A self-proclaimed nomad, Jen Oceans, BioDiversity Legacy’s Central Coast Biolink Coordinator, has spent the majority of her life on the move, yet her restless spirit finds solace in one constant – the sea.

Growing up along the NSW coastline, her affinity with saltwater was evident from a young age – she spent all her spare time windsurfing and paid the bills with a part-time zoo-keeping job.

A transformative holiday in Fiji prompted Jen to establish a kitesurfing venture on the Cocos and Keeling Islands. But, after 16 years, Jen became increasingly disheartened by the environmental impact of the business, prompting her to seek meaningful engagement with nature.

She found it on NSW’s north coast, where she’s settled (for now), with her husband and a diverse array of plants and animals – rare glossy black cockatoos, casuarinas, and phascogales – on her conservation property near the Yuraygir National Park, just north of Coffs Harbour.

Her work there includes bush regeneration, installing nest boxes, rehoming feral horses and restoring the land to its former glory, creating a haven for wildlife, particularly during fires and drought.

Now, as BioDiversity Legacy’s Biolink Coordinator, she is looking further afield and is dedicated to establishing biolinks and empowering communities to protect their land for future generations.

With a keen focus on networking and connecting like-minded individuals, Jen’s strength lies in forging alliances and fostering collaboration. She’s deeply involved in supporting grassroots conservation efforts – and she’s never far from the ocean – her nomadic spirit endures as she spends some of her days working for BioDiversity Legacy from her van parked at the beach.