This week is National Volunteer Week in Australia, where we take the opportunity to recognise the important contribution of our nation’s volunteers.

The Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand would not exist without the ongoing commitment, dedication and expertise of our many volunteers. This week, we are profiling just a few of the people who contribute their time and effort to our work: Carina Jakobi (FNQ Division), Kelly Lee (ACT Division), Kirsten Leggett (TAS Division), Jane Munday (NT Division), Emma Pharo (TAS Division), and Alex Prideaux (SEQ Division).

Carina Jakobi MEIANZ | Vice President, Far North Queensland (FNQ) Division

Carina is Vice President of the EIANZ FNQ Division and has been a member of the EIANZ since 2016.

How long have you volunteered with the EIANZ and in what capacity?
I have been a volunteer with the EIANZ for close to five years now.

What motivated you to volunteer your time with the EIANZ?
I wanted to be more involved in the industry that I am a part of.

What do you enjoy about volunteering? What are the benefits?
I hope to have a positive influence on the industry and on the people that make the industry what it is.

Would you recommend volunteering?
Yes. It can broaden your perspective of what’s important to different stakeholders both within industry, education and government sectors.

Kelly Lee MEIANZ | Committee Member, Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Division

Kelly is on the ACT Division Committee and has been a member of the EIANZ since 2015.

How long have you volunteered with the EIANZ and in what capacity?
I’ve been a Committee Member since 2016, assisting with organising events. For the last 2-3 years I’ve also been the Coordinator of the ACT Division Mentoring Program.

What motivated you to volunteer your time with the EIANZ?
The EIANZ is a great organisation that provides a platform for environmental professionals across the country to connect and share valuable resources (training, experience). I wanted to improve my networking circle in the environmental industry in Canberra and found that volunteering with the EIANZ provided that, as well my work in organising environmental professional events in Canberra.

What do you enjoy about volunteering? What are the benefits?
I enjoy networking and the opportunity to connect with different sectors of the environmental industry. The ACT Division committee members are also great fun!

I enjoy being able to contribute to professional development opportunities for the industry – especially in Canberra where it can be limited.

Would you recommend volunteering?
Yes. Our work can be so focused sometimes and limited to only our industry. Volunteering provides a great opportunity to meet other professionals within the broader environmental industry. You also get to decide what sort of events to throw to bring the professional community together – whether for social networking or for professional development.

Kirsten Leggett MEIANZ | President and Treasurer, Tasmania (TAS) Division

Kirsten is the President and Treasurer of the EIANZ TAS Division and a member of the EIANZ since 2015.

How long have you volunteered with the EIANZ and in what capacity?
I joined the EIANZ TAS Division Committee in 2015 as both Committee Member and Treasurer. In early 2020, I stepped into the President role for the Division (as well as remaining Treasurer). I will be passing on the responsibilities of Treasurer to another willing committee member this year.

What motivated you to volunteer your time with the EIANZ?
I love working with people who have shared interests and are passionate about best practice environmental management. I have worked in the field for around 25 years and have met some inspirational people during that time. As an experienced practitioner, I believe it is our role to give back to those environmental scientists in their early careers – to guide and influence and provide opportunities for networking and professional growth.

The EIANZ is an amazing avenue to both share and gain knowledge through the people you meet. 

What do you enjoy about volunteering? What are the benefits?
Volunteering in this way is very rewarding. In any volunteer role I meet amazing people, share ideas, and have heaps of fun along the way. I feel it my responsibility to give back in this way, and so much personal and professional growth can be gained in volunteer roles.

Would you recommend volunteering?
Yes, I would recommend volunteering. One thing I have learnt from my own volunteering experiences is that it not only feels good to do it, but doors can open through volunteering and the people you meet.

Jane Munday MEIANZ | Secretary, Northern Territory (NT) Division and NT representative on the national Social Impact Assessment (SIA) Community of Practice

Jane is the Secretary of the EIANZ NT Division and the NT representative on the national Social Impact Assessment (SIA) Community of Practice, led by Dr Sheridan Coakes and Rachel Maas. Jane has been a member of the EIANZ since 2017.

How long have you volunteered with the EIANZ and in what capacity?
I joined the national EIANZ SIA Working Group (now Community of Practice) three years ago and the NT Division Committee in late 2018. I was also on the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) Program Committee for the 2018 Brisbane Conference.

