VERTERRA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Bachelor of Environmental Engineering
Adam Costin Bachelor of Environmental Engineering Adam holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Environmental) from Griffith University and is an experienced consultant for the mining industry in the fields of soil science, landform design and erosion & sediment control. His previous role leading a team of bush regenerators developed his knowledge of the establishment, restoration and management of native ecosystems. Adam aims to apply an integrated approach to his projects with the goal of delivering innovative solutions that benefit both the natural and built environments.
Alex is a Senior Agronomist, Soils and Nutrition Specialist, and Forester with 20 years' experience. His areas of specialist expertise include: plantation forestry silviculture, soil science; agronomy; community consultation and leaseholder negotiations and project management. With a Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Major in Soil Science) and Bachelor of Science (Forestry); Alex is also a Certified Adviser under the Fertcare Scheme, a Registered Professional Forester and a member of the Australian Society of Soil Science Incorporated.
Job Titles:
- Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management
Alex Riddington Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management Alex holds a Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management. She brings a comprehensive background in softwood and hardwood plantation management. Alex has worked with multiple forest growers in Victoria and Queensland during her forestry career. She has worked in contractor management, technical and operational roles- specifically in harvest planning, silviculture, flat and steep harvesting and more recently customer and haulage management. Alex also brings 9 years of plantation and forest fire management skills.
Andrew Yates Bachelor of Science (Forestry) Andrew is a Senior Land Resource and Carbon Specialist with over 20 years' experience. He holds a BSc (Forestry) degree and Graduate Diploma in Data Science. Andrew's career has spanned several roles with expertise in forest and land management, including, production forestry, carbon farming, strategic and operational planning. Andrew now heads up Verterra's carbon farming-based projects.
Job Titles:
- B App Sc ( Chemistry ), Dip Ed ( Mathematics )
Ben Silverwood Bachelor of Mechatronic Engineering With 11 years' experience, Ben holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechatronic) and provides Verterra's capacity in engineering, electronic monitoring systems and sensors, as well as GIS and database expertise. He is also the CASA recognised Chief Pilot of the Verterra's operation of UAV services under the company's operators' certificate (ReOC), responsible for the strict compliance to internal and aviation regulatory conditions. Ben's current development focus is on the utilisation of UAV aerial imagery that has been processed for novel uses within the crop productivity and rehabilitation space, including multispectral imagery to aid in quantitative assessment of crop yield and vigour, and photogrammetric modelling for erosion.
Clem Hill MApp Sc, BApp Sc (Geology) Clem is a Hydrogeologist with 26 years' experience in monitoring and assessment of groundwater, surface water and climate data; with this experience gained across government, agricultural, mining and CSG sectors. His areas of expertise include hydrogeology, salinity, natural resource management, environmental impact assessment and mineral exploration. Clem is a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists, International Association of Hydro geologists and the Australian Water Association.
Job Titles:
- Master of Environmental Management, Bachelor of Science ( Ecology ), and Remote Pilot Licence ( RePL )
Conor has over 5 years' experience as an Environmental Scientist and is Verterra's field leader in soil sampling, analysis, reporting, and GIS services related to Verterra's projects in carbon farming, forestry, mine site rehabilitation, irrigation feasibility, and agronomic advice. Conor is a key member of Verterra's team for design and construction of gully rehabilitation works, recently supervising the on-ground works for the 2nd stage of the Havilah Gully Remediation Project
Job Titles:
- Master Environmental Management ( NRM ), BSc, AssocDip. of Applied Science ( Marine Resources )
Dave is a highly experienced Land Rehabilitation Specialist with extensive land management and erosion and sediment control experience in the civil, mining and natural resources industry. Originally from Rockhampton, Dave has been working in the Northern Territory for the past 16 years on projects relating to soil conservation, degraded land rehabilitation, erosion and sediment control, mine rehabilitation, water monitoring, environmental auditing, environmental management planning, and revegetation.
David holds a Bachelor of Science (Forestry), a Graduate Diploma Natural Resources Law, and is a Registered Professional Forester. His over 30 year career includes extensive experience in developing, implementing and managing the strategic direction of utility vegetation management to deliver best practice asset management performance. This includes the development of vegetation management and bushfire mitigation strategies, plans, supporting processes and budgets; the provision of input into legislation relative to vegetation management, and providing expert advice to external organisations and the general public on vegetation management programs and suitable tree planting programs. For nearly 10 years, David played a key role as Vegetation Management Strategist and more recently Manager Vegetation and Sustainable Pole Forests for Ergon Energy Corporation.
