ARID RECOVERY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Independent Chair
- Independent Director, Former Chief Executive of the SA Department of Environment
Allan Holmes is an Independent Director, former Chief Executive of the SA Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources and former Director of National Parks and Wildlife SA. He brings over 35 years of experience in environmental policy, management and Board governance.
Andrew is an Independent Director and current partner at Minter Ellison, with over 25 years of experience in resources and corporate law.
Anna commenced a two month internship with Arid Recovery in November 2018. She split her time between two projects; the western quoll reintroduction program and the UNSW prey naivety experiment, where she was heavily involved in radio-tracking both quolls and bettongs. Prior to joining Arid Recovery, Anna completed a Bachelor of Science majoring in Animal Science at the University of Adelaide. She has now returned to UoA to complete her Honours, where she is studying the effectiveness of audio-lures in Felixer traps.
Ben is responsible for controlling feral animals around the Arid Recovery Reserve. His work to remove feral cats and foxes is essential for keeping the reserve feral-free and important for improving the survival of quolls and other threatened species that disperse outside the fence into the surrounding landscape.
He has a background in pest control, having run his own business (B.A.M. Pest Animal Control), and recently completed a Diploma in Conservation & Land Management.
Ben joined the Arid Recovery team in 2019. He is excited to be working in conservation and is serious about tackling feral cats.
Ben commenced a 3 month internship at Arid Recovery in February 2018. He had previously completed a Bachelor of Advanced Science (Zoology) and Masters of Research at Western Sydney University, where he studied the diets of Sydney's urban foxes. Whilst at Arid Recovery, Ben completed a research project assessing the effectiveness of using SPOT Trace technology to remotely track feral cats. "I thoroughly enjoyed the annual pitfall trapping and bettong surveys, but the highlight of the experience was being invited to go out with the ecologists to release western quolls into the Reserve on the night they were being reintroduced. I loved the team out at AR and wish I could have stayed longer to be involved with all the great conservation work they are doing." Since completing his internship, Ben has been trying to get paid work in ecology, and has been enjoying his role as a tour guide at Taronga Zoo. X
Courtney commenced a three month internship with Arid Recovery in February 2019. She had previously completed a Bachelor of Science (Animal Behaviour) at Flinders University.
Whilst at Arid Recovery Courtney was able to experience many different elements of the conservation and research program. Courtney spent majority of her time helping the team complete various jobs around the reserve including radio-tracking quolls, trapping bettongs and monitoring stick-nest rat populations using camera traps. Her favourite experiences included participating in the annual pitfall trapping and bettong trapping surveys.
Job Titles:
- Feral Predator Researcher ( Arid Recovery ) and Postdoctoral Researcher ( UTas )
Hugh volunteers with Arid Recovery, focussing on feral predator research. He is completing a postdoc through the University of Tasmania and the National Environmental Science Program Threatened Species Hub. Much of his research is conducted at Arid Recovery.
Having completed his PhD on feral cats in northern Australia, Hugh studies the interaction between cats, rabbits and native prey animals.
Katherine is one of the co-founders of Arid Recovery and was integral to establishing the reserve with her partner John Read. Katherine established many of the monitoring and research programs at Arid Recovery and continues to guide the science program as Principal Scientist.
Kath leads the team, managing operations, overseeing the science program and community engagement.
She has a background in conservation ecology, having completed a PhD on Brush-tailed Rock-wallabies in NSW, and spent six years working on declining mammals in northern Australia.
Emily commenced a 3 month internship at Arid Recovery in February 2017. She had previously completed a Bachelor of Science (Zoology) and Master of Science (Zoology) at the University of Melbourne, where she investigated the feasibility of using a waterless barrier to halt cane toad spread in Western Australia.
Job Titles:
- Administration Officer
- Administrator
- Officer
Erica is a long-time Andamooka local with deep ties to the opal industry and a love of travel. She has worked in many different sectors including solar system installation, civil works and banking. Her flair for efficient business administration keeps Arid Recovery running smoothly and well connected with our network of suppliers.
Genevieve oversees the ecological monitoring program and works with other staff to set research priorities. Genevieve has a background in ecology and the eradication of introduced species. She has strong ties to Australia's arid zone and completed her PhD on the ecology, evolution, and genetics of the kaluta (Dasykaluta rosamondae) in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
Georgie runs our monitoring program and maintains our important long-term datasets.
