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Today on Beyond The Green Line, Shonelle Gleeson-Willey talks with Osprey Orielle Lake.
Founder and executive director of the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN), Osprey works internationally with grassroots, BIPOC and Indigenous leaders, policymakers, and diverse coalitions to build climate justice, resilient communities, and a just transition to a decentralized, democratized clean-energy future.
She sits on the executive committee for the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature and on the steering committee for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. Osprey’s writing about climate justice, relationships with nature, women in leadership, and other topics has been featured in The Guardian, Earth Island Journal, The Ecologist, Ms. Magazine and many other publications.
In this episode Osprey shares her experience in advocating for change alongside diverse communities. She discusses some of the root causes of the climate crisis, and why we need to seek systemic change in order to see a real difference.
You’ll hear about the pivotal role women play in decreasing carbon emissions and bringing about lasting change, as well as the importance of indigenous rights and how earth centred cultures may hold the key to healing ecosystems and living harmoniously with the land.
Learn more about Osprey and read her latest book ‘The Story Is In Our Bones: How Worldviews And Climate Justice Can Remake A World In Crisis’ at https://ospreyoriellelake.earth/
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On today’s episode of Beyond the Green Line, Shonelle Gleeson-Willey talks with Trent Romer, author of the books ‘This is Our Home: A Sustainability Story to Help You Start Your Own Eco-Friendly Journey’ and ‘Finding Sustainability: The Personal and Professional Journey of a Plastic Bag Manufacturer’.
Trent is a 3rd generation co-owner of his family’s business Clear View Bag Co., Inc founded in 1961 by his grandfather.
In this episode he talks about what inspired him to turn to more sustainable options. Trent knew the changes he made needed to be good for the business and good for the planet.
He shares the changes his company made, such as reducing waste, hosting educational events for employees, and implementing the company vision of ‘Healthy Planet. Healthy People. Healthy Company’.
Trent offers a number of ways consumers can make a real impact, and reminds businesses to keep in mind the cost of inaction.
Trent’s latest book ‘This Is Our Home: A Sustainability Story to Help You Start Your Own Eco-Friendly Journey’ is written for people who want to move in a sustainable direction, but feel overwhelmed, wondering 'How do I begin my journey and what do I do after I start?'.
Progress is better than perfection, and Trent hopes to inspire those he reaches that we can each make choices, no matter how small, that move us in the right direction.
Learn more about Trent’s work and buy his books:
https://trentromer.com/
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In this special episode of Beyond The Green Line, Shonelle Gleeson-Willey is delighted to announce that Moss Environmental has merged with OzEnvironmental Pty Ltd, a like-minded boutique rural consultancy.
OzEnvironmental, under the direction of Adjunct Professor Warwick Giblin, has operated since 2011 in the discipline of environmental and social impact management. It has built a formidable reputation acting for rural councils and landholders on energy and mining projects across Australia, including NSW, Queensland, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.
With this merger, Moss Environmental propels itself into new dimensions of service excellence. Our environment and heritage service offerings are expanding, and our capabilities in the realm of environmental impact assessment, including community impact and stakeholder engagement, are taking a giant leap forward.
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Becoming aware of a large project in the approvals process in their area can lead to much uncertainty and distress. A local council may become aware of a proposed development through the planning portal or from the developer themselves.
The vast majority of current renewable energy projects, for example, will be determined at a state level because they fall into the category of state significant development or Critical State Significant Infrastructure. That's why it's so important that council understands their role in the approval process and makes their voice heard through well researched submissions and negotiations during the development of the voluntary planning agreement.
Landowners can become aware of pending development plans through a variety of different avenues, including a letter that's been posted, a social media post, or a knock on the door.
Often, people will experience physical and mental wellness challenges because of resulting worry. They begin to wonder what will happen to their piece of paradise, whether they will receive compensation, and how they will retain a voice in the daunting power dynamic of dealing with developers.
Warwick encourages people in this situation to rally community, build a support network, and utilize professional advice from an environmental practitioner who is familiar with the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act and the assessment and determination process.
In this episode you’ll hear Shonelle and Warwick share stories about their mutual desire to see communication between developers and affected communities be more balanced. Too often, meetings seem to involve developers telling communities how the process will go, and Warwick believes a change in this dynamic will only happen when developers are truly convinced that it’s in their best interests to take the voices of the community into account, even in the early planning stages.
If you're interested to know more about the expanded services now offered by Moss Environmental, please visit our website at www.mossenviro.com.au
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Today on Beyond the Green Line, Shonelle Gleeson-Willey talks with Kurt Laboyrie, an area manager at the Soil Conservation Service. Kurt is also a past member of the International Erosion Control Association Board, and recently received a Change Makers achievement from the organization Future Women.
Kurt has always lived on the coast and spent time in nature, where he developed an understanding of how sediment and water moved. He earned his masters’ degree in Coastal Planning and Management, then began his career in erosion control in sand dunes.
He worked on dune stabilization and natural area management, fire trail and asset protection, zone construction and maintenance, creek line remediation projects, contaminated land rehabilitation, and design and construction of drainage structures. He also held advisory roles as a Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control.
