Executive Director

Jennifer’s background spans environmental journalism and communications, tertiary education, and community arts. From outdoor photography exhibitions and climate talks to Indigenous languages celebrations and live storytelling events, she’s worked on projects designed to share practical ideas and inspire action - always with the goal of helping people live better, happier lives while cherishing and protecting nature.

At CEC, she’s focused on building community; empowering and connecting Canberrans with environmental and active travel skills and knowledge; and helping to shape a more climate-resilient city.

Outside of work, her best weekends are spent bushwalking, picnicking and enjoying time with her two young children. Jen loves exploring the ACT’s nature reserves, parks and walking trails (and she finds particular joy in spotting black cockatoos).

Events and Workshops Co-ordinator / Social Media Guru

Bianca has a background in sustainable building design, permaculture and community garden coordination. She is very passionate about using thoughtful design to create local systems that support food security and connect communities. 

In 2020 Bianca undertook an honours research project focused on circularity in building materials and how we can design to regenerate rather than degrade our environment. In her spare time she is expanding her verge food forest and probably feeding her dog fruit from the trees.

Following this she continued to work in solar passive residential design and completed a permaculture course to further develop her skills with a holistic approach to house and garden design.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bianca-knox-923273176/

Project Support Officer

Zali is an avid outdoors enthusiast, who, like many in Canberra, has been bit by the cycling bug. Her time spent bikepacking around New Zealand has sewn a passion for sustainable travel and emphasised the importance of connecting and caring for Country.

Zali is passionate about creating a circular economy, and participating in convivial conservation. She is deeply invested in slowing down and creating sustainable clothing through the upcycling of second-hand materials

When she is not peddling, rock climbing or creating fibre art, Zali is busy finishing her Bachelor of Arts degree in Indigenous Studies

www.linkedin.com/in/zali-r

Recyclery Manager

Geordie brings more than 15 years’ experience in bicycle restoration and sales built through working privately with Stone Cold Classics and originally with the University of Canberra Design Workshop Bicycle Collective. 

Geordie was mentored and trained by Ian Downing Bicycle Repairs of Bike Revive Tumut. He is also a qualified upholsterer and has completed most of his Bachelor of Industrial Design. 

Geordie is a mature, reliable Manager, able to manage competing priorities to deliver on-time and confidently trouble-shoot in difficult circumstances.

https://www.instagram.com/stellenstudio/

Recyclery Projects Officer

Murray is a bike mechanic with more than a decade of experience on the tools. He has been with us since 2020 when he took on the job of revitalising the Recyclery after years of dormancy. He continues with us now part-time, working on projects and filling in.

Recyclery Staff

Ying began volunteering with the Canberra Environment Centre when she joined as a community member in 2021. While she was working in the community garden, she noticed people at The Recyclery and became curious about what they were up to. Thus, began her new adventure delving into all things bikes and cycling! Ying is now a valuable part of our casual staff team and an active and keen promotor of active travel in Canberra. Look out for her in a fun outfit at our monthly bike sales!

Casual Team Member

Tina is passionate about conservation and loves learning about and promoting all the little things that we can do, and make it matter for the environment.

Tina graduated with first class honours from the Australian National University in 2022 studying the feeding behaviour of greater gliders. She brings expertise in ecology, evolution and taxonomy linked to conservation.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-gopalan/

Community Bike Mechanic

Cohen is a new-school bike mechanic with an old-school taste in bikes. He began repairing bikes at the Ceres Community Bike Shed as a teenager a decade ago, and now pursues his passion whole-heartedly as a bike mechanic and bike repair educator.

Cohen’s love for bikes is deeply wound up with a desire to work towards a sustainable future where we are more connected to the community around us and the earth beneath our tires. At the Recyclery, he is focussed on expanding our capability to deliver bike repair training courses.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cohensaunders

Casual Team Member

Tessa is passionate about promoting a circular economy and making a positive difference in the community. Her motivation to utilise food waste as compost, limit single-use packaging, understand seasonality, and to reduce food miles inspired her to regularly volunteer within the CEC community garden since 2024.

She has experience working at the ANU Kitchen Garden where she supports gardening bees, harvest meals, and sustainability workshops, as well as volunteering with community groups such as SEE Change.

Tessa is set to graduate from the Australian National University at the end of 2026 with a Bachelor of Science, focused on Environmental Sciences. She feels empowered to use her skills in this space to teach others how to take climate action starting in our local community.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessa-chancellor-38097727b/

Member

Mia Swainson is a freelance writer and consultant with a passion for sustainable living. Her work in sustainable development, spanning more than 15 years, has taken Mia across Australia and around the world. By making one small change at a time, Mia is proof that living a cleaner, greener and simpler life is within everyone’s reach.

