Meet the Team

Position	Name
Project Officer	Mei Akiba
Team Leader
Finance Officer	Leona Murray
Nursery Supervisor	Aisling Dawson
Trainees	We have recruited three trainees under the Skilling Queenslanders for Work (SQW) fund provided by Queensland Government. All of them are enthusiastic about gaining knowledge of local plants, weed management, and advancing in their careers.

Meet the Team

(Photo left to right, back to front)

Position	Name	Bio
General Member (top left)	Troy Johnson	I’ve acquired over 18years experience in NRM and CALM project work experience beginning with working for the Tropics Weeds Research Centre in Charters Towers in 1995 on and off for roughly 8 years. I worked with Landcare organizations such as Australia Trust for Volunteers (ATCV) and Greencorps. 8 years experience as a Marine Parks Ranger (QPWS) based on Magnetic Island. I left as an Acting 005 Supervisor in charge of operational weekly rosters. I’ve acquired extensive experience in stakeholder engagement throughout Queensland’s Indigenous Ranger networks since 2013.
General Member	Chris Kahler	I am originally from SEQ and moved to Townsville while working as a botanist for the Queensland Herbarium in 2001. Since then I have worked as a botanist and ecologist around Townsville and various parts of North Queensland for State agencies, NQ Dry Tropics NRM, JCU and private consulting firms. I am interested in Black Throated Finches and their habitat, ecological burning and wetlands.

General Member	Greg Calvert	I’m a Townsville-based botanist, with a doctorate in botany and 30 years professional experience. I’m a founding member of Landcare in Townsville, helping establish TUPALG and the Bush Garden nursery in 1994, and assisting with the formation of CDTLI in 2004. I have been managing the Ross River Bush Garden site since 1994, and also assists managing the Goondaloo Creek site. I have spent more than 25 years on the Landcare committee and am a regular volunteer at the nursery.
President	Alistair Douglas	I have spent most of my life at the intersection of research, industry, technology, and sustainability. I’m passionate about how technology can transform value chains and incentivise data collection for more responsible and equitable outcomes. When connected to innovation ecosystems, I believe grass roots organizations like CDTLI can playa significant part in addressing environmental and climate changes.
General Member	James Monaghan	I have spent most of the last 20 years working in the field on the development of local community capacity for conservation management of Indigenous lands across North Australia. Prior to that I was program leader in GIS/ Spatial Analysis with Tropical Environment Studies and Geography at JCU. My current interests are in cultural heritage on pastoral properties (cattle yards, wells, bores, fence posts ..) in North Queensland (https://stockroute.org/Cattle/); helping establish a community cultural centre in Kowanyama; and, in assisting ranger programs in the North. I love the ‘dry’ country.
Secretary	Crystal Falknau	I have lived in North Queensland since 2016 and am currently the Coordinator of the North Queensland Conservation Council (NQCC). I have experience in promoting good governance, healthy organisational culture, strong community connections and of course, sustainability. I am particularly interested in the intersection of community, government policy, education and First Nations knowledge as they apply to environmental conservation.
Vice President	Bernadette Boscassi	I am an Artist / Writer / Curator with 37 years of professional experience working in the Arts and Community Cultural Development in Queensland and New South Wales (Bernadette Boscacci). I am a committed and passionate environmental advocate and Landcare volunteer, having been involved with Landcare in the Townsville (Gurambilbarra / Yunbenun) area since 2003.As well as being a CDTLI board member (2015 – 2017) and (2022 – present), I am the Mundy Creek Site Leader – a landcare site which I initiated as part of an urban Cultural Arts and Environment Development Project – Mundy Creek Natureway Regeneration Project – which I commenced in my home suburb of Garbutt in 2010.
Treasurer	Louise Previtera	Hello! I’m Louise Previtera and when I’m not working as a Financial Planner and talking about retirement, you’ll find me in my tiny garden looking to squeeze in more plants. I’m looking forward to being part of CDTLI!