Kurt now manages numerous civil and environmental construction works, serving local landholders, state, federal and corporate clients. Maintaining his focus on coastal environmental management, Kurt has kept a passion for environmental legacy, always striving to contribute to lasting change.
The Soil Conservation Service is a government contractor and also deals in the public space. Kurt shares his insights on how to build good teams for highly varied jobs, and how those diverse teams enable the company to fix problems for clients and take on challenges and risks that not everyone would be willing to.
Kurt and Shonelle also chat about Kurt’s desire to see gender parity and equal pay in the construction industry. Many top companies have a measure of equality at the highest levels, while the construction industry is behind in this and has been traditionally very male-dominated. Kurt shares what a single individual in the system can do to encourage more diversity and equity in their work culture.
Kurt recounts a contaminated land rehab project that his team recently completed, which comprised of both terrestrial and aquatic rehabilitation. Older boat paint containing lead and other harmful metals was effecting a populated area’s oysters, fish and potentially humans, and it was Kurt’s job to come up with a way to get all the harmful material out of the harbor and send it to a registered site.
He talks about the importance of the staging equipment they used, how they implemented two sediment curtains into the process, why they used a dredge, and how they pumped contaminated water into dewatering bags, sealed to limit human exposure.
We’ll hear Kurt speak on the unique challenges of working in the coastal environment, and share how he’d love to see better alignment on Best Practice across states and legislations in order to see LGA’s working together for the most efficient solutions.
Learn more about Soil Conservation Service: www.scs.nsw.gov.au/
YouTube https://www.bing.com/search?q=soil+conservation+service+youtube&qs=n&form=QBRE&msbsrank=6_6__0&sp=-1&pq=soil+conservation+service+cs+youtube&sc=636&sk=&cvid=9EE4426D9FCD43B48E8BF22659F0DE1F&ghsh=0&ghacc=0&ghpl=
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/NSWSCS/
LinkedIn.
https://www.linkedin.com/company/soil-conservation-service?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ebing%2Ecom%2F&originalSubdomain=au
More about the Gender Parity Take aways:
Understand Yourself- so you can help. Do you have unconscious Bias, do this test?
Select a Test (harvard.edu) Choose the Gender-Career IAT.
Understand the problem- https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/selectatest.html
The Lift- What is the gender pay gap?
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=the+lift+gender+youtube&&view=detail&mid=143F5413B212A71023E7143F5413B212A71023E7&&FORM=VRDGAR&ru=%2Fvideos%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dthe%2Blift%2Bgender%2Byoutube%26qpvt%3Dthe%2Bli -
On today’s episode of Beyond the Green Line, Shonelle Gleeson-Willey talks with the inventor of pasture cropping: Colin Seis.
Colin oversees 3,500 Merino sheep on his property in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, where he also grows cereal crops and natives grasses. He and his son, Nick, breed Kelpie dogs on the land as well.
Collin has received a Conservation Farmer of the Year Award, Australian Carbon Farmer of the Year, NSW Regional Achievement and Community Award, and was recently called one of the top 6 most influential farmers in the world by the Melbourne Weekly Times.
His 2,000 acre plot is called Winona, and it has a widespread reputation for holding up amazingly during drought. Its predominant soils include coarse and fine sands derived from granite, which are not considered highly fertile, but he shares with us how pasture cropping is a way of working alongside nature instead of against it, resulting in a more robust and resilient farm.
Colin describes pasture cropping as the way that crops were originally cultivated in ancient times: not by killing every other plant in the area, but by sewing crops in with native grasses and other plants, so that competing roots can improve a crop’s vitality, water retention and wind protection.
Colin developed the approach of pasture cropping along with a neighbor farmer after a devastating bush fire in 1979. Today, the land can now officially be called restored grassland, and Colin can be found teaching his regenerative methods to farmers around the world through his online “Smart Soil” classes.
Collin’s sheep are also managed holistically, using a method he describes as time-controlled grazing.
He educates us that gross margin (profit) is greater in a pasture cropping, because multiple products are being harvested. The crops are about the same yield, just slightly more variable. But native grass seed is harvested in addition, increasing profits.
Fertilizer is still used on Winona, but has been reduced over time as sheep grazing increasingly becomes a type of natural mulching and fertilizing.
Collin recounts that in the early years, he was ostracized by the industry for attempting to sell combined crops, and had to have self-belief and confidence to continue. He notes that his first supporters were ecologists, because they had understanding of diverse systems.
He discloses that one of the biggest advantages of pasture cropping is the stimulation and germination of dormant seed - even seed that has been sitting for decades. This can be a significant factor in restoring grasslands.
Soil carbon levels have increased over time at Colin’s farm, and current measurements are detecting increased carbon as far down as a meter. Colin shares that this is due to plant diversification, and bigger perennial plants with deeper roots.
We know you’ll be encouraged to hear from one of the legends in regenerative agriculture on this episode.
