Contact Us
Primary Contact : environment@ecu.edu.au
Staff Profile
Belinda O'Brien - Coordinator Environmental Systems
I have been working in the environmental industry for 10 years at local, State and International level. I have worked in the field of agriculture researching salinity and the effects it has on farming communities. This involved working in the Blackwood catchment region in the South West of WA and spending time developing farming systems that addressed the issues of salinity. My work in the environment quickly branched out into the field of foreign aid development in countries that did not have well developed environmental education programs and encompassed more social aspects. I spent 12 months establishing an agricultural community garden on a small remote island in the Maldives with a strong emphasis on training local women in the community.
This led onto another bigger foreign aid project which involved supporting the establishment of environmental education centres in Thailand. I lived in Asia for two years as a volunteer with Australian Volunteers International. I spent time travelling and learning about diversity in the world and the importance of protecting diversity. I then had the prive ledge of working at the Australian Conservation Foundation in Melbourne where I learnt the real meaning of being and environmentalist and became part of the ACF family. my journey then led me home to Perth where I spent a brief time working in the area of environmental education at Piney Lakes Environmental Education Centre with City of Melville and now in the capacity as Environment Coordinator at Edith Cowan University.
Contact Details
Phone: +61 (0) 8 6304 2032
Room: JO 1.340C
Email: b.obrien@ecu.edu.au
Trena Ward - Environmental Projects Officer
This role is a newly funded position, where the University has recognised the need to grow the team and focus on behavioural change programs, to become a leader in environmental management and sustainable communities. My role will be to develop and deliver these programs and management strategies and to educate and engage staff, students and the wider community. I will also play a role in assisting with the development and delivery of the Environmental Management System (EMS).
My experience lies predominantly with Local Government having worked with the City of Cockburn for 4 and a half years. This experience has developed my skills ranging from hands on work where I worked on bushland/wetland rehabilitation projects to strategic planning and policy work. I further worked closely in both the corporate and community sectors on greenhouse abatement programs under the Cities for Climate Protection Program run by International Councils for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI). These programs covered areas including; water, energy, waste, transport and street lighting and here I developed my experience with behaviour change programs. Some examples of these include: Living Smart – education and engagement of community on how to live more sustainably and Climate Actions – education and engagement of small to medium businesses to aid in reducing their greenhouse footprint.
After leaving the City of Cockburn I worked for a short time with a consulting firm, Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB), as an Environmental Consultant. My main achievement while working with PB was the development of a Carbon Neutral Plan for the organisation.
It is great to be a part of this new Environment team and I look forward to working with internal staff, students, community and external stakeholders in advocating sustainability as a way of life!
Contact Details
Phone: +61 (0) 8 6304 2650
Room: JO 1.340B
Email: t.ward@ecu.edu.au
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