Careers in the Environment

Come along and learn how we did it, what to study, who to know, and where to intern.

Sponsored by the Hunter Environmental Institute – your professional association – now in its 31st year.

Our Panelists include:

• James Garnham – Senior Ecologist, Umwelt (Australia), PhD, B.Env.Sc.Mgnt (Hons).
• Jacqueline O’Neill, Business Development Manager, Symmetry Solar, HEI Scholarship recipient.
• Mark Branson, Ecologist & Project Management, Consentium renewables strategic advisory approvals
• Fiona McKay – NGH. Manager, Hunter & North Coast, BEnvSc, CEnvP
• Melissa Moore, Senior Manager, Careers & Student Development, University of Newcastle
• Sarah Bell, Umwelt (Australia), PhD Human Geography, Bachelor of Development Studies (Hons) – Urban and Regional Development; Social Impact
• Jennifer Maverick, Hunter Water BBus, BEng(Hons)(Env)(UON), GradDipPsych(CSU). Environmental Engineer with 12 years of experience in the finance industry.

James Garnham is UoN alumni and recently completed his PhD on the threatened green and golden bell frog with the aim of understanding processes of its decline (and learnt to perform an uncanny imitation of the bell frog call). During the later stages of his PhD, James was fortunate enough to be offered a casual ecologist position at the environmental and social consultancy Umwelt. Since joining the ecology team at Umwelt almost 5 years ago, James has developed his skills in ecological assessments, botany, project management, client liaison and team leadership. James is a strong advocate for professional development for his peers. He sustains his love of nature during hiking trips and participating in citizen science projects.

Jacqueline O’Neil is currently a Business Development Manager working within the commercial solar industry, with a varied background in environmental consultancy, threatened species management and wildlife rescue. In her “free” time, she is the current President of the ORRCA (the Organisation for the Research and Rescue of Cetaceans in Australia), a non-profit that works closely with government authorities in marine mammal management and rescue, education and training. She has a personal passion for environmental education, currently studying a Master of Teaching alongside her full-time work commitments, and graduated with her Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management (Sustainability) in 2017.

Mark Branson started his career as an ecologist and for over a decade he travelled the world delivering remote area field programs in Papua New Guinea, Asia, Africa and the Americas. Over time Mark has grown as a project manager, developer and advisor working on some of the most challenging and progressive renewable energy and infrastructure projects in the world. Nowadays Mark works as an advisor to the energy industry, helping clients implement best practice environmental management and community engagement practices.

Fiona McKay is a Principal Environmental Planner and Manager of NGH Hunter and North Coast office with over 15 years’ experience. Fiona has a wide range of experience and skills, specialising in environmental impact assessment and environmental approvals. She has worked for both the public and private sector on both large and small linear and other infrastructure projects, through all stages of development including feasibility and options, environmental impact assessment and construction and/or operation, with an aim of delivering projects with good, practical environmental outcomes.

Melissa Moore is the Senior Manager for the Careers and Student Development service at the University of Newcastle. The first in her family to attend University, she followed the completion of her Economics degree with work in the Finance sector and public service before returning to the University of Newcastle to work as a Careers Counsellor and later, a manager for Student Experience activities. Now back in the Careers field, she leads a team of dedicated careers staff that are focussed on assisting students to find or create work in their chosen fields.

Sarah Bell is a Senior Social Consultant at Umwelt (Australia), an environmental and social consultancy, working in the social impact assessment and community engagement space. Previously, Sarah worked as a lecturer at the University of Newcastle teaching a range of courses on sustainability, human geography and environmental studies. She holds a Bachelor of Development Studies (Hons) and a PhD in Human Geography which examined how perceptions of belonging, nativeness and naturalness impact on national parks, and the role of park management in these spaces.

Jennifer Maverick is an environmental engineer who was inspired to leave a 12 year career in banking to better serve our community as we face the environmental challenges ahead of us. She works as a wastewater network engineer with previous engineering experience in the construction industry and 12 years in the finance industry. When she isn’t working, she can usually be found volunteering her time initiating community engineering projects including urban ecological plans designed to increase habitat and reduce the heat island effect and climate change response plans for philanthropic organisations.

2018 Careers Night

FOOD AND REFRESHMENTS PROVIDED!

Location: University of Newcastle Room ATC210 ATC Building, Ring Road, Callaghan

This event will be held at the University of Newcastle Callaghan Campus (details below) is brought to you by the Hunter Environmental Institute, supported by The University of Newcastle, Australia, and sponsored by gold sponsor Umwelt (Australia)