Check out Colin’s family land:
www.Winona.net.au
And take a look at his classes:
www.SmartSoilEdu.com -
Today on Beyond the Green Line, Shonelle Gleeson-Willey talks with James Hammond, founder and CEO of 4Pillars Environmental Consulting.
James manages a 14-person team that provides a wide range of services in environmental management and compliance, contaminated waste solutions, and impact assessment.
James has a scientific and professional background, and a love for strategic environmental management. Shonelle asks about his journey to becoming an environmental consultant, and what his advice would be to young professionals that may want to enter into the field of consulting.
Getting his business off the ground included starting in a garage office, relying on grassroots word of mouth leads, and plenty of hard work. James made a decision to avoid being a sub-contractor under another companies, because he saw the advantage of only offering services directly to clients.
James describes the importance of building a support team and knowing your limits as a business owner, as well as patience and level-headed decision-making during the grind of building a business from scratch.
He implemented software and systems that would work even after the company grew, and always attempted to envision the end from the beginning. Whether a business owner’s end goal is passive income, getting acquired, or building a family legacy company, these differing end goals will effect strategic choices in the beginning stages.
James named his company 4Pillars because it operates under the presupposition that there are four pillars to sustainable development: environment, society, economy, and intergenerational equity. The pillars must be considered altogether in order to operate in ways that are responsible for tomorrow.
Shonelle and James discuss how some of 4Pillar’s current impact assessment projects are gathering their data and developing strategies for their clients. James shares that within cities, air, noise and water are usually the three focuses, whereas in more remote areas there are different priorities.
They reference the ongoing issue of asbestos contamination in soil, and the hope that policy consistency across different agencies and levels of government will move this important work in the right direction.
He talks about the times his assessments have resulted in avoidance recommendations, and how to present those types of recommendations effectively.
Volunteer work is often a part of the most effective environmental scientists and consultants, and James shares about his enthusiastic involvement with the Environmental Institute of Australia and New Zealand.
Today’s conversation also touches on the topic of green accounting and how it’s effecting the environmental consulting field.
This helpful interview with James Hammond is sure to be a source of inspiration for a lot of listeners, especially those who are starting out in the environmental consulting space. -
Today’s episode of Beyond the Green Line is hosted by one of our key consultants, Elizabeth Ogunsote. Elizabeth hosts a fascinating conversation about upcycling with entrepreneur Olabanke Subair, the accomplished owner and creative director of sustainable home decor company Cyrus45.
Cyrus45 upcycles non-biodegradable waste such as used tires in Lagos, Nigeria, turning them into artistic modern furniture. They won the 2018 ACE award for the Best Eco-friendly Product.
Today we hear what inspired Olabanke to build her company, what went in to starting her factory, and how she stays creatively inspired, 5 years in.
She explains how she resources used tires in Nigeria now that the business has grown, and shares a philosophical and inspiring commentary on what constitutes true creativity, and we can all tap into it as we reduce each of our own carbon footprints. We learn how problem-solving, innovation, and creativity interplay in Olabanke’s leadership style, and what’s coming next for one of her other businesses, Doodle Arts.
Elizabeth asks Olabanke about tire fires, and we hear how we can prevent raging land-fill fires and slow down the disposing of tires in those locations. Olabanke also shares about production, language and environmental challenges that the factory has faced, and how even that has prompted her to think about new designs.
Having created a handful of artistic start-ups as an “ecopreneur” and creative disruptor, Olabanke shares why Cyrus45 is her most meaningful accomplishment to date, and why she feels proud of where it’s heading in the future. She shares words of wisdom to future entrepreneurs about how to balance their creativity with patience and perseverance in order to survive the tedious ride.
Cyrus45 factory’s gloss-painted tires form the foundations for beautiful rocking chairs, classy glass end tables, and circular wall mirrors, so we encourage you to click on the links below and follow their amazing journey as a sustainable furniture store.
Follow Olabanke:
https://www.instagram.com/doodlegraphie/
Follow Olabanke’s company:https://www.facebook.com/cyrus45factory/
https://twitter.com/cyrus45factory
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Today on Beyond the Green Line, Shonelle Gleeson-Willey talks with regenerative agriculturist Dr. Charles Massy.
Charles became an advocate for regenerative agriculture after the infamous four-year draught of the late 70’s and early 80’s, when he transformed his personal approach from conventional farming to regenerative holistic management of his property on the Monaro.
He has now written three books, received an OAM, and maintained a chemical-free property for decades - one that boasts native grass in an area where surrounding farms have turned to dustbowls during recent droughts.
We hear all about his life-altering decision to transition to regenerative farming, the keys to his success in the process of restoring his soil, and his PhD research on some of the catalysts and destabilizing events that cause regenerative farmers begin to adopt the approach and turn their landscapes around.
Shonelle and Charles discuss the crucial topic of fertilizer, and how natural alternatives to chemical herbicides and pesticides - like worm juice and compost extract - can result in better nutrition and healthier soil.
Dr. Charles Massy defines regenerative agriculture succinctly by saying, “it’s working with biology and not against it.” He clarifies that every farmer’s biggest asset is the land, even above their animals or crops, and reminds us all that there is indeed a way to successfully utilize natural soil and graze animals in a sustainable and healthy way.
