Lily’s connection to nature began as a child growing up on the beaches and estuaries between Sydney and the NSW North Coast. Exploring the headlands, rainforests, mangroves and coastal forests, as well as travelling internationally, fostered a deep appreciation for the natural environment. She feels most at home where the trees meet the water.

Lily started her career in sustainability and waste management, auditing waste facilities and finding herself knee-deep in skip bins at large festivals, sorting through rubbish. But her passion for conservation really took off after travelling to Madagascar, where she volunteered in a forest conservation program and learnt field surveying techniques to assess and monitor biodiversity. This experience inspired her to move to Tasmania, where she completed a Master of Environmental Management at the University of Tasmania and spent four years working in Landcare.

During this time, she was lucky to work alongside and learn from a passionate community of environmental volunteers and experienced practitioners.

Lily believes strongly in the power of grassroots movements and the importance of bringing community and local knowledge into environmental decision-making.

Studying anthropology sparked her interest in community-centred approaches to environmental management and deepened her appreciation of how local knowledge, culture and lived experience can help shape better conservation outcomes.

As Biolink Program Officer, Lily is excited to support the team and wider community in achieving their conservation goals through private land conservation.