Aaron organ has over 16 years experience in the environmental field, including 11 years in an environmental consultant capacity. Aaron has also previously worked as a field ecologist in East Gippsland Victoria, and has worked as a ranger and firefighter in Queensland and Victoria, having extensive experience in National Park and Reserve management throughout Australia.

He has broad and working knowledge of flora and fauna throughout south-eastern Australia and has either managed or played an important role in providing environmental advice on several large infrastructure projects such as proposed pipelines, and road and rail developments. He has also been a lead author and/or co-author for over 300 projects and has provided expert advice to a range of clients. Some of these projects include proposed wind farms in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, long-term ecological monitoring throughout the Illawarra escarpment New South Wales, various urban development projects throughout Victoria.

Aaron is one of the leading professionals on the ecology and habitat requirements on a number of fauna species, including the Growling Grass Frog Litoria raniformis for which he has written over 40 reports and management plans relating to this nationally threatened species. He has extensive experience in the development of threatened species and environmental management plans, fauna habitat and significance assessments, targeted fauna surveys, impact mitigation and amelioration measures, avian surveys and large scale Environmental Impact Assessments. He regularly represents clients at Planning Panels and VCAT hearings in various industries, including renewable energy, urban development, mining and exploration and large scale Environment Effects Statements.

During his recent consulting experience he has written over 250 reports for a range of clients, such as road authorities, water utilities, planning consultancies, property developers, engineering firms and government agencies, in Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales. A selection of the projects managed includes proposed roads and pipelines, residential and industrial developments, the auditing of timber harvesting in State Forests, biodiversity studies and environmental management plans.

Simon completed his Honours degree on the use of habitats by small mammals in response to fire management regimes on French Island National Park, Victoria. Over the past 10 years he has managed several ecological projects for government and non-government organisations, including flora and fauna surveys, Net Gain assessments, environmental impact assessment and management planning, weed management, land rehabilitation and revegetation, and auditing and monitoring. He was most recently employed as a Senior Ecologist / Team Leader with a multinational company in Melbourne.

Simon has worked with various State authorities including the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE), and Parks Victoria, undertaking a range of surveys on native mammals, birds, reptiles and frogs. He assisted DSE with its ‘ground-truthing’ and mapping of Ecological Vegetation Classes throughout Victoria, he has strong flora and fauna identification skills, and is a keen naturalist.

He has undertaken a range of threatened species research and survey projects throughout south eastern Australia, and has developed expert skills in providing solutions to challenging projects where engineering and planning constraints need consideration amongst ecological requirements. In addition to his role as a Senior Consultant he plays a major part in business development and marketing, and human resource management for the Company.

Mark has completed a Bachelor of Applied Science, majoring in horticulture in 1999 and a Bachelor of Natural Resource Management, majoring in ecology in 2001. He then went onto complete his Honours project in 2002 on the ‘Impact of Management Techniques on Vegetation Dynamics of Grasslands in Northern Victoria’. His project investigated the impacts of disturbance on the structure and composition of grassland flora.

Mark has a career background in the horticultural industry, with over 12 years experience specialising in native flora. In 2004, Mark developed a successful practice as a self employed environmental consultant in northern NSW; where he undertook a wide range of projects including environmental planning, impact assessment, and threatened species surveys for clients requiring environmental solutions.

In 2006 Mark returned to Victoria and has worked as a Senior Ecologist and Team Leader at a large Melbourne-based environmental consulting firm. Mark has worked on a wide variety of projects for Commonwealth and State government bodies and private industry sectors. This work has included small to large scale ecological assessments, environmental planning and impact assessments, Habitat Hectares assessments, vegetation mapping, pest plant and animal assessment, and targeted surveys for threatened species.

Mark is also experienced with addressing requirements of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, Planning and Environment Act 1987 and Victoria’s Native Vegetation Management Framework policy. He spent 2008 compiling Bushfire Management Plans for the Department of Defence, and so is familiar with legislations, practices and policies associated with bushfire planning and management in Victoria.

Since joining the Company in 2009, Mark has worked on a several small and large infrastructure and development projects throughout the Greater Geelong and south western region. In addition to his role as a Senior Ecologist in the Geelong office, he is responsible for Company development and marketing, and continues to expand our presence throughout south western and western Victoria.

Oona Nicolson is a Director and the Principal Heritage Advisor at Ecology & Heritage Partners Pty. Ltd. She is a heritage specialist with over 14 years experience in the archaeological consulting sector, working in Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales, and Tasmania. Oona regularly appears before VCAT and independent panels as an Expert Witness in the areas of Aboriginal and historical heritage. Oona has extensive experience in over 500 projects with a wide variety of clients.

Oona’s skills include project management, peer reviews, background research and due diligence assessments, archaeological survey, sub surface testing and salvage excavation, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal site identification, recording and photography, site significance assessment, development of recommendations to mitigate the impact of development upon Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal historical heritage, flaked stone artefact and historical artefact recording and interpretation, communication and consultation with regulatory bodies (Aboriginal Affairs Victoria and Heritage Victoria), clients, landowners, RAPs and community representatives, preparation of conservation management plans, expert witness statements, Permits and Consents to Disturb for Heritage Victoria, Historical Heritage Assessments and desktop, standard and complex Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Plans.