He asserts that nature’s self-organizing processes are far superior to our simplified, chemical-driven modern approach. By maximizing solar energy, protecting soil health, tending to the water cycle, ensuring biodiversity, and refraining from interfering nature’s timing, humans can become better stewards of land while harvesting more nutritious crops.
Charles explains that during the scientific revolution, humanity shifted to a “mechanical mind,” and distanced ourselves from nature. The combination of that more arrogant mindset with the invention of chemical fertilizers, big farming machinery, and motive for profit after World War II is what created the modern human ecosystem of farming in the form it exists today.
But, now that we’re more aware than ever of our climate and soil’s vulnerable state, a swing back to regenerative agriculture would have a huge positive impact on the planet as well as human health. Charles skillfully teaches us about the biology and carbon impact of different approaches to farming, and casts vision from where we can, and must, go from here. -
On today’s episode of Beyond the Green Line, Shonelle interviews former podiatrist turned work boot designer Penny Crawford.
Penny is a country girl from Gunnedah, a small town in the Liverpool planes of NSW that’s made up of farmland, mines, the Namoi river, and copious Koalas.
Many miners visited her practice complaining of sore feet from their work, and her care for her patients has propelled her to create her company, Crawford Boots. Her incredibly helpful invention - a waterproof safety work book that actually fits correctly - withstood rigorous on-site survey research and gained raving reviews from grateful miners.
Penny shares that most of her patients’ foot issues were caused by ill-fitting footwear, and her desire to see the problem solved at the source let her to design and manufacture unique work boots that utilized two factories: one that specialized in the outer casing of the water proof boot, and one that designed superior in-soles.
We hear all about her boot company’s big wins, supply chain challenges, and new partnership with the University of New South Wales’ Sustainable Research and Technology Center in a circular economy-inspired rubber recycling project, using her brand’s boots.
From the get-go, Penny desired to use sustainable materials (like rubber instead of PVC), and had in mind the end goal of creating a product that could be part of the circular economy. Then, the additional supply chain strain of Covid added another incentive to move the manufacturing process to a more local scenario.
Penny joined the AMGC (the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre), who assisted her in getting the boots tested to see if she could begin to replace the rubber she was using with recycled or repurposed material.
In addition, her boots’ end-of-life will now include repurposing into the steel-making industry by being combined with coal as the energy source at specific steel-making plants. Partnering with specific mining sites to provide receptacles for finished boots will ensure they collected for repurposing.
Penny won Business New South Wales’ Outstanding Business Leader, and Business of the Year 2021 for her entrepreneurship and innovative work on her boot product. We’re inspired by her work ethic and on-going commitment to responsible and sustainable business.
Take a moment to check out Dr. Penny Crawfords durable work boots:
crawfordboots.com.au -
On today’s episode of Beyond the Green Line, Shonelle Gleeson-Willey chats with Warwick Giblin, a veteran in the environmental management space, and one of her personal mentors.
Warwick has 40 years of senior executive experience in environmental management in both government work (with National Parks and Wildlife Service and Sydney Water) and various corporations (such as Waste Management International and Waste Management NZ Ltd).
He is currently the Managing Director of OzEnvironmental Pty Ltd, which provides high-end technical, legal and strategic advice to farmers, Councils, Traditional Owners, and businesses when development projects come to their town (or farm, as the case may be).
This was a fascinating, insightful, and extremely necessary conversation about helping communities maintain a voice during land development projects.
Many of the impacted areas Warwick supports involve multigenerational farms, tight-knit communities, and various other types of landholders. Becoming aware of a large project in the approvals process in their area can lead to much uncertainty and distress.
Landowners can become aware of pending development plans through a variety of different avenues including, a mailed letter, a social media post, or a knock on the door. Often, Warwick’s clients then experience physical and mental wellness challenges because of resulting worry. They begin to wonder what will happen to their piece of paradise, whether they will receive compensation, and how they will retain a voice in the daunting power dynamic of dealing with developers.
Warwick encourages people in this situation to rally community, build a support network, and utilize professional advice from an environmental practitioner who is familiar with the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act and the assessment and determination process.
Recently, the Sydney Morning Herald published an article explaining how the NSW state government planned to fast-track transmission line projects for renewables in the regions. While rapid decarbonization of our energy system is important, it’s also imperative to examine how these projects’ rapid assessment processes will affect communities with substantial change and disruption.
Many landowners have limited economic capacity compared to developers, and Warwick’s presence helps farmers and communities in this situation retain influence throughout the development process.
Shonelle and Warwick share stories about their mutual desire to see communication between developers and affected communities be more balanced. Too often, meetings seem to involve developers telling communities how the process will go, and Warwick believes a change in this dynamic will only happen when developers are truly convinced that it’s in their best interests to take the voices of the community into account, even in the early planning stages.
Warwick also relays much wisdom and experience around creating openness and transparency, even in tense conversations with developers, and ensuring real accountability during the land development process.
