Achievement: Led research of a major report focused on desert Aboriginal fire issues, which incorporated Aboriginal perspectives into a collaborative fire strategy and led to greater Indigenous funding.



Conservation Volunteers Australia

• Australia
• Environmental Services
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Regional Manager - Central Australia

  • Feb 2002 - Sep 2004

  As the main Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA) NGO representative for the Central Australian region (3,000km radius) my main focus was to build and maintain strong business relationship with partner organisations as well as:• Source and implement land management and Aboriginal heritage projects and grants; • Manage day-to-day office activities including finance and people management (4 staff, 30 volunteers); • Provide leadership, training, support and OH&S direction to staff, volunteers & Aboriginal Green Corps;• Conducted presentations, prepared media releases, organise community events and represented CVA in various local and national environmental forums.Key Achievement: Doubled amount of volunteer project and revenue for the Central Australian office to from 30 to 58 volunteer project weeks per annum.



W.A. Low Ecological Services Pty Ltd

• Environmental Researcher

  • Jan 2001 - Dec 2001

  Flora & fauna surveys, soil and water testing, environmental appraisal and impact assessment (EIA), literature reviews and scientific report writing focused on mining and rehabilitation of sites. Flora & fauna surveys, soil and water testing, environmental appraisal and impact assessment (EIA), literature reviews and scientific report writing focused on mining and rehabilitation of sites.



The National Trust of Australia (Victoria)

• Bush Regenerator Supervisor - ' Save the Bush'

  • Mar 1998 - Jun 2000

  • Assessed, mapped, budgeted, and implemented land management weed control plans for various National Parks and Local Council parks and reserves across Victoria.• Supervised crews of 5 staff in safety guidelines and the different methods of bush regeneration. • Assessed, mapped, budgeted, and implemented land management weed control plans for various National Parks and Local Council parks and reserves across Victoria.• Supervised crews of 5 staff in safety guidelines and the different methods of bush regeneration.



Environmental Equipment Pty Ltd

• Marketing Administrator

  • Jun 1996 - Jun 1997

  • Developed marketing materials, undertook customer service, data entry, sales, product promotion, research development, site assessment and installation, contractor support and relations management. • Developed marketing materials, undertook customer service, data entry, sales, product promotion, research development, site assessment and installation, contractor support and relations management.