Our People

Since 1985, Kevin has worked with or for environment and Indigenous organisations on a range of issues including energy, land clearing, protected area management and native title negotiations. Kevin lives in West End and works full-time as a bookseller being the co-owner of Avid Reader Bookshop and Where the Wild Things Are Bookshop.

Kevin has had a long-term commitment to environmental issues, having helped establish the Newcastle Branch of the Wilderness Society in 1987, worked as the Editor of Wilderness News (1988-89) and been TWS’s Cape York Peninsula Campaign Coordinator from 1990-91. He previously worked for the Cairns and Far North Environment Centre on the successful Tully-Millstream campaign. He has also served as an Australian Conservation Foundation Councillor (Queensland) and as an Executive Member.

He has experience and interest in policy development and community capacity building for non-government organisations.

Email: chair@qldconservation.org.au

Environmental Science is a passion Sherie has been pursuing for over 10 years. As a First Nations Arrente/Yolgnu woman with experience in the Mining Industry and State Government, she has a unique perspective on the environment in Queensland. As Coordinator of Capricorn Conservation Council, she has focussed on pursuing environmental advocacy, justice, and protection through evidence-based science and collaborative partnerships.

Lucy is passionate about the role that Queensland Conservation Council plays in our movement and is committed to continuing to help us succeed. She has been involved with the Cairns and Far North Environment for a number of years, and is currently working as Director. She is deeply interested in regional Queensland and the important role that regional bodies play in helping protect our environment. Having lived in Far North Queensland for the majority of her life, she brings an important perspective to our organisation. She deeply understand the community, the challenges that Far North Queensland faces as well as the history of Cairns And Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC) and its role there. Lucy brings community organising and campaigning skills, and is particularly interested in the role that QCC and CAFNEC have to play in combating and adapting to climate change in regional communities. 

Email: secretary@qldconservation.org.au

Terry has been a financial planner since 1989 and is the director of Ethical Investment Advisers, a company specialising in ethical investment. He is Chair of the Ethical Advisers Co-op which is the peak body for ethical advisers around Australia. Terry has previously been facilitator and chair of Alternative To Violence Project (Qld), a group dedicated to conflict resolution, and has also previously been Chair of Jacaranda House, a social housing company. He is involved, through personal investment or for clients, in 6 Body Corp committees in which he is the secretary or chair.

Email: treasurer@qldconservation.org.au

Emily is a community organiser with over 5 years experience and training building the climate, nature and environment movements. She has good relationships with activists across South East Queensland and New South Wales, and an appreciation of working with regional Queenslanders in our movement. Emily believes it is of fundamental importance that there be tight coordination and strategic direction of the environment movement in Queensland, as we are currently losing increasing amounts of natural habitats and climate impacts start to worsen across our state.

Peter has been involved with Mackay Conservation Group (MCG) since he moved to Mackay in 1993.  Prior to that he was a volunteer with various environmental campaigns in Brisbane and a volunteer with QCC.  In 1988 he re-established Bicycle Queensland after it had become defunct and left BQ in 1993 with a strong membership base and financial security.  As a QCC Executive member he will bring organisational experience.  

Peter appreciate the support that QCC has given to MCG and other member groups in the past and believe QCC should continue to play a key role in formulating environmental policy.

Narelle undertakes the liaison and advocacy roles with the Sunshine Coast Environment Council (SCEC), the peak environmental advocacy group for the Sunshine Coast region since 1980. SCEC currently represents and engages with its 64 community groups working on environmental protection, conservation, natural resource management, resident interest, and sustainability. This membership collectively represents over 15,000 people across the Sunshine Coast and Hinterland with a further 4,000 people as SCEC supporters. With experience in the spheres of Federal government and not-for-profit organisations, Narelle has been actively studying and working across the environment and conservation sectors for 15 years. This experiences encompasses a range of areas including advocacy, strategic policy and planning, community and stakeholder engagement. 

Sarah has been active in the movement in Qld since about 1994 - started with rivers & water (a self-confessed Murray Darling Basin (MDB) tragic). Sarah was Co-ordinator at Toowoomba & Region Environment Council 1995-2002. TREC no longer exists, it was replaced by Darling Downs Environment Council. She has had 3 stints with WWF, all wetland conservation related. One project in Queensland's Warrego - Paroo - Bulloo - Nebine catchment and a longer one preparing management plans for the Ramsar listed wetlands in the Gwydir catchment downstream from Moree. She has sat on the Gwydir env flows committee for well over a decade now.

Sarah was one of 3 conservation representatives on the Qld Great Artesian Basin Advisory Council and has been the national  environment sector representative on the Great Artesian Basin Coordinating Committee since 2007. She has done policy work for Invasive Species Council and produced water and wetlands educational materials for Inland Rivers Network. Sarah is a founder of Lock the Gate and currently sits on the Board. She has long term involvement with Qld NRM Boards in the MDB Advisory committees include the MDB Commission's Community Advisory Committee and MDB Authority's Northern Basin Advisory Council. She is currently chair of QCC member group Western Downs Alliance which provides support to landholders in the Surat Basin living with Coal Seam Gas projects.

Gemma Plesman is the Queensland Campaign Manager with The Wilderness Society (currently on maternity leave).  For the last three years she has worked on a campaign to end deforestation in Queensland and Australia.

She has a Bachelor of Education with Honours in Education for Sustainability and is a graduate of the Change Agency’s Community Organising Fellowship.  Gemma co-founded the ‘Girls against Gas’ to oppose Coal Seam Gas mining in Northern NSW before relocating to work as QLD State Coordinator for the Australian Youth Climate Coalition. She moved to Mackay in 2013 to work for the Mackay Conservation Group, building community opposition to the expansion of coal export ports along the Great Barrier Reef. Before TWS, Gemma worked for Australian Marine Conservation Society as Great Barrier Reef Campaigner on the Fight for the Reef campaign.