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Our Committee

The Committee of Greater Sydney Landcare volunteer their time, expertise and experience to guide the successful implementation of projects that will benefit the Greater Sydney area for generations to come.

These are our committee members for 2022/2023. If you are interested in becoming a committee member, please feel free toย contact us.

Bev Debrincat โ€“ Chair

Overseeing SOS, BCT and Koala Projects and LNSW representative

Bev Debrincat is a founding member of Greater Sydney Landcare, and a representative for Greater Sydney on the NSW Landcare State Advisory Council.

Bev is also the Founder and Executive Director of International Environmental Weed Foundation (IEWF), runs the Habitat Network and is co-founder and coordinator of The Habitat community native plant nursery and food garden in Ryde.

Her education and experience encompasses systems development and management in the computer industry, marketing, bushland management (formerly an on-ground supervisor with the National Trust).ย Bev was responsible for starting the Volunteer Bush Regeneratorsโ€™ Network in Ryde (Sydney).

As a landholder, in the Macleay Valley Coast (Northern Rivers NSW), she has co-managed the regeneration and restoration of the 22.7 hectare property of which 22.6 hectares including Littoral Rainforest, Coastal Wetlands and Dunes are under a Voluntary Conservation Agreement under the National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974.

Bev and her various projects have been successful in winning and managing grants for coastal dune restoration, littoral rainforest restoration, urban bush regeneration, creek and corridor restoration, and establishing The Habitat and education programs.

Nell Graham โ€“ Vice Chair

Nell has worked in Local Government in Sydney for 20+ years and has specialised in environmental education, sustainability, catchment management and sustainable urban water management. Nell completed a Masters in Integrated Water Management at the University of Queensland in 2019. Nell is currently working at Campbelltown City Council as a Senior Environment Officer.

Recognised as leader in environmental education, place-based education and engagement, Nell has many years of experience working with the community and facilitating community participation in NRM programs and water sensitive urban design to create liveable places and healthy waterways. She has developed and implemented award winning education programs and in 2011 was acknowledged by her peers by winning Environmental Educator of the Year NSW, awarded by the Australian Association of Environmental Educators and received an Excellence in Environment award in Water Management for two rain garden projects in the Wolli Creek catchment.

Christopher Noon โ€“ Treasurer

Convenor Streamwatch Subcommittee

Chris is a founding member of Still Creek Landcare Group which started in 2008 and commenced Streamwatch waterway monitoring in 2009.

He joined the Greater Sydney Landcare Committee in 2020 to revive the Streamwatch program, which had transferred to GSL in 2019.

Currently, he is serving as the acting treasurer for GSL, a position he has held since early 2022. In addition to his work with GSL, Chris is an active member of Carrs Bush Bushcare.

Glenda Steain โ€“ Secretary

Glenda Steain has accumulated 20 years of experience in community education, extension support, and project management across several fields, including natural resource management, production agriculture, and emergency management, while working for the NSW Department of Primary Industries. Her areas of focus have been sustainable management of natural resources in the Hunter, Central Coast, Peri-urban and Sydney Metropolitan areas and Regional NSW. Glenda’s roles have been centered around providing responsive service to the community and government by collaborating in community education, rural development, agricultural/community extension, biosecurity, emergency management, and natural resource management.

Glenda’s passion for peer learning has led her to adopt a whole-of-systems approach to sustainable agriculture and biodiversity management, which she has applied to various projects within the Greater Sydney Landcare organisation.

She is an active committee member of Greater Sydney Landcare and is currently involved in implementing and coordinating the LLS/GSL plan for Landcare in Agriculture in Greater Sydney. Furthermore, she is leading a project for Community and Landholder engagement to conserve biodiversity and deliver low impact grazing with a focus on identifying and controlling poisonous, noxious, and environmental weeds in Greater Sydney.

Sue Martin

Cattai Hills Environment Network

Sue lives and advocates for Country in Cattai and Little Cattai catchments, part of the Hawkesbury-Nepean River system, the mightyย Dyarubbin. Sue chairs the local Landcare network CHEN โ€“ Cattai Hills Environment Network.

CHEN was formed in 2016 and supports citizen science projects with our platypus and koalaโ€™s communities and advocates for Eucalyptus cattai. Our CHEN team is involved with Ecokidz and Land for Wildlife programs too.

Sue has over thirty yearsโ€™ experience starting out teaching agriculture, but then moving to look after the local environment working in catchment management and then as a local government educator.

Sue is passionately involved in supporting environmental educators across NSW and hopes we can find ways to live and work more sustainably, regenerating and caring for our common home.

Scott Reyes

Georges River Keeper

Scott has worked in Local Government in Sydney for over 15 years. He brings his local governmentย experience and knowledge of natural resources, creek rehabilitation and catchment management into his role as the Georges Riverkeeper Program Manager.

Scott has an environmental science degree with post graduate studies in river restoration and management and enjoys working collaboratively with the Georges Riverkeeper team, its Member Councils and all its representatives to achieve a healthier and more liveableย Georges River for everyone to appreciate and enjoy!

Julia (Julz) Strykowski

Julz’s areas of interest and expertise include Environmental Education, Biological Science Education, Interpretation, Guiding, and Science Communication.

She has experience in delivering programs, tours, talks, and activities related to historical, cultural, and nature education for individuals of all ages, ranging from kindergarten to tertiary education.

Julz has a strong background in biodiversity and ecological studies, including fieldwork, outdoor hands-on learning, and activity program planning, development, and delivery.

Sam Willis

Community Environment Network

Sam is the CEO of the Community Environment Network (CEN) based on the Central Coast. She is our Central Coast representative on the GSL committee.

CEN is an independent community group that works FOR Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) and AGAINST threats to it. CEN has been operating for 25 years and runs many programs such as NSW Land for Wildlife, Waterwatch, Habitat for Wildlife, Landcare, wetlands, a bush regeneration team and Wildplant native nursery alongside its advocacy work.

Sam is passionate about environmental education and previously ran the Central Coast Waterwatch program.

Andrew Thomas

Cooks River Alliance

Andrew is currently the Executive Officer of the Cooks River Alliance, an alliance between
Bayside Council, Inner West Council, Canterbury-Bankstown Council, Strathfield Council, and Sydney Water.ย  The purpose of the Cooks River Alliance is to facilitate the revitalisation of the Cooks River, Australiaโ€™s most urbanised river, by bringing together the combined resources of its member organisations on behalf of the Riverโ€™s community.

Andrew comes from a diverse background, spending 10 years in heavy industry before moving into environmental management and asset management across the government, consulting, research, and not for profit sectors.ย  His formal qualifications reflect this diversity, holding tertiary qualifications in environmental science, sociology, and materials engineering.

Andrew understands that healthy urban living necessarily means humane and resilient urban development, and he is passionate about bringing nature back into our urban landscapes and making the most of natural assets like our urban rivers.

Lisa Gibson

Wild Seed Landcare Network

Lisa is a passionate environmentalist and community leader who is dedicated to protecting and preserving nature. As the inaugural public officer for the Wild Seed Landcare network, Lisa works tirelessly to bring together local Landcare groups and stakeholders to restore and safeguard the Southern Cumberland Plain landscape.

With a deep love for the outdoors, Lisa has spent countless hours volunteering as a bush regenerator and connecting people to nature. Her unwavering commitment to environmental work has not gone unnoticed, and in 2023, Lisa was recognized with a local Australia Day award for her exceptional contributions to the local community.

Interested in joining our committee?

Fill in our committee nomination form or get in touch with us for more information.

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