The Bush Habitat Restoration team is made up of local, passionate, and qualified professionals. Hover below to learn more about our management team.
Beka Macpherson
Director and Administration Coordinator
Beka has a bachelor’s degree in Event and Tourism Management and a wealth of experience spanning multiple sectors. She handles a broad range of responsibilities from email management and HR functions to payroll, administration, rostering and strategic leadership.
Skye Virgin
Director, Western Project Officer and Site Supervisor
Skye has spent 8 years working in the bush regeneration industry. She volunteers as a Bush Regenerator and wildlife rescuer. Skye has a passion for enhancing and protecting the environment.
Emily Kirby
Director, Northern Project Officer, Site Supervisor
Emily holds a Certificate III in Conservation and Land Management. Emily has been involved in the environmental restoration industry since 2021, having progressed through several roles including Trained Bush Regenerator and Supervisor. Working in their current role as Supervisor since 2023, Emily strives to achieve the highest standards of environmental management and restoration.
Melissa Farrell
Eastern Project Officer and Site Supervisor
Melissa holds a Certificate II in Bush Regeneration from Padstow TAFE and has been actively involved in environmental restoration since 1992. Experience in wetland construction, revegetation, rainforest restoration, and multiple applications of restoration work in Victoria, Far North Coast and Sydney Basin. Her extensive experience informs a holistic approach to ecological sustainability, ensuring the protection and rehabilitation of natural landscapes.
Dave Matthews
Site Supervisor
Dave is currently completing a Master of Conservation Biology and has been working in bush regeneration since 2022, gaining experience across various ecological communities across Sydney. He seeks to integrate insights from his ongoing studies to apply ecological research to effective restoration techniques, ensuring the best possible outcomes for site recovery and resilience.
Deb Rothwell
Site Supervisor
Deb has over 23 years experience in the bush regeneration field including Urban Bushland Management, Bush Regeneration and supervision roles at Strathfield, Sutherland and Hornsby Councils and at the National Green Jobs Corp – Auswide as a Trainer in Cert II Bush Regeneration. Deb gains great inspiration in seeing the efforts of her regeneration work pay off as bushland recovers and flourishes.
Jenny Heller
Site Supervisor
Since 2013, Jenny has worked as a volunteer bush regenerator for NPWS and Catchment Authorities. Having previously been a TAFE teacher for 25 years, Jenny completed a Diploma in Conservation and Land Management in 2019 and the Cert III in Conservation and Land Management in 2014. She also has qualifications in Education, Aboriginal Studies and Fine Art. Jennifer’s aim is for best practice and results in environmental restoration.