David's prior experience encompasses silviculture and management of native forests, internal audit of forest operations, community support coordination and implementation, and project management. Notably he was project manager of a $5.4M (5-year) Vanuatu Sustainable Forest Utilisation Project, which involved procurement, recruitment and project promotion. He coordinated and supervised 24 local staff and specialist consultants on short term assignments delivering training and advice to forest owners and the timber industry of Vanuatu over the life of the project. This Project trained a number of in-country trainers, who are still active in passing on their skills and experience.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Industry Development Specialist
Doug Hall is an Industry Development Specialist with 33 years' experience, and specifically 21 years' experience working with businesses, industries, and NFP and government organizations to develop and implement solutions to complex challenges. Before leaving academia, he had accumulated over 10 years' research experience in the plant biochemistry and molecular biology. He also has training and extensive experience in the governance and management of Not-for-Profit organizations as well with working with government departments and agencies. Doug's specialist expertise in industry development and management, strategic policy and advocacy, stakeholder engagement and management, and public sector and not-for-profit governance; enabled him to successfully manage the WA Branch of the Waste Management Association of Australia (2010-2014) and the WA Branch of Irrigation Australia (2006-2010). In both these roles, he was responsible for the development, management and implementation of a wide range of activities designed to develop the industries and the associations. Both roles involved a combination of government and industry funding under project funding agreements and required the delivery of agreed outcomes within agreed timelines. Through his industry development work Doug has gained knowledge and expertise in a range of modern management frameworks including Quality Assurance, Continual Improvement, Risk Management, Supply Chain Management, and Change Management. He also continues to engage his technical training in botany, biochemistry and molecular biology through his membership of the UWA Institutional Biohazards Committee which assesses research proposals manipulating genetic materials under the Federal legislative and regulatory frameworks overseen by the Office of Gene Technology Regulator.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Chemical Engineer and Project Manager
Doug Sockhill is a Chemical Engineer and Project Manager with 35 years' experience in the sugar industry. He holds a Bachelor of Chemistry from Queensland University, and a business (MBA) from Central Queensland University. Doug is also the manufacturing Chairman of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists (ASSCT), and deputy chairman of Burdekin Bowen Integrated Floodplain Management Committee BBIFMAC. Doug's special areas of expertise include: Production management, SHE accreditation and auditing, and project management
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Director of the Consultancy Australia Crop Genetic Services PL
Craig is director of the consultancy Australia Crop Genetic Services PL as well as a research fellow with the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation and the School of Agriculture and Food Sciences at the University of Queensland. His key research focus areas include: statistics applied to genetic improvement, systems modelling and economics, and conservation biology. Craig has worked on various recent projects including eucalypts for reforestation of saline affected agricultural lands, genetic evaluation of sugar cane, macadamia, mango, strawberry and apple, and modelling of breeding strategies and the economics of the macadamia production system. He maintains research partnerships within the University of Queensland, as well as externally with Queensland Department of Employment Economic Development and Innovation, BSES and Washington State University.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Environmental Engineer
Darren is an Environmental Engineer with 18 years experience, specifically focussed within the stormwater field. Darren's experience includes government, research organisations, consulting and manufacturing. He has a researched, designed, constructed and monitored WSUD stormwater treatment measures across Australia and internationally.
John Grant has over thirty years of experience in land and soil mapping, research and soil interpretation. He has been lecturing in Southern Cross University's School of Environment, Science and Engineering since 2004 where he runs two second/third year units - ‘Soil Processes' and ‘Land Degradation and Rehabilitation' and supervises several PhD and Masters students. John was awarded a PhD in 2013 for his research into soil and site relationships to hardwood plantation productivity and the effects of soil physical characteristics on root development of two major hardwood plantation species. The PhD was jointly funded through the Australian Research Council (ARC) and State Forests of NSW. Current research areas: Nutrient cycling and land rehabilitation in agroforestry systems in the Fiji and Vanuatu, carbon sequestration in soils, soil -vegetation relationships in Vietnam, soil nutritional interactions with Bell Miner Associated Dieback in forests, environmental and carbon sequestration benefits of dung beetles and biochar, land rehabilitation and soil parameters and plantation productivity relationships. John has had extensive soil mapping experience in Tasmania, NSW, Queensland and the Northern Territory. He was a senior team member in a five year soils mapping project in Tasmania that won the 1998 National Landcare Award for Research. His soils expertise is recognized by Soil Science Australia accreditation as a Certified Professional Soil Scientist (Stage 3). John also holds a Bachelor of Scienct (Botany and Zoology).