Podcast — Sydney Environment Institute
Renewables & rural Australia - The Australia Institute -
In this episode of Beyond the Green Line, Shonelle Gleeson-Willey talks with Dr Scott Wilson Chief Scientist at Earthwatch Institute Australia and the Research Director of the Australasian Microplastic Assessment Project. He's also an Honorary Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Earth as well as Environmental Sciences at Macquarie University.
In his role as Research Director for the Australasian Microplastic Assessment Project (AUSMAP), the Eureka Prize-winning citizen science initiative that researches microplastic pollution hotspots and its sources, he collaborates closely with stakeholders on finding practical solutions to microplastic pollution across Asia Pacific and Europe.
Scott has always wanted to make an impact on the environment and in his new role at Earthwatch Institute Australia, he now has a broader opportunity for more engagement and impact not only in Australia but globally.
His current focus is understanding the causes and impacts of plastics on the environment while collaborating with stakeholders and the community across the country.
In this episode, Scott addresses the need for educating and raising public awareness about a variety of environmental concerns, as well as a number of programs offered by Earthwatch Institute Australia for local communities to get involved in.
He also discusses his involvement in several other environmental projects, including the ClimateWatch program, a community-based venture aimed at documenting seasonal changes like plant flowering and seasonal animal migrations and educating communities on how these trends are affected by changing climate patterns.
Scott also discusses Earthwatch’s new Tiny Forest program, which uses Miyawaki Japanese botany to boost biodiversity through the dense planting of endemic vegetation in urban areas.
Scott also talks more about his work with the AUSMAP program dedicated to researching the environmental repercussions and the eradication of ‘per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances’ (PFAS) contaminants in the environment, and also his work with the Australian non-profit environmental organisation the Total Environment Centre, and its partnerships between universities and local communities.
Scott highlights recent studies on the increasing amounts of microplastics and other contaminants in the atmosphere, and also speaks in detail about how both positive and negative trends in exponential plastic manufacturing and use will affect the environment and particularly the ocean over the next thirty years.
Finally, Scott discusses his work with the Australian non-profit environmental organisation, the Total Environment Centre, and its partnerships between universities and local communities.
Thanks to Dr Scott Wilson for this important conversation. Please visit the Earthwatch website www.earthwatch.org.au for more information on its various projects and to find out how you can also play your part in helping the environment and making a difference in the world.
This episode of Beyond The Green Line was brought to you by Moss Environmental.
Subscribe to our podcast for your weekly invitation to join the conversation.
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We’ve all heard of the glass ceiling: the idea that there are barriers to women achieving executive and leadership roles in male-dominated industries.
But in addition to that, the sector of environmental science poses greater ratio imbalances than average. So today it’s our pleasure to chat with Kristi McLachlan, Iinfrastructure Director at Hatch Australasia.
Kristi grew up loving biology from a young age, and graduated with a Master's Degrees in Biology. She started her career in research and development, focusing on the use of bacteria to break down soil contaminants.
Kristi then moved in to contaminated land consulting in Australia, where she was promoted to handle operations management, and eventually oversaw various construction projects for over a decade.
Then landing at Sydney Airport (brought there by Chris Evans from John Holland who she would consider a sponsor in the story of her career), Kristi became the only female she knew to hold the title of General Manager on a construction project.
She discovered the importance of the advice she passes to us today: find your people. It will take good friends, mentors, and sponsors to achieve your goals as a female in the environmental space, so don't be afraid to ask someone to mentor or sponsor you.
Kristi then joined Hatch, where she now helps the company maintain its high reputation of forward-thinking and ceiling-breaking.
Throughout her ongoing leadership roles at Hatch, Kristi has studied Neuro Leadership and obtained quality leadership coaching, which she credits for her ever-increasing ability to communicate with her teams. She shares how we can strengthen our science-based thinking by cultivating a curious mind: committing to learn more data before making our conclusions.
Ever-motivated, Kristi practices Jiu Jitsu along with her two children. She reveals that this discipline has taught her when to sit back and observe, as opposed to always being on the attack, and how to learn where the other person is coming from. This too has enhanced her leadership approach over the years.
Combining her training in science-based thinking from her studies at Uni with the delicate balance of non-violence and healthy self-defense in the Jiu Jitsu model, Kristi emphasizes understanding what others around us need and value.
When gender stereotypes pop up at work, she’s committed to pointing out moments that others may not see, but always in a spirit of growing together. Kristi encourages women in male-dominated spaces to remember that many men on their team may be very open to conversations about changing the system together.
Her solution-oriented approach is honest and inspiring.
Even though she has moved away from a career in environmental sciences, sustainability is still very close to Kristi’s heart. This can be seen in her intentional personal life, where she doesn’t own a dryer, keeps supply chain standards when purchasing furniture or clothes, and doesn’t drive whenever there is access to public transportation.
We know you’ll be inspired by Shonelle’s enlightening talk with Kristi McLachlan -
Today’s guest possesses a gift that we all can benefit from: he loves bringing clarity to complex problems. Ian Brookman is the General Manager for Strategy and Development in Environmental Services at Ventia. He describes himself as a translator between clients who have complex environmental problems and a broad industry of experts with potential solutions.
