Executive Management Team

Sharon Wright - General Manager

Sharon Wright

General Manager

(BA Communications and Development – Minor Human Geography, Master of Environment current – Major Climate Adaptation; Cert IV Sustainability in the work place; Cert IV Business Administration and Management; WELA National Leadership Program)

Sharon has extensive executive leadership, marketing and business development expertise, with over 20 years’ experience in the social enterprise and for-purpose space. She has managed and developed award-winning programs for globally recognised organisations including Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Foundation, Stephanie Alexander’s Kitchen Garden Foundation, Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation and The Sunrise Project. She is a passionate advocate for social justice, sustainability and environmental conservation, working with youth-led organisations such as Co-Exist, AIME and the Beacon Foundation. Sharon believes in empowering people to work together to create innovative solutions to protect our precious planet for future generations.

Kim Maddison

Kim Maddison

Administration and Finance Manager,

(Grad. Cert. Management – Business Administration, Dip. Conservation and Land Management, Cert. IV Business Administration, Cert. IV in Workplace Assessment and Training)

Kim has a background in administration and support roles in Australia and the UK. She has worked with Noosa Landcare for 18 years and has been instrumental in the establishment of key positions, and the foundational development of current business operations. Kim now manages the finance and administration outputs of the group and co-ordinates the training programs for Noosa Landcare, while providing executive support to the Management Committee in relation to compliance and reporting. In her spare time, she can be found swimming, doing Traditional Archery, or immersed in regeneration activities at her property in Cooran.

Project Management & Consulting Team

Jamie Knight

Project Officer – Keeping it in Kin Kin Program; Trainee Supervisor Skilling Queenslanders for Work

(Bachelor in Environmental Science (Hons) – Major in Sustainability)

Jamie has years of management experience in the hospitality and tourism industries on the Sunshine Coast before completing his degree. He has held volunteer positions with Noosa Biosphere Ltd, and sustainability advisor to Sunshine Coast Regional Council. Jamie combines his life and formal training to concurrently manage several projects including the Keeping it in Kin Kin project. On a personal note, Jamie has raised the profile of Disc Golf on the Sunshine Coast and has recently established an active Disc Golf group in Pomona’s Cooroora Creek Park.

Project Officer Nicole Palombi

Nicole Palombi

Projects Officer – Lake Macdonald Rivercare Program, and Field Crew Supervisor

(Bachelor of Environmental Science (Wildlife & Conservation Biology))

Nicole has over 10 years of experience in bushland regeneration, of which six years has been working in local government on the urban fringe of Melbourne. Nicole currently works as a project officer covering two project areas within in Noosa Landcare. One focusing on water quality and catchment management in the Lake Macdonald area. The second focusing on stabilising the banks of the Mary River through revegetation and weed management.

In her spare time, Nicole enjoys being outdoors whether that’s running, hiking or taking her dog to the beach.

Ilana Kelly

Ilana Kelly

Project Officer – Communications and Community Engagement

(B. Science in Ecology and Conservation Biology (Hons Class1), Cert III Cons Land Management)

Ilana has extensive knowledge in ecology and conservation management. She has completed a variety of environmental studies and has previously worked in ecological research. Ilana worked as a project officer within Noosa Landcare for over 6 years, focusing on water quality and catchment management in the Lake Macdonald area and focuses on managing Noosa Landcare’s community events and education programs, newsletter and other engagement elements of the organisation.

Ilana has a passionate interest in soil health and is also a beekeeper, veggie-grower, and active surfer.

Brent Whitworth

Project Officer

(Dip. Science, Dip Conservation & Land Management, Cert III Lands, Parks & Wildlife).

Brent has over fifteen years’ experience in weed management, rehabilitation and restoration in on ground works, and experience in Council Reserve Management. Brent brings a broad knowledge and understanding of environmental issues and conservation management to the team having worked in Northern Territory, Fraser Coast, and for the past several years here on the Sunshine Coast.

In his spare time, Brent is a drummer, and dedicated Bonsai enthusiast.

Ered Fox

Project Officer – Roving Restorers

(Diploma Conservation and Land Management, Chainsaw Ticket, ACDC, Safety White Card)

Ered has been working at Noosa Landcare for over 13 years and has a broad knowledge ecosystem management. Ered has keen plant identification skills and specialises in community engagement.

Johhny Damhuis, Project Officer

Johnny Damhuis

Project Officer – Cats Claw Crusaders

(Cert. III Conservation and Ecosystems Management, Cert. III Food Processing, Chainsaw Ticket, ACDC, Safety White Card)

Johhny is a local landholder who has a background working in the Agricultural and Food Manufacturing sector but transitioned to working in conservation where he discovered his passion restoring ecosystems. He now manages the highly successful Cats Claw Crusaders project, battling the scourge of the invasive vine in the Noosa shire.