Mia’s consultancy business helps people and organisations make the big decisions that matter. She’s an executive coach, professional facilitator and management consultant. On weekend’s you’ll find her digging in the garden, biking around Canberra or working towards a local zero waste revolution with friends. 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mia-swainson-42ba69139/

Secretary

Experienced veterinary epidemiologist and project manager with a strong track record in senior leadership positions in government and the private sector. Adept at stakeholder engagement and working in interdisciplinary teams at the interface of science, policy and communication. Jonathan has degrees in Veterinary Science (Sydney) and Veterinary Epidemiology (London), and is a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (Epidemiology).

As a private-sector consultant since 2017, Jonathan has worked with a diverse range of clients in Australia and around the world. He is open to consulting opportunities, particularly those that allow him to add value through his combination of technical expertise and experience in a range of policy, program and development settings.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-happold-4a524069/

Member

Dan Watters is a third generation Canberran with a passion for his home town, the environment, and bikes. Dan has three decades of experience in sustainable event management, the circular economy, and the renewable energy transition. He was responsible for making Capital Brewing Company the first brewery in Australia to achieve carbon neutral certification and only the third in the country to achieve B Corp certification. Despite being an average welder at best, Dan is a founding member of the Canberra bicycle building and recycling community Rat Patrol Oz and is the current Canberra Kinetic Sculpture Race Grand Champion. He is currently working in the Federal government on transitioning Australia to renewable energy as quickly as possible. 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-watters-05a014275/

President

Julie is a big picture sustainability coalition builder. She works with a diverse set of stakeholders to collaboratively design and deliver accessible and relevant resources, tools and advice that disrupt the current system of production and consumption. She is an expert in designing circular economy solutions, particularly in circular, sustainable and regenerative fashion.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-boulton-05952964/

Treasurer

Tara is an experienced commercial specialist with over 15 years experience in federal government, local government and the private sector. Passionate about cultivating practical skills that contribute to a more resilient and climate-conscious future, Tara has supported several local not-for-profit organisations that champion environmental conservation, circular economy principles and community-led sustainability initiatives.  

Tara is a CPA and holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) from Charles Sturt Uni and Bachelor of Law from University of Canberra.

Vice President

Hugo is a climate researcher, educator, and policy professional with 15 years’ leadership experience in government and civil society organisations including the ACT’s City and Environment Directorate, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Australian National University. 

Hugo has an academic appointment at ANU, where he investigates the social aspects of climate change in the Pacific region. His PhD research investigated the social worlds of renewable energy projects, with a view to supporting more inclusive and equitable approaches to project design and delivery. 

https://au.linkedin.com/in/hugo-temby

Member

Jenny has always been deeply concerned with the environment and climate change. In 2024, Jenny completed a Master of Climate Change at the ANU. She is passionate about making a lasting difference by undertaking impactful research that informs strong policy, and working with communities to implement change. Jenny’s particular interests are biodiversity and conservation, adaptation to climate change and the impacts of climate change on health.

Jenny also holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Pathology), and a Master of Philosophy from the ANU where her research focus was health outcomes and quality of life. During Jenny’s career, as an allied health professional in ACT Health, she worked in and led multidisciplinary teams and undertook project work, and policy development.

Member

Maree is passionate about community-led environmental action and first connected with the Canberra Environment Centre over a decade ago when she completed her permaculture design certificate in 2014. She brings hands-on experience in strategic leadership, grant writing, and collaborative project delivery. Maree has helped launch the Community Toolbox Canberra with SEE-Change and led a volunteer team to co-design a climate-ready, water-smart playground at North Ainslie Primary, working alongside Traditional Custodians, community members, students and technical experts.

Her work spans ecosystem restoration, community education programs, project management, and policy development—all with a focus on empowering people to create practical sustainability solutions. Maree loves building partnerships and fostering climate resilience, and she’s committed to inclusive leadership that drives positive environmental change.

Member

Ravi Krishnamurthy is a dedicated advocate for sustainable living and community-driven environmental action, committed to helping Canberra grow into a greener, more resilient city. He brings warmth, vision, and practical leadership to his work, empowering individuals and neighbourhoods to embrace circular-economy practices, reduce waste, and care for the natural environment. With extensive experience in community outreach, education, and multicultural engagement, Ravi contributes to the Canberra Environment Centre with a clear purpose: creating lifelong, accessible, and inclusive pathways that support sustainable living across the ACT.

Ravi has been commended multiple times by ACT Parliamentary Committees for influential public submissions shaping community and environmental outcomes.