Ian was previously President of the Australasian Land and Groundwater Association and has a long-held passion for seeing communities and environments return to health.
A lifelong natural history enthusiast, Ian started his career as a geologist, studying environmental sciences while obtaining his degree in geology, and soon began working for a remediation research company. He gained experience drilling at petrol stations and other contaminated sites and began his journey into the world of contaminated land management and remediation.
Now at Ventia, his team works toward sustainability in the energy industry. They’re often brought into brownfield sites (areas where contamination is present from hydrocarbon spillages like petroleum, pesticides, asbestos, heavy metals such as lead, or the previous use of the site for defense training), using various technologies to remove contaminates and restore soil.
Their process starts with reviewing previous data from site investigators, ensuring there were no gaps during data collection. They then decide what technologies and treatments are best for each specific site’s soil or water: whether it’s a biological system that needs a thermal approach, or a site that requires a chemical solution.
Ian’s team often removes PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances), a manmade chemical used in fire-fighting that is nicknamed a “forever chemical.” Ventia developed a modified soil-washing approach to remove PFAS, and the cleaned soil can often be re-used back on the site.
Shonelle and Ian discuss Ventia’s joint venture with SUEZ, Earthsure: a soil processing facility that minimizes certain soils’ environmental impact. The technology at Earthsure can mobilize heavy metals in soils, do thermal treatments, and deal with a wide range of hazardous waste.
They can then easily add organic matter back into the soil, even deciding what type of soil the end product should be, based on what their clients find most useful.
Ventia recently won an award for a decade-long sediment remediation project at Kendall Bay where they were the first to use a particular technology at full scale.
Ian’s current projects include treating a former uranium mine, as well as several energy transition projects, like decommissioning coal mines and fracking sites. We know you’ll appreciate Ian’s knack for boiling down the complexities of remediation, and his drive for excellence in the field. -
Today on Beyond the Green Line, Shonelle Gleeson-Willey talks with Paul McDonald.
Paul established the Animal Behavior and Ecology Lab, was the president of the Australasian Society for the Study of Animal Behavior, and sat as Chair of Bird Life Australia’s Research and Conservation committee.
He is a Professor at the University of New England where he works on woodland environments, researching woodland areas’ threatened birds and studying factors that may cause the decline of specific bird populations. We learn about some of these factors from him on the episode, including the behavior of other species, local and human behavior, and the decrease in biodiversity in the environment.
Paul’s expertise in the field of bioacoustics assists his team in collecting data. They use sound recordings to analyze environments, capturing and sorting the sounds of everything from wind to vehicle traffic. The team can listen to recorded bird sounds to understand their activity, observe how fragmentation has effected the birds’ life experience, and even assess the biodiversity of their homes.
Recently, the coronavirus, fires, and floods have prevented researchers from being on the grounds as freely, so bioacoustics measurements are proving more crucial than ever.
Paul’s research into vocal communication in birds also feeds into conservation practices and can be applied to environmental impact assessment.
Shonelle’s organization, Moss Environmental, likewise performs ecological assessments that include recordings, so she asks Paul how they can expand their assessments. He explains that by deepening the acoustic data being gathered, and smartly analyzing the hours of audio using computer power, they can add invaluable information to what they’re already surveying on the ground. This acoustical data will assist in looking at what’s left, and in trying to identify areas of concern.
In addition, various other environmental groups can apply these techniques in ways that make sense for their unique areas. Paul reminds us to learn from each other and utilize collaboration in our continued conservation efforts.
Through his research, Paul has learned about multiple factors that shape the sociality in complex bird societies. His team has identified vocal communication and vocabulary including signal detection of a predator, recruitment calls for help, territory-claiming calls, sounds that indicate conflicts in the society, and even markers that are recognizable in each bird’s voice.We also hear about the difference in the interactions of sub-Saharan African animals verses Australian animals - which include larger scale, mammal-dominated ecology, and different types of productivity in different ecological systems.
The general population can help Australia’s bird societies by getting involved in local bird groups, supporting national parks, and planting diverse foliage in their own back yards to promote the survival of endangered birds.
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In today’s episode of beyond the green line, Shonelle Gleeson-Willey talks with 2019 National AgriFuture Rural Women’s Award winner Jo Palmer.
Jo Palmer is the founder of Pointer Remote Roles, a platform that connects businesses with professionals all over Australia. The online network promotes work for rural dwellers, and has become a powerful tool to move businesses into the future: remote work, flexible hours, and therefore more equal opportunities for professionals.
Jo started off as a teacher in Wagga, then traveled overseas for a bit. Now she and her husband live in Riverina with their two daughters.
She shares a story of having to persevere in applying for her prestigious award: when she applied in 2018 they didn’t even offer an interview. But, she tried again, and not only won the state award the next year, but the national award as well. As you hear her talk about how much can change in 12 months’ time, we know you’ll be reminded to stay confident and determined. You never know what new opportunities can open up the second or third time around.
