James McKee
Chief Executive Officer

James's role as Operations Manager is to oversee the ongoing review and development of the Regional NRM Strategy, investment planning and implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting, partnership development and staff management.

James previously worked in the Queensland Murray Darling Basin in regional NRM planning and investment planning, monitoring and evaluation, project management and reporting. James comes from a farming background in broad acre and intensive agriculture and has undertaken formal studies in agricultural science and sustainable agriculture management. Career highlights include graduating from the Murray Darling Basin Leadership Program, helping develop Landcare in the USA and India, and being invited to speak at the United Nations Commission for Sustainable Development in 2004 and the 2004 American National Planning Association Conference.

Denise Colvin
Office Manager & Personal Assistant

Denise manages the office environment at NRM North, including daily administration and event co-ordination, and provides logistic support to staff and management.

Denise brings a diverse range of professional skills and experience to this position. She has various qualifications in administration and finance, education and childcare, facilitation and technical fields.

Denise has been heavily involved with a number of community organisations over the past fifteen years including schools, community radio, landcare and waterwatch. She has gained broad long term experience working in the Natural Resource Management field in Tasmania. Her personal interests include camping, kayaking and music.

Greg Stewart
Weeds Co-ordinator
As Weeds Co-ordinator, Greg will be working with all stakeholders across the region to co-ordinate the implementation of the high priority actions identified in the Weed Action Plan for the Northern NRM Region.  Education and awareness and regional co-ordination to ensure best practice weed management will be the focus.  Support will also be provided for community groups and land managers to undertake effective on-ground weed control. Greg is a born and bred Tasmanian and has a background in forestry and natural resource management with the last eight years involved specifically in weed management.

Manager - Planning & Implementation
Scott's position is to facilitate and broker partnerships with coastal and marine stakeholders and integrate planning and management of coastal and marine activities into the overall strategic direction and investment of the Northern NRM Region. Originally from Albury in New South Wales from a farming family, Scott moved to Tasmania to complete a Bachelor of Aquaculture. He has worked in the aquaculture industry, focusing on environmental monitoring and management areas and is currently completing a Master of Business Administration (Marine Resource Management).

Amanda Locatelli
Program Manager - Tamar Estuary & Esk Rivers

The Tamar Estuary & Esk Rivers (TEER) Program is an initiative of NRM North in partnership with the Tasmanian Government Department of Tourism Arts and the Environment and Local Government. This Program will be established in 2007 as a whole of government and whole of community approach to understanding, planning for and managing the Tamar Estuary’s natural values. The aim of the Program will be to provide a co-ordinated management approach and guide to strategic investment for the Tamar Estuary and Esk Rivers area through collaborative partnerships with industry, government and the community.

As Program Manager for this initiative Amanda’s role extends to co-ordinating the establishment and on-going operation of the Program, fostering partnerships with stakeholders and managing the implementation of activities in line with the Tamar Estuary Management Plan 2007.

Amanda has gained broad experience working in the Natural Resource Management field in Tasmania over the past 6 years and holds a Bachelor of Applied Science degree from the University of Tasmania with an Honours degree in fluvial geomorphology.

Debbie Searle
Team Leader - Northern Waterway Assessment

Debbie Searle leads our community water monitoring team, utilising the services of accredited monitoring staff and community Waterwatch to fill out the gaps in our regions water quality monitoring programs.
Debbie brings a wealth of community development and water quality monitoring experience to the role, as both the long standing co-ordinator of Dorset Waterwatch and as an inaugural member of the NRM North management committee.

Andrew Baldwin
Knowledge Manager

Andrew as Science Co-ordinator for the organisations facilitates the collection and distribution of knowledge and data including;

The co-ordination, collection, interpretation and use of scientific information at a regional and sub-regional level, and the identification of knowledge gaps and research needs for the region.

The development of structures and procedures to ensure that current scientific information is integrated into regional planning and implementation activities, and monitoring and evaluation processes.

Andrew has extensive experience working in the field of Community NRM having previously worked in Central Queensland and the Darling Downs for community NRM organisations focused on the delivery and assessment of community NRM activities.

Stuart Brownlea
NRM Facilitator, Meander Valley
Stuart is the main point of contact for NRM matters in the Meander Valley municipality, employed under a partnership agreement between the Meander Valley Council and NRM North. His key functions include strategic assistance with funding proposals, partnership development and NRM communications.

Stuart’s early background was in fitting and electronics trades, followed by a move into botanical science, an area in which his considerable expertise has been a great benefit to the NRM team.

Jay Wilson
NRM Facilitator, Dorset

Jay Wilson is the main point of contact for NRM matters in the Dorset municipality, employed under a partnership agreement between the Dorset Council and NRM North. Key functions include strategic assistance with funding proposals, partnership development and NRM communications.