What motivated you to volunteer your time with the EIANZ?
I was doing my PhD on social and cultural impact assessment and very driven to improve policy and practice. I had done two IAIA certificates on SIA and attended several IAIA and EIANZ conferences but there wasn’t a professional body in Australia representing social impact assessment practitioners so I was quite excited to connect with a group of people with similar aims. The NT President, Jeff Richardson, then persuaded me to join the EIANZ NT Division Committee.

What do you enjoy about volunteering? What are the benefits?
I have been involved with various professional associations most of my working life. It’s an excellent way to connect with your peers, share knowledge, advocate for your industry and help younger practitioners looking for professional development and mentoring.

Our NT Division Committee, under President Jeff Richardson, is multidisciplinary and proactive. We have contributed responses to local environmental and economic reforms, run strategic planning workshops, surveyed our members and hold regular and topical events and webinars.

The national SIA Community of Practice group has contributed to national conference programs and is part of a discussion on certification of practitioners. We have provided responses to the EPBC Act review and the current review of the NSW SIA Guidelines for State Significant Projects (which is leading practice!).

Dr Richard Parsons, Chris Sunderland and I prepared a resources page for the EIANZ website as a repository of case studies and useful guides. I have also drawn on my PhD research to contribute an SIA guide.

Would you recommend volunteering?
Absolutely. It is stimulating to be part of a motivated group with diverse perspectives but collaborative approaches. We are all busy people, but a quality civil society depends on its volunteers. Volunteering can chew up a lot of time, but the effort is commensurate with the rewards!

Dr Emma Pharo MEIANZ | Committee Member, Tasmania (TAS) Division

Dr Emma Pharo is a member of the EIANZ TAS Division Committee. Emma has been a member since 2020 and has had a long association with the Institute.

How long have you volunteered with the EIANZ and in what capacity?
I’ve had an association with EIANZ for around 12 years through the legendary Dr John Todd, who was very active in the EIANZ Tasmania Division for a long time. The EIANZ has been associated with my Environmental Impact Assessment unit over many years.

What motivated you to volunteer your time with the EIANZ?
EIANZ members have contributed their expertise to our University of Tasmania students over many years. Their selflessness in volunteering time to talk through case studies, their careers, and comment on student work motivated me to sign up and to join the TAS Division Committee.

What do you enjoy about volunteering? What are the benefits?

As a long time academic, I love the contact with environmental professionals. It’s interesting for me, personally and professionally. And of course, my students benefit through direct and indirect contact with members.
Would you recommend volunteering?
Definitely. Students often ask me how they can get their careers started and my first suggestion is to get involved in the EIANZ. Go to webinars and events. Meet people. Get involved!

Alex Prideaux | Chair, National Students and Early Career (SEC) Committee and Committee Member, South East Queensland (SEQ) Division

Alex is Chair of the EIANZ’s National SEC Committee and a member of the SEQ Division Committee. Alex has been a member of the EIANZ since 2016.

How long have you volunteered with the EIANZ and in what capacity?
I’ve been volunteering with the EIANZ since about 2016. I originally joined the EIANZ after hearing about it on a two-week field trip at university. Initially, I helped out by facilitating events for the local Student and Early Career and Professional Development Committees. Before taking on my role as Chair of the National Student and Early Career Committee, I was Chair of the SEQ Student and Early Career Professionals Committee for two years.

What motivated you to volunteer your time with the EIANZ?
Initially, wanting to understand more about the types of work possible in the environmental industry. A key strength of the EIANZ is its diverse membership. Many of the different facets of the environment profession are represented, so learning from this diversity was a key motivator for me to start volunteering.

Today, it’s very much the fun and inspirational people I get to work with and the challenge of developing new initiatives to benefit our student and early career members that keeps me motivated.

What do you enjoy about volunteering? What are the benefits?
It’s a great way to meet new people in a way that goes beyond the connections you might make through attending networking events. I’ve been fortunate to develop some trusted professional relationships through the EIANZ and some great friendships along the way too. The sense of being supported in your career and being able to support others in theirs, is a great feeling.

Volunteering is also a great way to learn through others and ensure that your knowledge of the industry and current environmental issues is kept up to date.

Would you recommend volunteering?
Absolutely. If you have the time to commit it's a very rewarding thing to do. Volunteering is exciting because it’s an opportunity to start making positive changes wherever you are passionate, regardless of your career experience or seniority. You can grow personally and professionally as well as meet some outstanding people along the way, many of whom will share similar interests.

EIANZ Membership

EIANZ membership is open to environmental practitioners at all stages of their career – from students to established professionals. As an EIANZ member, you are part of a supportive, professional community contributing to the development and implementation of environmental best practice. 

Learn more >