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Product Specialist
Dr Kevin Harding is a Timber Processing and Wood Product Specialist with three decades of experience in the delivery of wood quality research to the Queensland forest industry. His areas of expertise include wood quality improvement of plantation grown timbers, silvicultural practices impact on forestry plantation quality, selection and screening of breeding trees, families and clones, and assessment of wood and growth parameters for forest management and tree improvement programs. Kevin has extensive experience with tropical and subtropical commercial softwood and hardwood plantation species and hybrids grown and managed for high quality value-added products. Specific species experience includes: Pinus caribae and P. elliotti and P. tecunumanii and various interspecific hybrids of these species, P. radiata, P. taeda, Araucaria cunninghamii as well as a wide range of tropical and sub-tropical Eucalyptus specie species and hybrids and Khaya senegalensis. He is also an Adjunct Research Professor at the University of the Sunshine Coast and is a Wood Quality Panel Editor for forest products and wood quality manuscripts for the Australian Forestry Journal. Kevin is also the current Director, President and Chair of the Board of Directors of Australian Forest Growers (AFG).
Lara has over 17 years of award winning project management experience in approvals and environmental management using leadership and problem solving initiatives to demonstrate excellence in environmental management. Lara led an exploration and environmental team of Crosslands Resources Ltd to win a Golden Gecko Award for innovative research demonstrating that vibration from drill rigs would not impact a Schedule 1 species, Idiosoma nigrum. As an energetic and dynamic leader, Lara excels in providing strategic and operational advice to raise business profile and ensure continual improvement.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Carbon Bio - Sequestration Scientist
Dr Tek Maraseni is a Carbon Bio-sequestration Scientist with 22 years experience. He is also a consultant from the University of Southern Queensland. Tek's areas of expertise include carbon bio-sequestration science, plant growth modeling and natural resources management issues. He has been involved with a number of various research projects including: carbon accounting and modeling, reducing emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) Governance, technological changes and Greenhouse Gas emissions in the irrigation industry, Analysis of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI), Biochar, estimating net C flows from primary industries at the catchment scale and the Socioeconomic impacts of climate change on forest region. Tek is a member of the Australia and New Zealand Academy of Management and the Institute of Foresters of Australia.
Dr Glenn Dale PhD, MBA, BSc (Forestry)(Hons), BSc (Biochemistry) Glenn founded Verterra (formerly TCT) in 1999, following an early career in tropical forest inventory and management, and completion of doctoral studies in molecular genetics and tree breeding, and postdoctoral studies (US) in plant genetics. In partnership with Yates Ltd, he also established Saltgrow Pty Ltd to develop and commercialize clonal eucalypt hybrids for salt and drought tolerance. This work was nominated as a finalist (Institution of Engineers Australia National Salinity Prize 2002) and was runner up (Australian Museum Eureka Science Prize for Industry 2004). Glenn's experience encompasses both international projects as well as technical management of several large commercial forest biotechnology research projects in Australia.
Glenn combines detailed technical knowledge with operational management expertise and commercial experience. His early career was in tropical forest inventory and management before undertaking doctoral studies in molecular genetics and tree breeding. Glenn undertook postdoctoral research in the US on plant genetics. He returned to Australia as the Technical Manager of a private forestry biotechnology company where he was responsible for several large commercial forest biotechnology research projects.
Glenn established Verterra (formerly Tree Crop Technologies Pty Ltd.) in 1999 before establishing Saltgrow Pty Ltd in partnership with Yates Ltd to continue development and commercialization of clonal eucalypt hybrids bred for salt and drought tolerance. Glenn's work on Saltgrow hybrids was nominated as a finalist for the inaugural Institution of Engineers Australia National Salinity Prize in 2002, and was runner up in the 2004 Australian Museum Eureka Science Prize for Industry.
Glenn has international experience working in the United States, New Zealand, Brazil, England, Spain, Portugal, Columbia, Malaysia, and China. He has served on the Plant Breeders Rights Ministerial Advisory Committee and currently holds the position of Adjunct Associate Professor within the National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture at the University of Southern Queensland.
Glenn holds a BSc with Honours in Forestry, a BSc in Biochemistry from the Australian National University, a PhD in molecular and quantitative genetics of forest trees from the University of Queensland and an MBA from Queensland University of Technology.
