We love conservation volunteers!
Everything is better with Friends. That's why we support the the ultimate Friends of nature - the volunteers who protect and enhance our unique national parks, conservation parks, and state forests.
Love our national parks?
All protected areas in Queensland are connected to an engaged and supported community that is actively involved in conservation.
Our Vision
Our Mission
To build, connect, and support resilient communities engaged in on-ground conservation, research or education activities aimed at enhancing protected areas across Queensland.
Who
we are
Founded in 2022, Friends of Parks Queensland Incorporated is an ACNC-registered charity and umbrella organisation for Friends of Parks groups across the state. Our duty is to help Friends of Parks groups achieve their conservation goals and amplify the positive impact existing groups are having on the environment, while supporting new groups to form. We operate in partnership with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service & Partnerships.
What we do
Friends of Parks Queensland provides tailored support to our member groups based on their needs and the wishes of the land managers and Traditional Owners.
General Advice & Support
We support our members in a range of ways. Support may include admin assistance, site-specific plans from an ecologist, or general advice & strategy.
Grant Writing Assistance
We know funding is tight. We actively seek funding opportunities for our members and assist with grant applications and project planning.
Networking
A well-connected network is a powerful network. We can facilitate connections to not-for-profit, education, industry, and land managers as appropriate.
Sponsorship
We act as a sponsor for member groups seeking funding through government or non-government grant programs.
Volunteer Recruitment
Need extra on-ground volunteers, or help with social media? We connect our members with suitable volunteers to bring maximum benefits.
No Fee
We do not charge a membership fee or admin fee on grant projects, meaning more funding goes towards conservation.
Our team
Our team consists of experienced and passionate individuals who have dedicated their careers to environmental conservation, land management, and community engagement. Together, our team brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our work, and we are committed to making a positive impact on the environment and the communities we serve.
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Dr Alan Chenoweth is a landscape architect, environmental planner and ethicist with experience in landscape evaluation and impact assessment, design and site planning, land development, parks and horticulture, through >40 years in consultancy, teaching, and public sector roles including park management positions in Queensland. Alan’s expertise includes award-winning approaches to mapping the ‘green base’ for land use planning. He has also held the role of president or chair of four professional institutes and associations, and currently co-chairs the EIANZ Indigenous Engagement Working Group. Although semi-retired, Alan contributes to landscape and visual impact assessment (LVA) methodology, court-related expert witness roles, a local creek habitat restoration group, and the National Parks Association of Queensland.
Ms Leslie Shirreffs has extensive experience in environmental, natural resource, land and wildlife management, planning, policy and legislation. She has held responsibility for world heritage policy in Queensland as well as day to day management responsibility for the Queensland section of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area and served for six years as Chair of the Wet Tropics Management Authority, overseeing the protection and management of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. She also has served as park expert on the federal government’s Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Consultative Committee, the only non-Tasmanian appointee. Ms Shirreffs has considerable experience working with Aboriginal peoples across Queensland particularly in implementation of the Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger program and in working to reform legislation and policy as it affects Aboriginal peoples. Most recently, she has been involved in the establishment of the Gold Coast’s first Kombumerri Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger program. In 2012, she was awarded a Public Service Medal in the Australia Day Honours for outstanding public service to environmental conservation and management in Queensland. Serving on a number of boards and committees, she recently completed 3 years as Chair of the Queensland Heritage Council.
Guy Warren is a contemporary visual artist residing on Kombumerri country in the beautiful Tallebudgera Valley on the Gold Coast. Throughout his life, he has embraced various roles, from award-winning artist to teacher in a Japanese senior high school, and even as a member of a champion team on Family Feud. Guy has a deep passion for cultural and natural heritage, with a particular focus on Australia’s native apex predator, the dingo.
Lennert Veerman is a professor of Public Health at Griffith University, where he leads the Public Health & Economics Modelling group. Trained in the Netherlands, Lennert is passionate about creating healthier communities and environments. His research spans health economics, disease modelling, and the cost-effectiveness of prevention strategies, with a focus on improving wellbeing at both local and global levels.
Donna Jackson is the Senior Project Officer at Pioneer Catchment Landcare. Originally from England, her journey into conservation began in 1995. Balancing her work in mental health nursing with sustainable horticulture, she eventually shifted her focus entirely to plants. In 2006, she relocated to Australia, where she dedicated her career to nurturing both plants and people. With 15 years of experience in local government and parks, including her role in managing the Mackay Botanic Gardens, Donna has developed a strong background in conservation, management, and community engagement. She is passionate about environmental stewardship and creating beautiful spaces for wildlife.
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Seeing the surge in “Friends of Parks” groups during the pandemic, Jess saw the need for an organisation to support the amazing volunteers working in our natural areas with limited budgets and support. Jess is passionate about connecting communities with the environment and sciences, and has received numerous awards within the local Gold Coast community for her contributions to Friends of Nerang National Park. Although she doesn’t like to admit having favourites, she has a definite soft spot for greater gliders and the humble brown bandicoot. Jess holds a Master of Evolutionary Systems Biology and a Graduate Certificate in Environment.
Paul Revie has always had a passion for the environment, with a focus on citizen science, threatened species research and conservation management. He is the founder of the Quoll Society of Australia and a project officer at the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland, working primarily with threatened mammals. After spending years as a nature tour guide on Cape York, Paul emerged from the wilderness to finish university, and has since had roles as a bush regenerator, senior consultant, and even as a penguin keeper at Sea World. Paul is currently completing his Master’s thesis on the population ecology of spotted-tailed quolls.
Whitney brings a strong background in administration, finance, and operations to her role as Operations Coordinator at Friends of Parks Queensland. Based in regional Queensland, she has a deep appreciation for the natural landscapes and the communities that care for them. With experience in high-volume administrative roles, Whitney has supported finance teams, streamlined internal processes, and helped organisations run more smoothly behind the scenes. She is passionate about clear systems, practical communication, and helping others do their best work. Whitney is excited to support the growing FoPQ network and is committed to helping park friends groups thrive — one well-organised spreadsheet at a time.
Emma is a conservation biologist currently completing a Masters of Conservation Biology at The University of Queensland. She coordinates Springbrook Weedbusters, has experience as a ranger in Springbrook National Park, and as a tour guide for Southern Cross Tours. She is the host of the "Nature Inspired Podcast", sharing scientific concepts, environmental news, and ways to support nature. Emma believes the more we engage and educate in environmental science, the more people understand, value and care for Country.
Mark is a senior ecologist and leads projects in sustainability and renewable energy. Passionate about community conservation, he promotes biodiversity through workshops and initiatives such as Back from the Brink. Excited to join Friends of Parks Queensland, he looks forward to supporting a greener future.
Andrea holds a degree in Communication and has experience in socio-environmental projects focused on climate change adaptation in the Andes and Amazon of Peru. She is skilled in creating strategies that engage diverse audiences and delivers quality results through collaboration and teamwork. Andrea is empathetic, dedicated, and genuine in her professional approach.
Originally from Italy, MC has lived across multiple countries and has a diverse background, from training professionals in financial markets to earning her master’s degrees in Diplomatic Studies and Neuroscience. Now a coach for teens and parents, MC is also a dedicated long-term volunteer in environmental projects.
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