Paul Toni – Chief Executive Officer
BArts (Hons), BLaw
Paul Toni joined the Nature Conservation Trust as Chief Executive Officer in July 2010. He had previously worked for WWF-Australia for seven years, first leading their Landscape Conservation program, then their Sustainable Development and Climate Change program.
After studying law at the University of New South Wales, Paul worked for 13 years in commercial, native title and natural resources law. He held positions as the Principal Legal Officer for the Native Title Unit at the NSW Aboriginal Land Council and Principal Solicitor at the NSW Environmental Defender’s Office, as well as a number of posts in commercial law firms in Sydney.
Paul is based at the Nature Conservation Trust’s Sydney office but is regularly on the road, visiting our regional offices and revolving fund properties across NSW, and meeting our landholders and partner organisations.
Adam Dawson – Property Sales Manager
Before joining the Nature Conservation Trust, Adam worked as a real estate agent in Northern NSW specialising in rural and agricultural property sales. He has a long, diverse family farming background in dairying, cropping and grazing and brings to his NCT role, based in Lismore, a strong understanding of all facets of farming and rural property management, as well as a passionate love of the land.
One of Adam’s concerns as a farmer and Property Sales Manager is ecological sustainability. He believes that for farming to remain viable in our changing climate, it must be conducted in balance with nature. Private conservation is one key element to ecological sustainability at the landscape level.
An affinity for traditional land management practices, and an understanding of ecosystem functions and the role of private conservation equips Adam well for his role.
Mal Scott – Property Manager, Carwell Station, Northern NSW
AssDipAppSc (Agricultural Production)
Mal joined the Nature Conservation Trust team in 2009, bringing with him a passion and love for the land. He has been associated with the rural sector all his life and comes from a rural background in north-western NSW.
A jackaroo in his earlier years, Mal worked long and hard to progress into farm management. He has extensive experience in sustainable grazing, land management, weed and pest animal control, and numerous qualifications in these and other areas.
Mal is passionate about the environment and ensuring it is well managed so that future generations can enjoy our wonderful flora and fauna as much as he does.
James Forbes – Philanthropy Manager
James has a wealth of knowledge from both the private and third sectors, and has raised $4 million for charities in the arts, health and environmental arenas. His former career in sales and marketing included corporate conference sales for major five-star hotels, event business development in NSW and Victoria, and retail automobile sales for Daimler Chrysler.
James’ family has a proud history of philanthropy, having established the Barr Smith Library at the University of Adelaide and The Australian Ballet in Melbourne. They have and continue to hold rural property interests in South Australia, Victoria and NSW.
A published author, James has served on the board of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Business Association and The AIDS Council of NSW. He is proud to see conservation in the hands of individuals who can make it their business to ensure native species survival and protection against the threat of climate change.
Kate Smillie – Northern Regional Manager
BLaw (Hons), AssDegLaw, ConsLandMgt (Cert III)
Kate began working with the Nature Conservation Trust in 2005, when she developed the organisation’s first covenant program for private land conservation in NSW. Prior to this she spent six years working in local government, where she held roles including Manager for Legal Services, Compliance Team Leader, and Project Manager for State of the Environment Reporting.
Kate has an active and professional interest in the natural environment, operating her own ecological restoration business. She has worked within the national park estate, on private properties and in World Heritage Areas.
Based in Lismore, Kate has also tutored students at Southern Cross University in Local Government and Planning Law, Environmental Law and Aboriginal legal issues.
Nigel Jones – Conservation Manager
BAppSc (Parks, Recreation and Heritage)
Nigel joined the Nature Conservation Trust in 2007 and has a wealth of experience in conservation on private land, including three years with the Tasmanian Private Forest Reserve Program. Previously he has worked with the Holbrook Landcare Group, Bush Tender and Habitat Hectares (Vic), Greening Australia and Land for Wildlife.
Nigel is experienced in native seed collection and has conducted research into the pre-European condition and structure of woodlands in the NSW sheep-wheat belt. He is passionate about working with farmers and land managers to conserve threatened vegetation communities in fragmented landscapes.