Job Titles:
- Bachelor of Science ( Applied Biology ) in Progress
Emilie Zurvas Bachelor of Science (Applied Biology) in progress Emilie possesses a unique set of skills and qualifications, having worked in CQ's environmental sector for six years. Currently studying a bachelor's degree in science (Biology) through CQ University, Emilie is excited to continue working on local projects and hopes to develop a career as a professional in the environmental industry.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of Verterra Rwanda
Emmanuel is the Chairman of Verterra Rwanda and a practicing auditor and qualified accountant. He is qualified professional Accountant and member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA UK)., He is also member of the Institute of Certified Public Accounts of Rwanda (ICPAR). As a registered tax advisor by RRA, Emmanuel serves on the advisory committee of the Association of Tax Advisor of Rwanda (ATAR). He is also the Managing Partner of BDO EA Rwanda, a firm he has recently created to specialize in professional services for compliance and advisory including taxation, accounting, auditing, fund management and advisory.
Frank Creighton has over 30 years' experience in the Power Generation Industry. He holds certificates in Workplace Training and Assessment IV; Frontline Management IV; as well as other industry related licences and certifications. Frank's areas of expertise include: effective and efficient operations of Coal Fired power plants; Management of Risk, Health, Safety, Quality, Environment; Permit to Work Systems Administration; development and implementation of competency based training and support documentation; staff management (Employee relations - development, performance, mentoring and coaching); High voltage operations: switching, isolation, earthing as well as procedures including commissioning and testing of new plant. In particular, Frank has provided a variety of services to Collinsville Power Station and fulfilled roles of Site Technical Advisor, Maintenance Supervisor/Liaison; Operations Technician; Technical Support Officer; and Power Technician/Operator and Shift Team Leader.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Dip Ag, BE, Cert IV Workplace Training
George Lambert Dip Ag, BE, Cert IV Workplace Training With over 45 years' experience in the agricultural sector in Queensland, George's focus lies in agricultural extension, spanning roles in soil science, broad acre cropping, intensive and extensive grazing systems, crop and pasture nutritional requirements, irrigated forage systems, salinity management, and Leucaena and Lucerne management systems.
Greg Easton studied Environmental Science at University of Sunshine Coast. Throughout his studies, he concentrated on fresh water quality management. This degree was finalized in 2015 when Greg received first class honours for his research into utilising man-made wetland systems for the treatment of wastewater. Greg's areas of specialty include: wetland science, water quality sampling, data collection and management and geographical information systems. He also tutors in GIS, basic chemistry and environmental chemistry. Recently, Greg has successfully run his own business concentrating on maintaining healthy water in domestic rainwater tanks.
With over 30 years' experience in plantation and native forest management, Ian has gained a depth of expertise working across tropical, subtropical and dryland forest types. Ian possesses a comprehensive technical knowledge of forest management, particularly commercial plantation forestry, plantation based bio-fuel, carbon sequestration, and land management. He also brings a substantial body of forestry project management, business planning, policy development, risk management and forest management expertise to Verterra. Ian's specific areas of expertise include development of innovative dry land plantation silvicultural strategies, resulting in the successful implementation of the South East Queensland Hardwood Plantation Program, a 10,000 ha investment to provide an alternative resource to native forest harvesting.
With over thirty years' in forest, plantation and agro forestry management, Ian's experience covers forestry for carbon sequestration, bio-energy and dryland salinity remediation; forest inventory; and managing mining rehabilitation and parks. His extensive knowledge of the WA forest industry and forestry politics was gained working for the WA Government's forestry agencies in a range of management, business development and corporate affairs roles as well as advising the Minister for Forestry for over four years. Ian has specialist skills in timber properties and utilisation. He also advised the Minister for Agriculture on natural resources management and bio-security. With his practical approach, Ian is committed to help clients find realistic and cost effective solutions to land, water and vegetation problems.
Doctor John McLean Bennett has over 10 years' experience and is a senior research fellow (soil science) at the National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture where he is the Sustainable Soils Theme Leader. He is also a Senior Lecturer in soil science with the Faculty of Engineering and Surveying at the Unversity of Southern Queensland and is a Level 2 Certified Professional Soil Scientist. Johns' areas of specialty include: soil structural integrity as influenced by salinity and sodicity, both in rain-fed and irrigated systems. In the past seven years he has worked extensively on solute movement and subsequent impacts on soil and water in wheat, cotton, meat and livestock, and coal seam gas mining industries. Since 2010 his research activities have specifically reltated to beneficial use of coal seam gas assoicated water in Queensland for clients including Santos Ltd., QGC and Arrow Energy.
