Emily grew up surrounded by forests in the Dandenong Ranges and West Gippsland, fostering a love for green and growing things. She went on to study plant ecology, soil science and history at Monash and Melbourne Universities. This culminated in her publishing research that looked at the effects of frequent severe wildfires on the soil seedbank in Victoria’s montane forests. After a stint in South Australia, working with indigenous seed at the Barossa Bushgardens, she is delighted to be back in her home state, and contributing to revegetation across the Goulburn Broken catchment.

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Started out studying Engineering, but with an undeniable love for reconciliations and excel spreadsheets, Accounting eventually won out. 

Experience in diverse range of industries (legal, music & entertainment, medical, archaeological, education) across NZ, UK & Australia.  After quitting city life a few years back and upgrading from an inner-city postage stamp garden, now able to fully devote any spare time to plants & the two family doggos. 

Current passion project: removing agapanthus from our property and re-establishing indigenous/native planting.

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Phil is a plumber by trade and has had 30 years’ experience in agriculture with a keen interest in Landcare prior to working for the Country Fire Authority for 12 years in fire mitigation and community safety. Phil has been a CFA volunteer for almost 50 years and still active with Planned Burning and Fire Investigation.

In his spare time Phil enjoys restoring old bits and pieces and enjoys to travel with his wife Fiona. When he can, he does enjoy fishing also.

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Nelly started out as a volunteer at the indigenous nursery in July 2023 and soon thereafter began working regularly with the bush crew. After spending time learning about various earth building techniques and permaculture principles, she built an off grid tiny house on wheels with her partner that they’ve been living in for the past few years. A lover of the natural world, plants, critters and creatures of all kinds, and passionate about doing good by the earth.

Nelly is thrilled to be working with, and learning from the highly skilled and knowledgeable arboretum and seed bank team, helping them collect and raise seed, reintroduce indigenous plants into the environment and maintain the arboretum grounds and facilities.

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Jemma’s early career was in the federal public service in workers compensation, rehabilitation, and work safety. In 2016, she had a complete change of career completing her qualification in horticulture and has been in the industry for 7 years in various roles including market gardens, local council parks and gardens and successfully running her own landscaping and garden maintenance business before joining the arboretum.  She is passionate about growing her own food, learning lost skills, and homesteading including cooking and preserving.…

Mim has worked in environmental conservation and restoration since 2016, working as an environmental contractor for both private landholders and the public and utility sectors. Here she worked on both small and large scale revegetation projects, wetland and waterway restoration and threatened species conservation including for the endangered Eltham Copper Butterfly, and various vulnerable and threatened orchid species.

In 2021, Mim completed her Masters of Geography at the University of Melbourne. Whilst specialising in political ecology, she also undertook studies in landscape ecology, environmental and climate change policy, cultural heritage, and agroforestry.

In her spare time, Mim enjoys gardening, crafting, and hiking. When on walks, she is drawn to the finer detail of the broader landscape, and can often be found on her hands and knees observing the often overlooked.…

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,…