Dr. Derek Ball

Chairperson

Derek is a marine biologist and conservation ecologist who has worked for over 30 years in threatened species, and broader landscape and seascape management. He has worked within the public, private and not-for-profit sectors and is an experienced company director. Derek is a very strong advocate for collective impact - the art of building resourceful and innovative teams which can collectively solve our most pressing problems in the conservation of our natural environment.

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Ben Thomas

DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON & SENIOR LANDSCAPE ECOLOGIST

Ben has 15 year’s experience working as a Landscape Ecologist for state and local governments as well as a number of not-for-profit organisations.

Ben has wide-ranging expertise including: island pest-eradication; threatened flora and fauna recovery; fire and biodiversity interactions and grassland conservation.  

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Jacki McAvenna

Treasurer

Jacki is a highly skilled business and financial management professional with over 20 years of experience. She commenced her career in 1993 at PricewaterhouseCoopers, later working in a number of senior operational and commercial finance roles in the commerce sector.

Jacki uses her skills, experience and business clarity to assist not-for-profit organisations to attain financial sustainability. In 2016, she founded We Are Lumen, an accounting and advisory practice which specialises in operational and commercial finance for the not-for-profit sector. Jacki plays a vital and highly valued role as Treasurer for the TSC by ensuring our financial management systems and processes follow best practice at all times.

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Abi Smith

director, founder & CEO

Founder, Abi Smith (she/her) is a fauna ecologist who has over twenty years experience in threatened species recovery, animal husbandry and wildlife management.

Abi is an experienced company director and not-for-profit governance expert. Abi has worked for federal and state government, not-for-profit organisations as well as zoos and museums. In these positions she has managed large teams of environmental professionals, developed recovery strategies, undertook ecological research and managed large scale habitat rehabilitation projects. Abi has expertise in faunal ecology including ornithology and herpetology, with a special interest in island conservation and translocation ecology.

Abi holds a Masters of Environment, Bachelor of Science in Ecology, a Diploma of Leadership and Management and a Diploma of Governance for not-for-profits.