Director, Strategy, Governance and Engagement - Responsible for leading the governance and legal functions of the environment department. Responsibilities include the following:
- Providing governance advice to the Secretary of the Department
- Ensuring that the department has access to high quality, timely legal advice
- Ensuring that the risk and audit function of the department is operating effectively
- Chair of the Accredited Purchasing Unit
- Assisting a significant restructure of the Department
During the 12 months I worked with the Government of Nauru, I provided technical, policy and planning advice across a range of areas including climate change, renewable energy, waste management, biodiversity conservation and integrated water resource management. My key projects included:
- Working in close partnership with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat to develop and finalise the Pacific Climate Change Finance Assessment Framework - Nauru Case Study
- Working in partnership with GIZ/SPC on the development of an Energy Road Map for the Government of Nauru
- Working with the Government of Nauru to develop and finalise the National Water Sanitation and Hygiene Policy and Implementation Plan
- Assisting in the development of RONAdapt, the Republic of Nauru Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction Framework
For 3 years I was the Executive Director responsible for climate change policy and projects within the South Australian Government. This included the effective financing of climate change projects and ensuring that key institutional and human capacity frameworks were in place. Some of my key projects during this period included:
- The development of South Australia’s Adaptation Framework following exhaustive national and state consultations with academics, the private sector, senior officials and ministers and extensive research. The Framework has received national recognition in Australia for its innovative and collaborative approach to climate change adaptation. The World Bank is also in the process of investigating the approach to determine its applicability to other parts of the world.
- Development and implementation of the South Australian Government’s international climate change program. This program included the provision of assistance to regions in developing countries.
- Work with local government, state government and the private sector on an innovative financing mechanism to facilitate the retrofitting of energy efficiency measures in office accommodation in South Australia.
- Overseeing the development of a low emission vehicle strategy for South Australia to accelerate uptake of these vehicles in the state
- Overseeing various demonstration projects, which were funded through South Australia’s Building Innovation Fund, including trials of mini-wind turbine and co-generation technologies and the installation of green roofs on large office building
I led the development of climate change policy for the South Australian Government. Some key projects that I was responsible for during that time include:
- The development of Tackling Climate Change: South Australia’s Greenhouse Strategy which is South Australia's long-term response to climate change and which was developed after significant consultation with industry, community, academia, local councils and government. The strategy sets out specific goals and targets for South Australia, recommended ways to achieve them and identifies key action areas.
- Work on a net metering policy for the State to increase the use of renewable energy at the household level. As a result of this policy South Australia now has the highest rate of solar roof top penetration in the country, with 170,000 households with solar panels, twice the national average.
During this period I had lead responsibility for the Corporation’s policy and strategy function. This included responsibility for the following functions and projects:
- Providing policy and strategic advice to the Corporation’s Board and CEO
- Developing a strategic plan for the Corporation
- Contributing to the development of a national film policy framework, including a new film funding model
- Developing a business case for a major film studio hub for South Australia
- Working with the South Australian film industry on an industry development plan
- Providing advice to CEO and Board on public sector governance issues
I was responsible for leading the policy function within the office of the secretary of the department. This included responsibility for the following functions and projects:
- Providing policy advice and analysis to the Secretary and relevant Government Ministers on transport, urban planning and urban regeneration issues
- Contributing to the preparation of the Departments budget proposals, budget papers and annual report
- Supporting and advising Boards and Committees associated with the Department
- Providing advice to Ministers and the Secretary regarding law reform including during the parliamentary process
- Developing whole of government and regional approaches to urban regeneration, service delivery and economic development
Countries of Work Experience: Asia-Pacific: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Vanuatu
Other regions: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Comoros, Dominica, Egypt, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Madagascar, Mauritius, Montserrat, Norway, Seychelles, South Africa, St. Christopher and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, United Kingdom, Zimbabwe
Member - Pilot Program on Climate Resilience (PPCR) Independent Review Expert Roster appointed by the Climate Investment Funds (CIF)
Member, Roster of Experts (Climate Change) appointed by the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) of the Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Member - Roster of Experts (Climate Change) appointed by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID)
Member - Roster of Legal Experts on Biosafety (Latin America and Caribbean), appointed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Elected member of the International Council of Environmental Law(ICEL) (based at the Environmental Law Centre of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) in Bonn, Germany)
Member of the Canadian Bar Association (CBA)
Advocate of the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe
Chartered Mediator (Environment) accredited by the Arbitration and Mediation Institute of Canada (AMIC) - Chair of the Accreditation and Training Committee (Regional), 1996-2002
Member, Board of Directors of the Association of Professional Environmental Auditing (APEA) - Member of the Standards, Training and Accreditation Committee, 1996-2002
Former Member of the Standards Committee appointed by the Forest Stewardship Council for Atlantic Canada
GRI Stakeholder Council Oceania (Vice Chair) GRI Focal Point Australia (Chair) Environment Institute of Australia and New Zeenaland (EIANZ) Association for Sustainability in Business (ASB) International Association for Public Participation (IAP2 The Total Environment Centre – Board member The Climate Institute – Climate Partner Green Cross Australia – Business Adaptation Network Infrastructure Sustainability Council Australia – Founding member Asian Pacific Network for Climate Adaptation
Director - Environment Policy of Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) Sydney, Australia; key negotiator to provide policy advice to the Minister of Climate
Executive Director - Environment at Hornsby Shire Council, Hornsby Australia
Senior Researcher, Sustainability at Institute for Sustainable Futures, ISF, Sydney Australia
Legal Specialist (Climate Change/Environmental Law/MEAs)
Community Development Specialist
Proposal Writing
Community Trainer Specialist
Capacity building specialist
Environmental and social safeguards specialists
Countries of Work Experience: Australia, New Zealand USA Canada England Europe Union countries Japan South East Asia Pacific India Africa Brazil
Senior Executive -Sustainability and Climate Change at RPS Group. Worked with leading international and Australian organisations on a host of climate risk strategies. Role was to help clients understand the exposure, adaptive capacity and sensitivity of assets, operations, services, suppliers and communities to climate risks and to assist them in proactively improving their planning and preparedness. Role included providing training and mentoring in climate and sustainability across the private and public sector. Board member and Vice Chair of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Stakeholder Council for over six years representing Oceania – collaborating on corporate social responsibility (CSR) with governments, international agencies and leading companies across the globe. Chair of GRI Focal Point Australia over that same period. Member of the Asia Pacific Network for climate adaptation.