Job Titles:
- Associate Degree in Applied Science, Plant Studies
Kathleen is an Agronomist and Agricultural Extension specialist with 8 years' experience. She holds an Associate Degree in Applied Science, Plant Studies from University of Queensland and a Certificate IV in Training & Assessment - TAE40116. Over the last 8 years, Kathleen's has fulfilled roles of Project Manager, Land and Water Field Officer and Extension Officer, gaining specialised experience in agronomy, agricultural extension, technical delivery and project management. She has a keen interest in facilitation, training and stakeholder engagement. Kathleen's passion is sustainable land and water resource management, and the role of young professionals in the future of agriculture.
Job Titles:
- Environment and Conservation
With over 7 years experience as an Environmental Scientist working in Queensland, Laura has worked on projects including project management support, data management and map generation for a beneficial reuse of biosolids project in North Queensland;as well as project management support and technical assistance with field biodiversity monitoring, data analysis, data management, and map generation for a habitat enhancement and restoration project. Other specific experience includes:monitoring and management of Acid Sulfate Soils (ASS) with involvement in pre-dredge investigations (Gladstone Harbor and Port of Brisbane); onsite project management (including overseeing contractors; client liaison and operation logistics); data management and map generation for Koala offsets projects (GIS;and water and salinity modelling for a confidential project.
Marisa Ursini Grad Cert Management Marisa is an office professional with significant experience in customer service engagement, business administration, and office management in not for profit and corporate sectors including energy, oil and gas and health. Marisa has a solid background in continuous improvement and streamlining processes with a strong focus in providing exceptional customer service.
Marjon is a circular economy and business strategy specialist with over 25 years of experience in international business, finance, and consulting. Marjon was born and raised in the Netherlands and studied Economics at Maastricht University before joining Rabobank International in 1996. During a thirteen-year international career with Rabobank in the Netherlands, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and London, she held a series of commercial and strategic Director level roles to drive the bank's business operations in core and emerging products, markets, and geographies.
Following her banking career, Marjon moved into consulting, focusing on leadership coaching, and project and change management in the UK and the Netherlands. After moving to Brisbane, Australia, in 2017, Marjon specialized in circular economy advisory and currently supports organizations and governments in their transition from a linear to a circular business model, creating economic, social, and environmental benefits.
In June 2021, Marjon was appointed as Honorary Consul for Queensland for the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In this role, she actively supports the continued relationship between Queensland and the Netherlands with a specific focus on collaboration on circular economy transition efforts and fostering trade and investment ties. She currently serves as a Non-Executive Director on the Boards of MiCare and Verterra. Marjon holds a master's degree in Economics and Business Administration from the University of Maastricht and has a Diploma in Company Direction from the UK Institute of Directors.
Job Titles:
- Professional Tender Coordinator and Administrator
Penny is a professional tender coordinator and administrator with considerable experience in office management, business and quality and safety systems administration and document control gained working across various corporate sectors and industries, including environmental engineering, engineering, healthcare, mining, and oil and gas. Penny's exceptional organisational abilities, tender coordination, project support, document management skills, and passion for continual improvement underpin her varied role within Verterra.
Job Titles:
- Bachelor of Applied Management / Chief Operations Officer
Job Titles:
- Financial Controller
- B App Sc ( Chemistry ), Dip Ed ( Mathematics )
Susan holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Chemistry and a Diploma of Education specializing in mathematics. She has managed Verterra's finances since its inception in 1999. From 2003 to 2004, Susan was Treasurer of DebRA Queensland, a not-for-profit charity working on behalf of people with the genetic skin blistering condition Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB).
Susan has taught secondary school mathematics in Bundaberg and Brisbane, and spent a year as Head of Mathematics at St Joseph's Catholic College, Tenaru in the Solomon Islands. Susan worked as an analytical chemist in toxicology and food commodities from 1991 to 1994 before heading a soil science laboratory at North Carolina State University in the United States.
Susan's background in analytical chemistry and soil science, combined with her skills in mathematics and finance management, provide a unique understanding of the technical and financial dimensions of the business.
Job Titles:
- in 2018 As Accounts Administrator
Terri joined Verterra in 2018 as Accounts Administrator. With 20 years in the banking industry, followed by 6 years working as an accounting professional, Terri has a broad range of experience to bring to Verterra.
Violet Edwards Bachelor of Agribusiness Violet is a Junior Spatial Agronomist who holds a Bachelor's in Agribusiness from the University of Queensland. Violet has prior spatial agronomy experience in Northern Queensland, working with growers in utilising multi-spectral imagery and agricultural remote sensing technology to examine crop condition and stress detection, improvement in soil management practices, generating crop yield estimations and identifying nutrient deficiencies.