Of course another notable element in her story is the timing: creating a company that cultivates online business connections, and then gaining attention about it right before the entire world had to go remote! Shonelle and Jo discuss the vastly different world of remote working in the post- Covid era, and how Jo found herself in the perfect storm: first creating this network and pushing it uphill for the first three years, and now watching it meet a gigantic need in the market.
Jo feels that the corporate world has been forced to advance at an accelerated rate; she explains a theory that it has moved forward a generation in two years. While many were waiting for the scales to tip more evenly, which would have realistically included a white male- dominated top tier retiring in a slow and staggered manner, now the workforce is seeing more women, minorities, and rural-dwellers suddenly receive new well-deserved opportunities.
Stay tuned to learn from Jo’s expertise about rural Australia’s challenges, and how remote work can now bring some of the sociological stability those areas have needed for decades. You’ll learn how the biggest challenge to the success of setting up remote and hybrid work forces is actually the mindset of some company’s management and leadership teams.
This episode will definitely inspire creative strategy and stir up excitement in you about the good parts of the future that’s coming our way.
Connect here:
https://agrifutures.com.au/people-leadership/rural-womens-award/2019-winners/
https://pointerremote.com/
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On today’s episode of the Moss Environmental Podcast, we meet Shonelle Gleeson-Willey, founder and director of Moss Environmental.
Shonelle was born and raised in Sydney. Later feeling drawn by her since of adventure to a more rural Australia setting, she moved to Tamworth. We hear how to tell the difference between certain Australians that just say they’re rural, trying to fit stereotypes, and the truly rural cattle farmers and country folk that she looks up to around her and loves being nearer to now.
After being made redundant by her employee, and then having her second child, she decided she wanted her family to stay there.
Her job standards now higher because of her growing family and level of experience, she found it was a better fit to freelance environmental consulting than to take a job at a larger organization. Then, Shonelle soon channeled her experience and expertise in the field into the generalist environmental consulting company Moss Environmental, which she founded in 2015.
Staring a company in the smaller city of Tamworth presented some unique challenges such as limited (and very expensive) commercial space. Her home work environment of course included her three family members and a four hour window of internet blackout almost daily, so Shonelle felt lucky to soon be offered a spot at the University of New England’s Incubator space for small companies and entrepreneurs. After this, she had what she needed to hire an employee and contract additional knowledgeable consultants.
She designed Moss Environmental to be able to provide expertise in environmental and natural resource management, agricultural science and ecology. Now 7 years in, the company consults corporations in the areas of construction, project management, environmental education and mining.
Shonelle reflects on how her previous training and accreditation in erosion sediment control led her to pursue it as a specialty within her area of expertise in the environmental science space.
She was later given a seat as a director on the board for the International Erosion Control Association Australasia, which equipped her with more business knowledge and insight into operations. She now sits as president of the association, and shares how that opportunity has shaped some of her decisions in creating Moss.
This episode is a great reminder of how we can steward the training and opportunities we’ve come across in life, think outside the box, and often invent something a little bigger and better than we might currently be daring to believe.
https://mossenviro.com.au/ -
On today’s episode, we talk with Jorj Lowrey from Manyana Matters, a grassroots environmental movement in New South Whales.
The community action group Manyana Matters has been fighting new residential development in their section of New South Whales, because it contains one of the only unburnt areas of bushland around the Conjola National Park. The organization has been successful in educating empowering the community of Manyana, and in bringing attention to the environmental importance of their patch of the mid south coast.
Jorj moved to Manyana after traveling around Australia in her motor home, and cherishes the area’s wildlife, beautiful coast, and peaceful scenery. The town has the beach, the bush, a lake, and great community.
Soon after she moved, a conversation with the local council revealed a development plan zoned for three parcels of land that had been dormant for about twenty years. In 2017, after living there for a short while, Jorj witnessed one of those patches - a lovely piece of coastal scrub land - quickly be developed into housing, with what seemed like very little community involvement.
After watching Kangaroos, snakes, and other wildlife become displaced and distressed from the quick build, and witnessing the rapid mulching of significant trees in the area, she mobilized by joining the local community committee.
She also created a Facebook group, Manyana Matters, and began to raise awareness and discuss the issues around the possibility of further real estate development in the other two plots of land in question.
Community understanding and engagement about the issue increased just as housing in the area was becoming more in-demand - and increasingly so when the corona virus further effected the housing market.
Then, a tragic number of fires hit the area. They swept past Manyana closely on two occasions, and people were trapped in the area - some even diving into the ocean and swimming out as far as they could to wait out the fires. Air assistance was prohibited because of the smoke, and just as several back fences began to catch on fire, a last-minute change in the wind sent the fire back on itself. Days later, power to the area was restored and the town recovered.
Now, the only unburnt patch of land in the town… was the one slated for development next. Community members began to consider it a type of ecological reserve, and are united in their desire to ensure that it’s preserved.
Jorj shares how the fires effected many species in the area, and how critical it will be to keep the unburnt section stable in the years ahead.
