Speakers

Keynote

Mitchell Garlett (Nyungar Elder)

Mitchell Garlett is a Whadjuk Ballardong man of the Nyungar Nation. He is a father of five, married to wife Janice and has one grandson. He is a reverend and is responsible for looking after the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC) congregation in Coolbellup. Mitchell participates in community events and does Welcome to Country ceremonies and smoking ceremonies in his language. He has been an integral part of the Rehabilitating Roe 8 Advisory Committee as a Traditional Owner representative, along with the Aboriginal Reference Group, Cockburn.

Simon Cherriman (InSight Ornithology/Save Perth Hills)

Simon Cherriman is an award-winning environmental scientist, educator and wildlife filmmaker and an enthusiastic advocate for the unique Australian bush and its creatures. Simon grew up in the Perth Hills and spent his childhood climbing trees, observing birds and learning firsthand about the local environment. It was at 15 that he found a giant Wedge-tailed Eagle nest and this captivated and inspired him to spend more than half his life studying, photographing and filming these magnificent birds, incorporating eagles into much of his tertiary education. Currently Simon continues to spread his passion for the environment through his small business, iNSiGHT Ornithology, which specialises in bird-related research and environmental education, and he is currently completing his PhD research on Wedge-tailed Eagle population dynamics and movement ecology at Murdoch University.

Simon will tell some stories about the way strong custodianship stemming from deep Connection to Country, especially local biodiversity, can help engage the wider community in campaigns to prevent unsustainable developments in the Perth Hills. Simon’s talk will have a strong focus on the direct link between human physical and mental health, and the health of the environment.

Heidi Mippy (Noongar Land Enterprise)

Heidi Mippy has worked in community development for over 22 years. She has extensive experience with Indigenous communities and has held roles within local government, the WA Police, Child Protection, Education and Training, and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services. Heidi is a small business owner and volunteers her time to several Boards and Advisory Groups in the community and was recognised as the 2020 Citizen of the Year for the City of Fremantle. Heidi holds a Bachelor of Arts in Community Management and Adult Education, a Graduate Certificate in Business (Leadership, Strategy & Innovation) and an Executive Masters, Leadership, Strategy, and Innovation. Heidi currently works with Noongar Land Enterprise Group, supporting Noongar landowners with land management and enterprise development.

Dr Cristina Ramalho (University of Western Australia) and Vivienne Hansen (Nyungar Elder)

Dr Cristina Ramalho is a Research Fellow at the UWA School of Biological Sciences and works in the fields of social-ecological research, cross-cultural research, urban ecology and conservation planning. She has particular interest in cities and in research that can support transition to more sustainable, ethical and biodiverse ways of living and coexisting in urban landscapes.

Vivienne ‘Binyarn’ Hansen is a Balladong Wadjuk Yorga woman from the Bibbulmun Nation, or Noongar people, of the south-west of Western Australia. After a childhood of learning about traditional medicine, Vivienne undertook formal training at the Marr Mooditj Foundation and completed Certificate IV in Bush and Western Herbal Medicine. She was also the first Indigenous member of the National Herbalist Association of Australia, and presented at the 7th International Conference on Herbal Medicine in 2010.

The video clip for Dr Ramalho’s speech is not available due to IP and cultural sensitivities.

Associate Professor Eddie van Etten (Edith Cowan University)

Dr Van Etten is a Senior Lecturer in Ecology at Edith Cowan University. He is an active researcher and educator in restoration ecology, with some 20 years of experience in the rehabilitation of disturbed land after mining and other human disturbances. He has joined the Advisory Committee as a research representative because of the opportunities it presented to learn from and contribute to a large community-led restoration project. He said the initial clearing of vegetation for Roe 8 was highly controversial and saddened many people in the community – there are high expectations that the area can be restored in terms of native vegetation and fauna habitat. The Advisory Committee has an important role in overseeing and guiding the restoration efforts to help achieve these aims.

Rehabilitating Roe 8

Adam Peck, Dr Kit Prendergast, Dr Danielle Brady (ECU), Fiona Hook (Archae~Aus)

Adam Peck has a BSc in Environmental Restoration, with Honours from Murdoch University. He has worked for the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, doing research on mallee revegetation/productivity (2006-15) and project management for the Aboriginal Ranger Program (2021-22). He was Black-Cockatoo Project Coordinator at BirdLife Australia between 2016 and 2021, coordinating the Great Cocky Count and Carnaby’s breeding surveys. Since April 2022, he has worked for the City of Cockburn managing the Rehabilitating Roe 8 project. The project involves revegetation, community and Nyungar engagement, event management and much more.

Dr Kit Prendergast is a native bee ecologist and science communicator. Her PhD involved investigating the impact of honeybees on native bees and pollination networks , and the impact of urbanisation on native bees. Dr Kit’s research ranges from pollination ecology, to native bee ecology and behaviour, citizen science, critiquing methods for surveying pollinators, undertaking biodiversity assessments. She is a renowned science communicator, performing under the persona of ‘Bee Babette.’

Dr Danielle Brady is an independent consultant and Honorary Senior Lecturer at Edith Cowan University. Following a first career in plant and soil science she pivoted to the arts, engaging in environmental issues from a humanities perspective. Her most recent publications concern environmental social movements and community-led land management. She was a social science advisor on the Perth Urban Restoration Scientific Advisory Committee and is a hands-on volunteer with the Friends of Inglewood Triangle.Dr Danielle Brady is an independent consultant and Honorary Senior Lecturer at Edith Cowan University. Following a first career in plant and soil science she pivoted to the arts, engaging in environmental issues from a humanities perspective. Her most recent publications concern environmental social movements and community-led land management. She was a social science advisor on the Perth Urban Restoration Scientific Advisory Committee and is a hands-on volunteer with the Friends of Inglewood Triangle.

Fiona is the Managing Director of Archae-Aus. She is a prominent figure in the Australian archaeology community, holding presidency and committee roles within the Australian Archaeological Association (AAA), as well as being an honorary research fellow at the University of Western Australia. Fiona has also served as president of and Australian Association of Consulting Archaeologists Inc. (AACAI). Fiona started Archae-aus in 1996 and has a vast knowledge of cultural heritage management. Fiona has designed and implemented Cultural Heritage Management Plans for large scale projects. She is dedicated to increasing awareness and appreciation of Australian cultural heritage.