Our Staff

Phil Moran

General Manager

(Aquatic Macrophyte Trainer, Regional Ecosystem Assessor, Dip. Conservation and Land Management, Cert. IV Workplace Training and Assessment, ACDC, Chainsaw Licence)

Phil is a respected local biodiversity expert, and with a background in business. With more than 30 years’ experience, he is trusted by private and public landholders to provide sound advice on conservation, property planning, restoration and sustainable land use. He a well-known contributor and board member at local, state and national levels for Landcare, Conservation, and Business initiatives. He is a charismatic educator who has inspired many professionals, school and university students in his 22+years with Noosa Landcare and has dedicated many hours to building relationships with partners, supporting community initiatives and hundreds of traineeships. He has also established a Nature Refuge in Cooran. Phil heads up Noosa Landcare operations and sits on the Management Committee.

• nrmanager@noosalandcare.org
• 07 54852 468 / 0412 507 363

Rachel Lyons

Business & Partnerships Manager

(B. Regional and Town Planning (Hons), Grad. Cert. in Environmental Management)

Rachel has more than 20 years’ experience in strategic planning, natural resource planning, wildlife and biodiversity management. She has considerable involvement in natural resource management program delivery and cultural heritage management through working in private consulting, local council and regional natural resource management bodies. Rachel helps lead the development of new projects and opportunities for enhancing Noosa Landcare’s strategic objectives and undertaking natural resource management planning activities. Rachel is also a committed and well-known wildlife rescuer and trainer of South-east Queensland.

• bdm@noosalandcare.org
• 07 54852 468

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.

• admin@noosalandcare.org
• 07 54852 468 / 0488 551 723

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.

• jamie.knight@noosalandcare.org
• 07 54852 468

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.

• nicole.palombi@noosalandcare.org
• 07 54852 468

Ilana Kelly

Project Officer - Marketing 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.

• ilana.kelly@noosalandcare.org
• 07 54852 468

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.

• brent.whitworth@noosalandcare.org
• 07 54852 468 / 0407 167 139

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.

• jen.coleman@noosalandcare.org
• 07 54852 468

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.

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.

• office@noosalandcare.org
• 07 54852 468

Sophie Chegwyn

Administration Officer – Accounts

(Cert III Visual Art, Cert III Accounts Administration – underway, B. Arts – Major in Australian Literature)

Sophie has over 10 years’ experience in administration roles and is currently managing Noosa Landcare's accounts.

Sophie has been in Noosa for many years and has a passion for Australia’s flora which she loves to explore through drawing and painting. Sophie is a cofounder of the Sunshine Coast Sketchers group.

• payables@noosalandcare.org
• 07 54852 468

Kelly Blake

Administration Assistant

(Ad Dip. Occupational Health & Safety, Dip. Environmental Management, Cert. IV Training & Assessment, Cert. IV Lead Auditor, Cert. III Business Management, Cert. IV Occupational Hygiene, Cert. II Wildfire Public Safety, Cert. II Conservation & Land Management)

Kelly has been a Sunshine Coast local for 18 years. Enjoys the beach, gardening, cooking, and camping. Contributes to local bush regeneration & planting.

• rfcadmin@noosalandcare.org
• 07 54852 468

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.

• nurserymanager@noosalandcare.org
• 0419 377 423

Lorin Burns

Assistant Nursery Manager

(Cert 1 Conservation & Ecosystem Management, Diploma of Applied Fashion Design & Technology, currently studying Bachelor of Design (Architecture)

Lorin has been with Noosa Landcare since early 2022 first undertaking a traineeship in Conservation & Ecosystem Management. With a background in retail management and customer service, together with her obvious love of native flora and fauna and creative design, she brings her skillsets and passion to supporting the nursery management processes as Assistant Nursery Manager, combined with a role as one of the Hinterhub Managers (Noosa Landcare’s retail outlet).

• nursery@noosalandcare.org
• 07 5485 2468

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.'

• Hinterhub@noosalandcare.org
• 07 5485 2468

Lorin Burns

Hinter Hub Manager

(Cert 1 Conservation & Ecosystem Management, Diploma of Applied Fashion Design & Technology, currently studying Bachelor of Design (Architecture)

• Hinterhub@noosalandcare.org

• 07 5485 2468