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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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.…

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,…

Bronte studied nutrition and food science and then completed her Masters in environmental conservation and restoration at Melbourne university. She has worked as a research assistant and teaching associate within the school of Public Health and at Deakin University, critiquing the role of traditional methods of food charity, and exploring the experience of food insecurity for people seeking asylum, and those accessing food aid across Victoria.

The plains of the Waring (Goulburn river) are her heartbeat, and she is captivated by the little plants that call the ground layer home. She loves the diversity and seasonal change that occurs within this layer, and working with these plants to increase ecological diversity and resilience.

When not at the Arb, Bronte manages Avenel Fair Food and Wildflowers, where her passions for grassland ecology and food security…

Cath has worked in environmental education and landscape restoration in the Goulburn Broken catchment for the past 28 years.  She is passionate about plants, people and wildlife – working to balance the needs of community and farmers with positive environmental outcomes.  She is inspired by biodiverse landscape restoration and working alongside Traditional Owners in managing country. camping and my dad and I would go plant hunting. The natural world is where I am happiest and content. I have been lucky to have been able to share this love of plants for the last 30 years through my various jobs, generally on Taungurung country – currently at the Arb.

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