In her early years Carolena had a pen-pal named Harry Butler and did her work experience at Wilsons Prom National Park. Inner city living and studying Ceramics, followed by a Grad Dip and Masters in Animation & Multimedia took her off her true course and final destination was yet to be discovered.

A career highlight was as ‘Multimedia Production Manager at the Australian Children’s Television Foundation’. Carolena finally settled in the Strathbogie Ranges on a Trust for Nature property in the hills – living the good-life along with koalas, wombats, echidnas and endless birdlife.

Carolena began working at the Arboretum in 2016; working on the website, marketing, running events and going with the funding flow at the Arb. When GBI Seedbank came under the umbrella of the Arboretum, a true love was found in collecting and doing all things ‘seed’ as part of the mix,