Jay has spent the past 25 years living and working in Dorset and has been involved in community NRM activities in the municipality since their inception. Having also spent time as an elected council officer Jay is also able to bring to the NRM process valuable local government perspectives.

Marta Vergara-Godoy
NRM Facilitator, Northern Midlands

Marta came from Patagonia to Tasmania in 2002. She holds overseas qualifications including a Bachelor of Agriculture Sciences and Engineering in Natural Resources Management. She previously worked for the Research Centre at the University of Magellan in Patagonia, and her role was versatile involving research, project management, agro-industry diversification promotion and community liaison. Marta Completed a Master of Applied Sciences (Environmental Management) at UTAS in 2005. Despite missing the fiords and glaciers, she decided to stay in Tasmania and was very glad to be offered this opportunity to work in the NRM field by NRM North’s CEO.
The Midlands landscape is not too dissimilar to the Eastern part of Patagonia, and her work in Northern Midlands has striking similarities with the way natural resources are managed back in Patagonia, landholders here face very similar issues and challenges.

Jo Voller
Co-ordinator - Property Management Planning

Jo’s role is to manage and develop activities within the Productive Landscapes Programme, foster partnerships with stakeholders and ensure that the programme grows to fulfil NRM North’s regional priorities. Jo grew up in northern Tasmania and studied Agricultural Science at the University of Tasmania in Hobart. Initially spending time in the aquaculture industry, she has spent the last 12 years on the Darling Downs in southern Queensland working in and studying land and riverine management and sustainable living. Enjoying her return to Tasmania, Jo is happy to be involved with a vibrant organisation aiming to help land managers to manage and protect the natural resources of this special part of the world.

Emma Williams
Program Manager - Healthy Coasts & Seas

Based within Tamar NRM, Emma’s role is to facilitate the involvement of the community in NRM activities within the George Town, West Tamar and Launceston municipalities. Key functions include strategic assistance with funding proposals, support for community groups, and NRM communications.

Originally from Far North Queensland, Emma completed her Bachelor of Science (Environmental Science) on the Sunshine Coast, where she was also employed as an environmental consultant. In addition, Emma has enjoyed the opportunity to contribute to international development programmes co-ordinating village-based projects in Ghana and supporting a local environmental organisation in China. She is pleased to partner with the experience and diversity of the NRM North team and with the great people of the Tamar community in achieving NRM outcomes.

Raoul Harper
Industry Co-ordinator

Raoul’s position is to provide support to the industry sector and foster partnerships to advance natural resource management activities across Northern Tasmania. Having spent the last 10 years managing a variety of business enterprises based upon natural resource use, Raoul has a current understanding of the issues and opportunities at play in the industrial sector and the importance of resource sustainability, security and efficiency.

Through direct engagement with Industry and stakeholders Raoul’s job is to design effective programmes and processes to encourage a strategic, sustainable approach to natural resource use and management in Northern Tasmania.

Alison Hugo
Community Support Officer, Break O'Day

Alison has providing support and assistance to Kate in the Break O’Day Region as the Community Support Officer. Alison works two days a week, with one of these days based in the St Mary’s Region.
Alison’s focus is to harness the interest, energy and enthusiasm of community members, landholders, formed groups including school groups and engage them in NRM North activities.
Alison has returned to work after five years of raising her three children. She has a Bachelor of Social Science and was more recently employed as a Community Involvement Officer for Conservation Volunteers Australia and a Training Officer for Volunteering Tasmania.
Alison’s family and their appreciation and commitment to the natural environment is reflected in their recent move to the East Coast where they have built a passive solar design home with sustainable principles including a reed bed grey-water management system ( now home to 3 frog species).

Michael Sherriff
NRM Facilitator, Furneaux

Michael is the NRM Facilitator for the Flinders municipality. Key functions include strategic assistance with funding proposals, partnership development, assisting the community with project management, and NRM communications.

Michael was raised and schooled on Flinders Island before leaving to pursue a career in Western Australia. There Michael completed an honours degree in Environmental Science (Murdoch University) and worked in a wide range of roles as an NRM professional including research, consulting, training and project management until returning to Flinders Island in 2007.

Peter Heading
Community Support Officer, Meander Valley

Peter’s role as the community support officer is to help compliment the NRM Facilitators role in the Meander Valley municipality with ongoing natural resource management strategies as well as assist community based organisations with their ongoing activities.
Originally from southern Queensland, Peter worked on various farming operations throughout eastern Australia until settling in Tasmania in the early 1980’s. With a keen interest in plants he then completed studies in horticulture and undertook various positions in this field from nursery operations with Forestry Tasmania, landscaping and technical officer (TAFE).
A strong interest in the natural environment lead him to 6 years work with Conservation Volunteers Australia in various roles from team leader to environmental trainer, as well as currently studying for a Bachelor of Natural Environment & Wilderness Studies. Peter hopes to make a positive difference within this beautiful region.