Arriving at Arid Recovery in 2017, Georgie has worked in various regional locations for the Victorian Government and also spent three years implementing the Glenelg Ark Project - a landscape scale fox control and fauna conservation project in southwest Victoria.
Job Titles:
- Research Officer ( UNSW )
- UNSW
Hannah is a Research Officer for the University of New South Wales, based at Arid Recovery. The ARC Linkage Project she is working on investigates prey naivety, and whether prior exposure to predators can improve reintroduction success.
Hannah originally came to Arid Recovery in 2013 to complete her Honours research on burrowing bettongs. Having dabbled in various conservation projects after that, Hannah then undertook a PhD, studying various aspects of a brushtail possum reintroduction in the Flinders Ranges. Hannah returned to Arid Recovery in 2017 to begin her current role.
Hannah has a keen interest in conservation and reintroductions and is excited about potential future applications arising from the project she works on.
Ines is a Roxby local with a passion for community. She coordinates volunteers, tours, school visits, community events and Arid Recovery's digital communications. Also a talented photographer, many of the images on our website and social channels are Ines' photos.
Kirra commenced a 3 month internship at Arid Recovery in February 2018. She had previously completed a Bachelor of Science (Biodiversity and Conservation) and Honours in Environmental Management at Flinders University, where she used aerial surveying to estimate feral goat population densities in the Ikara-Flinders Ranges.
Kirra was involved in many elements of Arid Recovery's research program and undertook a research project investigating inter-specific interactions between native rodent species.
Maddy commenced a 3 month internship at Arid Recovery in September 2017. She had previously completed an Honours degree at the University of New South Wales, where she studied the trophic cascades that have resulted from historic dingo exclusion in parts of the arid zone. Whist at Arid Recovery, Maddy conducted a research project investigating the distribution of the threatened plains mouse throughout the Reserve. X
Mark is an Independent Director and brings extensive experience in financial management, organisational governance and project management.
Matt commenced a 3 month internship at Arid Recovery in October 2017. He had previously completed a Bachelor of Science, Ecology and Conservation Biology with a minor in wildlife management at Griffith University, Gold Coast.
Job Titles:
- Field Ecologist and Community Coordinator
Nathan commenced a 3 month internship at Arid Recovery in February 2017, which extended for another 2 months. He had previously completed a Bachelor of Science (Zoology and Conservation Biology) at the University of Western Australia and a BSc (Hons) at Murdoch University, where he studied the ecology and physiology of estuarine fish.
During his internship, Nathan studied the suitability of the Reserve for kowaris, and created a translocation proposal for the species.
Since completing his internship, Nathan has remained at Arid Recovery in the role of Field Ecologist and Community Coordinator.
Nathan assists on research projects and maintaining and expanding our long-term ecological datasets. He also coordinates Arid Recovery's network of volunteers, organises tours and runs workshops for school groups.
Nathan is always looking for new ways of getting kids interested and excited about the natural world.
Job Titles:
- Conservation Land Management Officer
Nathan looks after feral animal control, general infrastructure maintenance and the ongoing upkeep of the Reserve's predator-proof fences. He is also there to lend a hand with any fauna survey work that takes place.
Coming from Central Victoria, Nathan has a background in pest plant management, flora and fauna surveying and re-vegetation works. He has a keen interest in the conservation of all of our native wildlife, and a particular soft spot for our native flora.
Rachel commenced a 3 month internship at Arid Recovery in October 2016. She had previously completed a Bachelor of Biodiversity and Conservation at Macquarie University and a Bachelor of Environmental Science (Honours) at the University of Technology, Sydney, where she investigated the spatial population regulation of ground-dwelling mammals in urban areas.
Job Titles:
- Bush Heritage Australia Representative
- Bush Heritage Representative
- Representative and the Executive Manager
Rebecca Spindler is the Bush Heritage representative and the Executive Manager, Science and Conservation at BHA. She brings 20 years of conservation science experience from the NGO sector.
Sandy is the SA Department of Environment and Water (DEW) Representative and current Group Executive Director Science & Information and Chief Information Officer at DEW. She brings wide-ranging experience in facilitating research partnerships, science communication, human resources and organisational management.
Job Titles:
- Principal
- BHP Representative
Stephen White is the Principal Rehabilitation, Biodiversity and Contaminated Sites at BHP. He has expertise in environmental rehabilitation, collaborates with a wide range of research partners and formerly worked with the Western Australian department for environment. He brings his 30 years of experience to support the Arid Recovery Board in developing ‘beyond the fence' projects through strategic partnerships.