Maggie McDonald

• As the IPA coordinator at ASRAC I lived and worked in a remote Indigenous community, Ramingining. During which time I have built genuine relationships with Yolngu and Bininj people of the area.
• The role was based around helping to build the foundational Plan of Management for the ASRAC Indigenous Protected Area of which the dedication is imminent.
• The other aspect of my role was to be a Coordinator within the organisation. Helping to organise and navigate day to day work activities with the rangers. I also became the lead coordinator of the women's ranger programs at ASRAC during my time here, which has involved things from including women (Miyalk) rangers in work with male rangers to organising the supply of pads and tampons to our base to ensure equality in a working environment.
• As part of the IPA role I communicated regularly with a range of stakeholders including but not limited to; government agencies (NIAA, DCCEEW etc.), individual consultants and other independent organisations such as Bush Heritage and Karrkad Kanjdji Trust.
• The role was incredibly diverse and challenging at times, learning to communicate with Yolngu and Bininj people (for whom English is a 3rd or 4th language) in a respectful and conducive manner being just one of the challenges, but one I found most rewarding.
• Spending time on country with differing members of society from cultural elders to children allowed me to include traditional ecological knowledge as the basis of the management plan, but it was also a chance to share knowledge of balanda (non-Indigenous) ways of looking after country to ensure we are building a true "two way" approach to meet the communities goal of:

Healthy country, healthy tucker, healthy families, living on our homelands. The right people are speaking for country, passing knowledge from the old to the young.
We have strong ceremony, family, and language for country."

• Ecologist for 'The Living Murray' program at the internationally listed Ramsar Wetland icon site, Koondrook-Perricoota Forest.
• Prepared detailed scientific reports and presentations based on findings.
• Performed environmental site assessments and provided management recommendations.
• Worked collaboratively with Traditional Owners, community members and other stakeholders to formulate ecological and socio-ecological monitoring plans.
• Coordinated all ecological monitoring in the Koondrook-Perricoota Forest
• Worked independently in remote environments in a range of conditions (from flood to fire) to undertake ecological monitoring.
• Prepared and delivered presentations on behalf of Koondrook-Perricoota Forest at multi-agency forums and seminars
• Presented at a local High School as part of their Year 11 Biology curriculum.
• Completed permit applications and maintained environmental permits and licenses.
• Managed development, design and execution of environmental water projects.
• Formulated long-range management plans for environmental programs.

An incorporated not-for-profit group based in Barham NSW. With a proud record of delivering applied research, development and extension projects to our community.

• Role of lead scientific data collection in an Industrial Hemp trial
• Lead role of environmental goods and services market research and data collection methodologies
• Project development, River Country Bio-Link, project aim of extending ecological refuge of KP state forests
• Lead role in facilitating community education days within the KP
• Community engagement officer within Koondrook-Perricoota Forest projects spanning Pollack Swamp, Little Forest, Swan Lagoon and within the general KP site
• Assisted with ecological data collection in KP forests

Contact : Roger Knight, Western Murray CEO - 0419551203

• Worked in the forest as an assistant to the local Ecologist whilst undertaking flora surveys
• Set up survey plots and acted as a scribe to record scientific data
• Independently undertook tree crown surveys
• Demonstrated dedication to the task at hand whilst working in extreme temperatures, at the scene of bush fires, floods and bogs
• "very helpful, reliable and easy-going despite the heat, snakes and leaky waders"
• Drove the work ute and the amphibious vehicle the Argo ATV
• Loaded and unloaded supplies, checked inventory and requested new supplies.
• Identified plants, pests , weeds and native flora

• Cultivated connections and strong student rapport to foster classroom engagement
• Volunteered in class to encourage engagement in science based education
• Interviewed for a podcast series for High School students about science journey and learning from home techniques
• Online mentoring in year 12 Biology classes to help and encourage students on their STEM journeys