Sue Brand MEIANZ CEnvP  Senior Environmental Scientist (Manager of Consulting Business Unit) | Natural Area Consulting Management Services Qualifications | B.Sc, Post Grad Dip EIA, M.Sc (Environmental Science), Diploma of Environmental Science (Management), Diploma of Management, Grad Dip Ed (Adult and Tertiary), Cert IV Workplace Training and Assessment, CEnvP, L2 BPAD Practitioner

What do you do?

I am the manager of the consulting business unit within the organisation. We undertake a variety of projects for clients, including:

• auditing (approval conditions, sustainability conditions, other)
• preparation of management plans
• site assessments for various purposes
• flora, vegetation, fauna and fungi surveys
• bushfire planning and design work for individual lots and subdivisions
• overseeing environmental approvals processes
• monitoring and sampling
• environmental risk assessment
• community and stakeholder consultation
• annual compliance reporting
• and the list goes on! 

I manage all projects and review all reports, but also take a hands-on-role with many. That means making initial contact with the client, undertaking field work components and writing the reports.

Best aspect of your work?

The variety of projects I work on; the places I get to visit while doing so, like Purnululu, Broome, and Exmouth; and the people I meet along the way.

How did you get there?

The most fun way of getting to work one day was the Cessna from Kununurra out to Purnululu to do some auditing; the trip back a few days later was by road, so the best of both worlds in being to see this unique spot from the air and by land.

Biggest environmental concern?

Species decline – there is still much we don’t know and much we can be doing better. For example, I think there could be greater salvage efforts for plants in areas that are to be cleared.

How and why did you get involved in the EIANZ?

My desire was to join a professional organisation related to what I do, which is environmental science, so the choice was easy. Many years later, I am still a member. The journal is a great resource, with relevant and informed articles.