James Anderson, Project Officer

James Anderson

Project Officer

(Bachelor of Environmental Science (Hons))

Since beginning his environmental science degree in 2016, James has found a deep passion for plants and their associated ecosystems. Beginning work in natural area management in 2019, James has particularly found a love for wallum and its unusual flora. James has been with Noosa Landcare since 2022 supervising crews and has recently taken on a few projects including a threatened species revegetation project at Lake Macdonald and managing works at Dangerbridge Nature Refuge.

Field Operations Managers

Jen Coleman

Field Operations Manager

(Bachelor of Science – Major in Human Geography, Certificate II Conservation and Land Management, ACDC, Chainsaw, First Aid, Safety White Card)

Jen has extensive experience as a team leader in natural areas management throughout the Sydney and Sunshine Coast areas. Jen currently manages Noosa Landcare field operations, supporting field crew scheduling, field staff training and upskilling, and job resourcing, while also managing on-ground projects.

Darrin Barden

Operations Maintenance and Support, Field Crew and Trainee Supervisor,

(Cert. III Horticulture, Chainsaw Licence, ACDC, Safety White Card)

Darrin has been working with Noosa Landcare’s Conservation Services for over 15 years and has acquired specialised skills in developing practical approaches to environmental restoration, plantation establishment and crew management. He is a recognised mentor to Noosa Landcare’s personnel and talented problem-solver in operational matters.

Administration Team

Jaymie Suares

Administration Officer – Memberships and Payroll

(Cert III Business Administration; Diploma of Childcare & Education – Children’s Services)

Jaymie has over 15 years’ experience as an early childhood educator and administration support officer in both private and public education systems. Jaymie oversees Memberships and Payroll, assists with HR/Onboarding, and manages much of the day-to-day staff certification and compliance while also supporting the broader needs of the administration and project teams. Jaymie is a passionate and long-term local who spends many weekends bushwalking and creating delightful ferments, jams and chutneys.

Nursery Operations

Owen Snowden

Nursery Manager

(Cert III Cons Land Management, Dip. Network Engineering(I.T), ACDC, Chainsaw Licence)

Owen has an extensive background in landscape maintenance and has been Noosa Landcare’s Nursery Manager for three years. Owen has a background in surveying, IT, and as an arborist assistant. After spending time as a trainee and in our field crew, Owen found his interest was in plants and now manages propagation, scheduling, sales, stock movements and inventory across two of our three nurseries. Owen also manages IT solutions for the organisation.

Erika Murray, Nursery

Erika Murray

Assistant Nursery Manager

(Cert III Horticulture, Cert IV Horticulture (Landscape Design), Permaculture Design Certificate, ACDC licence, Diploma Business (HR Management), Diploma Remedial Massage)

Erika has over 15 years administration and project management experience in the not-for-profit sector and also worked part time in the health sector as a remedial massage therapist. She re-trained in horticulture while living in New Zealand and worked in nurseries, retail garden centres and had her own gardening & landscaping business.

Erika started out her Landcare journey volunteering with the Roving Restorer group and went on to assist with operations at Landcare’s Hinter Hub retail outlet. Erika recently moved into Landcare’s main propagation nursery where she continues her passion for all facets of nursery work, in particular with assisting our customers choose suitable plants for their garden and reveg spaces.

Outside of work Erika has a love of growing food, regenerating her small acreage block, and keeping a flock of happy hens.

Hinter Hub Management

Bernice Rosier - Hinter Hub Manager

Bernice Rosier

Hinter Hub Manager

(Cert IV Horticulture (Amenity), TAE10, Cert IV Disability)

Bernice comes with a broad range of professional, practical experience in horticulture and conservation.

She commenced her journey with an apprenticeship in Horticulture in rural Victoria in 1984 and has worked in the industry in some capacity ever since.

Bernice has managed large public and private gardens, from high end formal designer gardens, country botanic gardens to my home vegie garden. She had her own landscaping business for 10 years focusing on design and instillation. Bernice has also previously managed a wholesale and retail indigenous plant nursery, while also teaching Certs II and III in Horticulture and C&LM (conservation and land management) at SWTAFE.

Bernice states ‘There is nothing more enjoyable than growing and sharing plants and knowledge. Nature is such an amazing thing, the more you know just reinforces how much we don’t know. I’ve been so lucky to have a career in this field.’

Nursery Team

Hinter Hub Team

Field Supervisors

Field Crew Team