THE BRRVLN TEAM
BRRVLN is a not-for-profit incorporated association, governed by a volunteer Executive Board appointed at the annual general meeting and operated in compliance with the BRRVLN constitution.
BRRVLN STAFF
Emma Stone – BRRVLN Landcare Coordinator
landcare.support@brrvln.org.au
Emma has been involved with Landcare as a volunteer in Northern NSW since 1999 and joined BRRVLN as the Landcare Coordinator in 2016. Her passions and project activity stretch across the broad scope of Landcare including projects focused on biodiversity, threatened species management, water quality, sustainable agriculture, environmental education in schools and resilient and connected rural communities. Emma is most inspired to help other Landcare groups to access tools, knowledge and resources to enable their visions become a reality.
Gavin Tinning – Sustainable Agriculture Project Officer
sustainable.ag@brrvln.org.au
Gavin has worked in agriculture and natural resource management since 1989; wetlands research, acid sulfate soils, community development and permaculture projects in Latin America, environmental management in broad acre cropping, post-tsunami soils and farming recovery in Indonesia and occasional forays into bushfire planning and bush regeneration in the Northern Rivers.
Gavin currently manages a sustainable agriculture project for BRRVLN. He has walked and canoed large sections of local rivers and creeks scoping weed impact and conducted property assessments the Land for Wildlife program. Gavin would like to assist Northern Rivers landholders and farmers to rehabilitate and enhance the natural and productive values of their properties.
At home Gavin is regenerating a 2ha weedy gully into something more diverse and interesting, whilst trying to beat wildlife to the harvest from his food gardens.
Tamar Cohen – Project Officer
invasive.species@brrvln.org.au
Tamar’s passion lies in the socio-cultural aspects of environmental management. Her background is in Environmental Anthropology with a research interest in the myriad ways that people perceive and interact with their environment.
Tamar has worked for over 10 years on aspects of community engagement in the environmental field. This work has encompassed issues associated with sea level rise in the pacific, the social impacts of mining and cross-cultural considerations for post-mined land rehabilitation.
Tamar has been involved with Landcare in a volunteer capacity since 2017 both as a member of Gesar Springs Landcare and as an executive member of BRRVLN. Since 2018 Tamar has worked for BRRVLN on a project focused on understanding the distribution of cane toads in the Kyogle and Richmond Valley Local Government areas and working with landowners to control cane toads at the invasion frontline.
Mark Ambrose - pROJECT oFFICER
MARK@BRRVLN.ORG.AU
Mark is an ecologist who has specialised in surveying and researching arboreal mammals in the UK and Australia. He researched the effects of nest box provision on a threatened, hollow dependent species for his MSc. and later for published work. Mark has also done extensive work with koalas both as an ecological consultant and as a volunteer carer.
Mark’s projects at BRRVLN have included Indian Myna control, Climate Ready Revegetation planting and Artificial Hollow monitoring.
Outside work, Mark is kept busy controlling weeds on his property, keeping his two horses and dog in line, volunteering as rescuer and carer for Northern Rivers Wildlife Carers (mostly wrangling snakes) and Friends of the Koala. Occasionally he gets to go for a ride on his elderly motorcycle.
BRRVLN EXEC
Rob Drury - BRRVLN PRESIDENT
president@brrvln.org.au
I first developed a passion for the environment by witnessing the absolute destruction and desolation of much of the North Coast by sand mining in the 60’s and 70’s. As a child I observed the magnificent dune systems and associated ecology in what is now Crowdy Bay National Park and then observed sand mining turn it into a flat featureless plain covered in Bitou Bush.
My observations were then reinforced by a passionate lecturer in Ecology at Newcastle University who articulated the connectedness of all facets of the environment and human activities.
In the intervening years I have been a committed carer of the land and an advocate for the environment via my long-term membership of the Australian Conservation Foundation.
I was employed by the NSW Department of Education for 36 years promoting and teaching Environmental Education. For the last 15 years I was in a managerial role as well as holding various positions within the NSW Teachers Federation. It was during this period where I learnt the skills that I now bring to the BRRVLN organisation.
We continue to knowingly destroy the very systems that sustain life on this planet. Landcare is a vehicle through which we can participate in positive on-ground action.
BOB JARMAN - BRRVLN TREASURER
treasurer@brrvln.org.au
Bob has had some 30 years experience with Landcare. From undertaking Landcare works on his Dairyfarm to being inaugural member of Cedar Point Landcare Group to member of Richmond Catchment Management Committee to one of the Landcare Coordinators in the Richmond Catchment for 15 years.
In 2011 Bob was awarded the Australian Government NSW Local Landcare Facilitator/Coordinator award.
Bob has been actively involved at the regional and state level and along the way was Chair of North Coast Regional Landcare Network and Council member and Executive member of Landcare NSW.
Bob was instrumental in the formation of BRRVLN and now retired from farming is Treasurer of BRRVLN and a member of Kyogle Landcare Group.
Jan Menzies - BRRVLN SECRETARY
EMAIL
Jan uses her community outreach and networking skills to support habitat conservation and recovery through her role as Treasurer, and now President of Roseberry Creek Landcare since 2019. Those skills are bedded in careers as an early childhood teacher, family day care coordinator and 15 yrs working across Brisbane public libraries.
With an eye on the climate change clock, she has rapidly upskilled and uploaded knowledge by attending every topical workshop/webinar/conference/study opportunity going, and is putting it to good use in her community. The Black Summer fires of 2019/2020 highlighted the need for both landscape and community resilience and BRRVLN has actively supported Jan to deliver support to her diverse community in recovery and in anticipating these challenges into the future. To complete the circle, Jan is the Secretary of BRRVLN, enjoying the challenges and camaraderie of the fellow executive. Tempus fugit!
When not regenerating her plot, identifying trees, collecting native grasses or tending her nursery of Richmond Birdwing vines, Jan loves garden tours, from broad landscapes to a few loved plants on an inner city balcony, most importantly, enjoying the perspective of others over a shared cup of tea.
Maureen McDonald – BRRVLN Exec member
Maureen McDonald has been an executive member of BRRVLN since its inception in 2015. Part of Maureen’s role with BRRVLN is to represent the Far North Coast Dairy Industry Group. Maureen with her husband Stephen own and operate a 280 head dairy farm on the Richmond River at Tatham.
Maureen is currently the Secretary of the Subtropical Dairy Sector being part of Dairy Australia.
In addition, Maureen has worked in the legal industry since 1973. In 2008 Maureen graduated from Southern Cross University with an Associate Degree in Law and now owns and operates her own conveyancing business Maureen McDonald Conveyancing.
Maureen is a strong believer in a holistic view for the longevity and sustainability of the land, environment and agriculture all working together to achieve long term benefit for the future.
ILKA NELSON – VICE PRESIDENT
Ilka joined the BRRVLN team in 2019. She is a long-term resident of the Northern Rivers, always pulled back to the area by the voluminous presence of water here.
Ilka is deeply passionate about natural habitats and species protection, and studies the relationship between these and cultural/social systems. She completed a Masters thesis in 2013 ‘Storytelling Beyond the Anthropocene: a quest through the crisis of ecocide toward new ecological paradigms’, and brings this big-picture, earth-centric thinking to her role with BRRVLN.
Ilka works as a Creative Ecologist, and has a background in arts and environmental communications working with government, industry, academia, NGO's and the community sector. Lantana clearing keeps her busy on the weekends.