Now Manyana Matters is consistently engaging politicians and partnering with media outlets in meaningful and effective conversations about the area, and the importance of more careful housing development.
Jorj’s passion is contagious as she describes what began as a small community group “ripple” becoming a well-known wave. We look forward to the tsunami of change it will bring in the days ahead.
https://www.facebook.com/manyanamatters/ -
In this episode, Shonelle Gleeson-Willey and Fiona Evans have a conversation about women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers. Historically, gender stereotypes have led to women being under-represented in the sciences.
Fiona has an extensive background in the sciences including horticulture, land management and conservation, and working in an environmental laboratory as a chemist.
She is now the founder of a program that works to change inequity in STEM in Australia called Step into STEM Northern Territory. Step into STEM invites high school students to engage in science, and connect them with current university students who are studying in STEM.
Fiona was strongly encouraged by her dad to pursue learning in the sciences, and later had an excellent boss who was available to answer questions, value her contributions, and encouraged her to become a great chemist. She came to a point in her life and career where she began to deeply reflect on how to make the greatest impact, and on who exactly she wanted to be. This season led her to build the program, which quickly gained momentum and was featured on ABC Australia in November.
In this enlightening episode, Shonelle and Fiona talk about what it takes to work towards gender equality in STEM and discuss examples of Fiona’s impact as she provides students with increased familiarity, more role models, and exciting opportunities in design and innovation.
www.stepintostemnt.org
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-21/northern-territory-step-into-stem-school-students-science-gender/100632338
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In this episode of Beyond the Green Line we meet animal trainer and conservationist Simone Popp. Hailing from Sydney with a background in agriculture studies, her first job was teaching kids about sustainable farming methods and types of produce at an education farm. Part of her job was training dogs for herding demonstrations, and she fell in love with caring for and teaching animals.
Simone later moved into zoo-keeping and tracking (with detection dogs) Koalas at Port Macquarie’s Billabong Zoo. In our chat today she shares how dramatically Koala numbers have dropped, and how education can help ordinary people contribute to the conservation of wildlife.
Some of her favorite and most meaningful work to date has been doing post bush-fire surveys and checking for Koala populations in important areas. One of the team’s detection dogs was recently awarded the Canine Hero Award from the Royal Agricultural Society for finding and saving at-risk Koalas during the fires.
Now an animal trainer and conservationist with Tate Animal Training in Port Macquarie, Simone gets contracted by local government and land services as well as national parks to utilize the dogs’ skills in order to conserve balance in the wildlife by checking cargo and surveying properties.
Simone shares her gratitude for the farming and zoo-keeping opportunities afforded to her over the years, starting with working at a horse riding school as a child, then becoming a vet nurse, then studying agriculture in University. Now as a professional zoo-keeper and then dog trainer, she encourages anyone interested in this line of work to volunteer as much as possible to gain experience.
https://www.facebook.com/tateanimals
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Did you know that flying a helicopter over glaciers causes them to melt at a faster rate? Today on the podcast, Shonelle Gleeson-Willey talks with artist Lea Kannar-Lichtenberger, who shares her insight and expertise on climate change. We hear all about this accomplished artist’s methodology, and how she effectively shares information about the environment to motivate change.
It’s vital to deliver educational material and information on climate change in a way that can best be absorbed by the audience, and Lea has been successful at dispersing and amplifying information in a way that promotes interest, inquiry, and ultimately action.
As an environmental artist, Lea examines topics such as human consumerism and its effect on islands. She uses print, photography, video and sound installations to create meaningful conversation about environmental topics, exploring and expressing her impressions through her profoundly moving art.
Lea Kannar-Lichtenberger studied at University of Sydney Australia, reviewing a Master of Contemporary Art as well as a Master of Fine Art. She’s an “artist at large,” embedding herself in various environmental frameworks instead of creating all of her art in a studio. Her work has been exhibited all over Australia, the U.S., and Taiwan. She also shares about getting to workshop with Al Gore in 2019.
We’re privileged to hear the personal story behind some of her art on today’s episode. Her past works include observing and depicting humans’ behavior while they’re on holiday on various islands. She creates visceral memories with immersive installations, which is a very effective way to raise awareness about environmental issues and concerns in those observing her art.
Lea’s heart and passion for environmental change is evident as she tells of her copious time sailing the oceans with environmental justice groups and seeing the effect of pollutants and chemical plastics in the waters. She paints a picture of nets, gloves and film canisters littering a beach near a penguin colony, and pulls us into her zeal for restoration as she describes the emotions that inspired her art during a visit to Antartica. With no single governing body limiting tourism to Antartica, and vessels carrying upwards of 500 tourists at a time now regularly venturing to the area, her urgent concern is contagious, relevant and inspiring.
Lea’s amazing goal of creating art in order to spur discourse is beautifully described in her talk at the Royal Society of NSW, one of many lectures she’s been invited to give around the world. Be sure to follow her important work as she continues to spread the message of conservation.
https://royalsoc.org.au/events-news/news-2021/recent-events-now-on-youtube-april-2021
https://www.leakannar.com
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