In his role as Conservation Manager, based in Albury, Nigel provides input into conservation strategies and priorities for the NCT across NSW. He is managing the NCT’s role in the Hume Highway Biodiversity Offsets Program.
Georgia Beyer – Covenanting Project Manager and Border Ranges Alliance Facilitator
BAppSc (Hons)
Georgia began working with the Nature Conservation Trust in 2007. She manages the covenant programs in northern NSW from our Lismore office, has contributed to the development of the organisation’s plans of management for covenanted lands and has helped develop the conservation assessment methodology and general procedures for the State-wide program.
Previously, Georgia spent 10 years undertaking fauna assessments and research, and completed undergraduate and honours studies at Southern Cross University. More recently, Georgia served as a Research Assistant in fauna studies and tutor at Southern Cross University for Ecology, Wildlife and Plant Identification units.
Georgia was a community participant in the development of the North East Regional Forest Agreement. She served as a Regional Co-ordinator for the North East Forest Alliance, a community representative for the North Coast Environment Council on the North East State Forests Harvesting Advisory Board, and as a community representative for the North Coast Environment Council on the Upper North East Forest Forum.
Tiffany Mason – Regional/Covenanting Project Officer
BAppSc, GradCertAppSci (Ornithology)
With a lifelong interest in wildlife, particularly birds, it was only a matter of time before Tiffany joined the Nature Conservation Trust. She has many years of experience in natural resource management, both in the workplace (including positions with the Department of Lands, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water) and as a volunteer (at the Capertee Valley Regent Honeyeater Recovery Group’s tree-planting events and on the Cowra Woodland Birds project).
Tiffany has taught ecology at Bathurst TAFE, guided birders through Queensland’s Channel Country, been a keen volunteer on a number of projects, including La Trobe University’s Mallee Fire Research, and assisted in numerous flora and fauna surveys throughout NSW. Most recently, Tiffany has been involved in recovery projects for threatened species on private property, working with landholders to protect vulnerable fauna in the Central West.
Tiffany works in the Orange office and is an active member of the Boundary Road Reserve Landcare Group, which manages the only remnant of native bush (a yellow box and Blakely’s red gum woodland community) within the city’s limits.
Sam Niedra – Slopes to Summit Facilitator
BAppSc (Natural Resource Management)
Sam joined the Albury office of the Nature Conservation Trust in mid 2010. He has 10 years’ experience working in natural resource management in three regions of Victoria and southern NSW.
Before joining the NCT, Sam worked with Moreland City Council as their NRM Officer. He was responsible for managing bushland maintenance and revegetation contracts, and developed partnerships with a broad range of stakeholders, including community groups, management committees and government agencies.
Sam worked for Greening Australia (Victoria) for five years, including two years with landholders in Gippsland on remnant protection and revegetation projects. He has a broad range of experience in community facilitation, having run direct seeding workshops, organised community planting events and delivered training in weed management.
Damian Wall – GIS Manager
BAppSc, MEnvMgt, MEIANZ, CENVP
Damian works in the Albury office and has 10 years’ experience in community consultation and facilitation, social research, community and regional planning, stakeholder facilitation and liaison. He is an experienced Project Manager and Environmental Compliance Auditor and has completed the Environmental Auditor Certification Workshop, which has been designed to meet the RABQSA-accredited competency units for Environmental Auditing.
Skilled in the use and management of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Damian has worked in rural areas for most of his life. He takes a practical approach to all tasks and prides himself in being able to deliver on time and budget while exceeding expectations.
Barbara Miller – Accountant
BBus (Accounting)
Barbara has 14 years of accounting experience across a range of small to very large organisations. Her roles have included financial management and planning, financial system management, human resources and administration.
Barbara joined the Nature Conservation Trust in 2005 and works in the Lismore office. During this time, she has established financial management systems that have enabled the NCT to operate as a professional not-for-profit conservation organisation.
Denise Allen – Program Support Officer
AdDip Event Mgt, DipBus (HR Mgt & FL Mgt), Workplace Training & Assess (Cert VI)
Denise came to the Nature Conservation Trust with extensive experience in various administrative roles within the University of Sydney and Charles Sturt University. She has also held management roles for OTC within the international communication industry.
Denise works from the Orange office.
