Executive Director since 2007, Matt has an extensive background in environmental policy. He has worked in non-government environmental policy areas in the state, national and international arena for more than 30 years.
Matt has held senior positions in leading international and national conservation organisations and local government. He brings exceptional strategic planning skills to his role at VNPA and his experience is invaluable in coordinating staff and campaigns, as well as liaising with government and industry at all levels and a range of interest groups.
Adrian campaigns for the protection of our critically endangered grasslands, with an emphasis on the Western Grassland Reserve and grasslands being impacted by Melbourne’s urbanisation. He strongly believes in the need to reimagine cities to support urban ecosystems for resilience and sustainability.
He has a Masters in landscape architecture and a PhD in urban ecology. His position as Grassy Plains Network facilitator is hosted by Victorian National Parks Association on behalf of the Grassy Plains Network and the Indigenous Flora and Fauna Association.
Ben’s inability to stand by and let a problem go unsolved has led to a diverse career including in the film industry, improving worker conditions as well as, soil health and protecting nature.
These days he leverages his extensive networks, strategic collaboration, and investigation skills to bring together community environmental groups, government organisations and other stakeholders to campaign for Victoria’s forests.
Blake’s work primarily focuses on the protection of Victoria’s forests and woodlands. He is extremely passionate about the conservation of threatened wildlife.
Blake has been conducting on-ground surveys in Victoria’s forests for nearly 10 years, working hard to protect habitat for endangered animals, such as the Leadbeater’s Possum and Greater Glider. He has even defended Victoria’s forests in the Supreme Court.
Brendan oversees the Finances and office Operations at VNPA. Brendan has over 40 years’ experience in Finance and IT and has spent the last 8 years working in the not for profit sector. He is excited to be working at VNPA to help in preserving our wonderful natural heritage.
From an early age Brendan was involved with the Field Naturalists, along with two of his older brothers and spent many a time surveying animal populations in various areas around the state. He enjoys bush walking and camping in our excellent national parks. He spends a lot of time down at Wilsons Prom and loves to get into the waves on his boogie board with his two kids. He also loves everything cricket, volunteers at his local cricket club where he still plays competitively and was until recently a junior coach.
Caitlin loves experiencing and learning about nature with others and has worked in Victorian nature conservation for over 20 years. She is trained in ecology, conservation, social ecology and community development. Caitlin can recall closely observing backyard ants and other wildlife from a young age and can now often be found admiring local bird life, fungi or wildflowers or rambling in a rockpool.
Caitlin oversees a team who run VNPA's community learning and engagement programs including ReefWatch, NatureWatch, Wild Families, Bushwalking, NextGen Nature and Nature Stewards.
Consuelo has always maintained a deep connection with the natural environment from a very young age. Driven by curiosity and a desire to spend more time outdoors, she studied for a bachelor's plus an honours degree in conservation biology in Chile.
She came to Australia to further her knowledge and skills and recently completed a Masters in Environment at the University of Melbourne. Consuelo loves being in the forest and the sea and is enthusiastic about conserving biodiversity and sharing nature with others.
A design theory nerd through and through, Jacob works on VNPA’s digital campaigns. Jacob likes to utilise a combination of his Bachelor in Philosophy, his Masters in Communication & Design and his passion for the natural world to reach unique and thorough design solutions.
Previously his design career centred around small business branding, layout design and print design. He’s now excited and driven to evolve his design solutions using more strategic approaches and in doing so have the opportunity to work with new creative tools in the conservation field.
Jane oversees bringing in the support and donations that empower VNPA to do its important work. Jane has had over 20 years of fundraising experience with international development, health and environment not-for-profits.
Travel on all continents, plus work in outdoor education, energy conservation and adventure travel, has given Jane global perspectives. But now she’s very happy to ‘act local’ and bring her diverse experience to protecting the magnificent natural beauty of her home state of Victoria.
Jessie's passion is helping nature-lovers get involved in protecting, restoring and advocating for Victoria's incredible natural heritage. She believes that a well-told story (with a dose of data) can change things for good.
She has a comprehensive background in campaigns, communications and community engagement. Unsurprisingly, she has a thing for trees, birds, fungi – actually all of it.
Jordan's work focuses on protecting and caring for our wildlife and natural places.
His background in conservation work ranges from the ocean to the tall forest of the Central Highlands, and he has worked with all levels of government to get results for the natural world for many years.
Jordan also teaches conservation and land management at a tertiary level and has an academic background in conservation and land management, arboriculture and training and assessment.
Kade has worked as a marine scientist throughout Australia and now focuses on working with Victoria's marine community and their input that can have an amazing impact on advancing our knowledge of the underwater world.
Kristian's work in fundraising helps VNPA support and grow it's supporter base so it can continue its important work protecting Victoria’s natural environment for many years to come.
With a long-term commitment to tackling the climate and environment crisis we are facing, Kristian has previously worked in the renewable energy industry and in environmental philanthropy. First and foremost, he loves hearing people’s stories and finding out about their connection with nature – something there is no shortage of at VNPA.
Lucy’s experience across a diverse range of roles in both the hospitality and non-profit sectors makes her well-placed as the first point of contact for VNPA members and supporters. Her organisational and problem-solving skills are utilised daily to enhamce VNPA's work.
Lucy loves getting out into nature, particularly hiking and running along the trails in the Dandenong Ranges, and Falls Creek over the summer months.
Maddy runs the Nature Stewards program. These community programs introduce participants to the wonderful and varied Victorian and local environment, offer a chance to meet like-minded people, and find out ways to help nature at home and locally through environmental volunteering.
Childhood family and scouting adventures ignited a great respect, love, and spiritual connection with the natural environment. Maddy has continued to explore and learn in nature through her career spanning geological field research, STEM education program development, land management, and anthroposophical art therapy.
Curiosity about people and nature led Matt to travel extensively through Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America. These experiences reinforced his belief that we need to do everything in our power to protect the nature that sustains us.
Matt brings over twenty years of fundraising experience and a passion for empowering people to protect nature to the Fundraising Executive position. He is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and winner of a Fundraising Institute of Australia award for innovation.
Michelle is the custodian of all things financial at VNPA. With a background in financial and commercial roles across a wide range of sectors, including NFP, her experience in financial management, budgeting and reporting supports the work of all our staff and members to protect our natural environment.
Meghan works on communicating VNPA's community learning and engagement programs. She is passionate about engaging people with nature.
She has a background in conservation and natural resource management and has completed a Bachelor of Environmental Science (Honours) and a Graduate Diploma in Environmental Law.
Paul looks after all of VNPA’s publications, including ParkWatch, the annual report and other titles, as well as contributing to campaigns and marketing.
His background is in publications design, cartography, graphic design and editorial management in a broad range of industries: unions, travel, community festivals, arts industry and small business. His happy (away from work) place is on the beaches of the Great Ocean Road and in the cool temperate rainforests of the Great Otway National Park.
As a NatureWatch Coordinator, Sera leads our land-based citizen science program NatureWatch. She has an extensive background in threatened species conservation and community-led projects.
Sera has also completed a PhD investigating community attitudes towards a range of issues in threatened species conservation in Victoria.
Shannon's work focuses on protecting marine and coastal areas, as well as other land-focussed campaigns. Shannon loves getting out into the field visiting areas that need greater protection and working with local community groups.
Prior to joining VNPA, Shannon worked as a campaigner protecting the Great Barrier Reef, and had several roles at Parks Victoria.