Responsible for managing a service line of 50 plus professional staff globally who provide sustainability services. Stella provided services to many of Australia’s top 100 companies on their sustainability performance and services; this work has included corporate social responsibility work. Stella lead consultancy advice to major public and private sector clients internationally on urban planning, green building, environment, CSR, Sustainability Strategy and GRI reporting. She led the development of tools, methodologies and protocols, and was also responsible for the oversight of GHD’s 2009 CSR Reporting framework, including an advisory role to GHD Board. While at GHD Stella was responsible for many of the firm’s strategic partnerships, including the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) – both the global network and the GRI Focal Point Australia based at the Saint James Ethics Centre.
Key Government’s negotiator with major local government, corporate, industry and other stakeholders on complex environment, planning and sustainability reforms. Provided policy advice to the Minister of Climate
Change, Water and the Environment, as well as the Premier, Planning, Local Government, Health and Transport Ministers. This advice spanned a large variety of policies, strategies or legislative changes. Pioneered climate change adaptation plans (COAG National Climate Change Adaptation Framework) and led the publication of NSW State of the Environment Report as well as running water and air community education campaigns (Water for Life, greenhouse and Clear the Air Campaigns. Responsible for the delivery of major multi-million dollar environmental and sustainability programs including the Sustainability Advantage, Clean Air Fund, the Stormwater Trust and more recently work on the Urban Sustainability Program and Clean Air Healthy Communities Fund
While working at Hornsby Shire Council, was responsible for a April 2009 Australia Director -Environment department of 140 staff and managing a budget of AUD 23 million. Within this position was responsible for the planning and delivery of Council’s environment services, strategy and policy development. Role also included the delivery of award-winning sustainability initiatives and projects.
Established the ISF Local Government Unit from scratch -a small scientist and professional team.
In the first year of operation of the Unit generated > $400k consultancy income. The Unit undertook research and consultancy for broad range of clients on sustainable development, community development community, water, transport, waste, energy and environmental policy. Project included environmental management reviews and sustainability reporting for wide range of business, government and local council clients. Responsibilities included leading a pioneering action research project on local sustainability involving a large number of key councils in NSW and was author of the Commonwealth Local Agenda 21 Manual (1999).
Tutor in Justice Studies at Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, AustraliaDirector for Indigenous Employment Strategy and Policy at the Queensland Government Department of Employment, Economic Development and InnovationDirector - Office of the Director-General at the Queensland Government DepartmentExecutive Officer - Office of the Deputy Director-General Governance at Queensland Government Department of Premier and CabinetPrincipal Policy Officer - Disaster Management Project Team at Queensland Government Department of Emergency ServicesCountries of Work Experience: Australia, Tonga, VanuatuEstablishment of Black Business Finder online database, Brisbane, Jan 2011 to March 2012 Assessment of Skilling Queenslanders for Work critical success factors, Jan to March 2012 Queensland Government epartments membership of Australian Indigenous Minority Supplier Council, 2010 to 2012 Developing policy to increase Indigenous employment in Queensland Government procurement, 2009 to 2012 Assessment of the Indigenous Business Development Program, 2010 Representation on the Western Cape Communities Co-existence Agreement Committee, 2009 to 2012Developed policy on cyclones, floods, tsunamis, pandemics, exotic animal disease, terrorism and all hazards Implemented lessons learned from Tropical Cyclone Larry in far north Queensland Advised Queensland’s peak body, the State Disaster Management Group, on disaster risk management policy and operations Coordinated the Premier’s Cyclone Summit and visits from international delegationsDeveloped policy and plans on pandemic influenza, terrorism and all hazardsAdvised Queensland’s peak body, the State Disaster Management Group, on disaster risk management policy andoperations
Member of Siosiomaga Organisation of Samoa
Treasurer of Goshen Trust Board
Member of Woman Floriculture Club of Lautoka Fiji
Manager at Micro Finance Unit, Lautoka, Fiji
Lecturer in Agriculture/Horticulture and Business Manager APS, Samoa
Countries of Work Experience: Fiji, Hawaii