Who We Are

Our Team

Staff

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Charlie Welker BSC (Hons)

Managing Director, Senior Principal

Charlie founded Strategen in 1994. Prior to this he worked at a senior level in environmental agencies in both WA and Victoria. Charlie has extensive experience in environmental management and impact assessment of a variety of mining, mineral processing, water supply and infrastructure proposals in Western Australia. He has managed a number of major environmental projects involving sub-contractor management and has considerable experience of water resource management issues and policy development.

Charlie has conducted major reviews of environmental practices and procedures, the most recent being a strategic review of the WA licensing system. He was a full time Deputy Chairman of the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority and a senior staff member of the (then) Department of Conservation and Environment and the (then) Western Australian Planning Commission. Charlie is also a Certified Lead Environmental Auditor with RABQSA International.
Darren Walsh BAppSc (Environmental Health); Post-Grad Dip (EIA); MSc (Environmental Science)

Chief Executive Officer, Senior Principal

Darren joined Strategen in May 2011 from Satterley Property Group where he held senior executive positions including National General Manager – Residential Communities and Deputy Managing Director. Darren was responsible for government relations, project approvals and project delivery across metropolitan Perth, South-West WA and the Pilbara, along with Northern Queensland and Melbourne operations.

As a former Independent Appeals Convenor to the Minister for the Environment, Darren facilitated approval outcomes for major resource and development projects across Western Australia. Prior to this, he was the Planning Assessment Manager at the Department of Environmental Protection where he managed assessments of planning schemes and amendments, subdivision and infrastructure proposals and strategic planning projects. Darren also represented the Department and Environmental Protection Authority on a range of committees and project teams.

Darren also worked for 10 years in senior local government planning and environmental roles.
Harry Ventriss BE (Civil)

Senior Principal

Harry is a civil engineer with more than 30 years of experience in the water industry at a State and national level, involving water resource engineering, planning and management. Since joining Strategen in 2001, Harry has been engaged as a Principal in a variety of projects extending across a range of industry sectors, including water management and planning, energy projects, land development and mining. Major projects have involved environmental impact assessment and approvals, water source yield assessments, determination of environmental water requirements, legislative reviews, policy development, and project management.

Harry has extensive experience in water resources engineering, planning and management, particularly in the groundwater field, as well as experience in senior management and policy formulation. He has an extensive knowledge and experience of the environmental approval process and administration of water licensing. He also has considerable knowledge of geology, hydrology, and hydrogeology. Harry’s prior experience was gained through a career in the WA Public Service in which he attained the position of Director, Regional Services in the Water and Rivers Commission.
Roger Banks Cert FFW and Timber Tech

Principal

Roger joined Strategen in 2007 manages our office in Bunbury. He is an experienced operational land manager, with a wide range of environmental and natural resource land management skills. Roger has demonstrated skills in forest management standards and ISO 14001 compliance; threatened species management; natural resource risk management; wild fire planning and suppression; and, industrial plantation development and management on both private and government land.

Prior to joining Strategen, Roger has worked for Integrated Tree Cropping Limited and the Forests Department/Department of Conservation and Land Management (now DEC). Roger is experienced with the CALM Act 2000 and its regulations and procedures, the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950, and the requirements of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 and its regulations and required approvals.

Roger has delivered presentations and prepared numerous government and private company reports ranging from Management Plans, Development Proposals, Safety and Compliance reports, Board reports, Gap analysis and Strategic Planning documents.
Lisa Adams BEnvSc (Hons)

Principal

Lisa is Strategen's lead consultant for marine and land developments. Since joining Strategen in 2004, Lisa has gained extensive experience in the project management and preparation of environmental impact assessments for a range of mining, land and coastal development projects. Lisa is experienced in developing approvals strategies; preparing and managing scopes of work for relevant specialist consultants; reviewing the adequacy of baseline environmental investigations; agency and stakeholder liaison; and, the project management of environmental investigations and monitoring programs required for environmental impact assessments.

Lisa has been the lead environmental consultant on a number of major land and coastal development projects which has given her a detailed understanding of planning processes, land and coastal development issues, environmental management and policy. Lisa has a particular interest in environmental policy and legislation which have enabled her to provide strategic approvals advice relating to a range of State and Federal environmental approvals processes, including the Browse LNG Strategic Assessment and the Mineralogy Expansion Project.

Lisa previously worked as a hydrologist with the Department of Agriculture which involved researching, monitoring and providing information on hydrogeology and salinity issues on the south coast of Western Australia.
Peter Browne-Cooper BSc

Principal

Peter joined Strategen in 2006 with More than 20 years experience in environmental management through his employment in the Department of Environment and Conservation as a Director of Evaluation, Pollution Prevention and Policy and Strategic Studies Divisions, and more recently as a consultant.

His experience includes environmental impact assessment, pollution control, environmental quality standards and indices, policy development, legislation development and law enforcement. Peter also has international experience spanning 20 years in environmental project formulation and review, cleaner production and pollution control strategies and action plans, policy and program development, quality assurance and the establishment and strengthening of environmental institutions.
Tim Bowra BSc

Principal

Tim joined Strategen in April 2011 after a successful career with the Department of Environment and Conservation (formerly Department of Conservation and Land Management). Tim has extensive experience in Government processes, senior management, project administration, environmental policy preparation and implementation, environmental approvals and land management.

Along with his extensive on-ground operational experience in areas such as rehabilitation, fire control, biodiversity conservation, dryland salinity, urban bush management and social planning, Tim has held senior management positions including District Manager (Wheatbelt); Manager of Perth’s Regional Parks; Principal Policy Officer with the Minister for the Environment; and, Principal Policy Officer with DEC’s Director General.
Hugh Chevis BSc (Forestry); MSc (Forestry and Land Management)

Principal

Hugh worked for 15 years in senior roles including Service Delivery Director at the National Native Title Tribunal, where he was responsible for State registry operations nationally and 170 staff in six State/Territory offices. He represented the Tribunal on the Attorney General’s Native Title Claim Resolution Review in 2005/06, Legal and Constitutional Senate Estimates Committee hearings, the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Native Title and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Fund.

Hugh’s achievements during his time at the Tribunal include implementation of the amendments to the Native Title Act from 1998, application of the registration test to over 700 claims, management of future act matters (mining), introduction of Indigenous Land Use Agreements and mediation of native title applications.

Earlier in his career, Hugh worked for the former Department of Conservation and Land Management for 16 years in various positions including Regional Manager of the Pilbara, Manager of the Marine Branch, District Manager of Albany and Walpole Districts and a Research Scientist.

Hugh has extensive knowledge and experience of environmental, resource management and social issues, and skills in management, negotiation and mediation to a range of significant, often ground breaking projects. These projects have been in the government sector, in a government commercial setting (pine share-farming) and in private enterprise (consulting mediation, forestry) over a 25 year career.
Linda Kirchner BSc (Geology) (Hons); Grad Dip Env Sci

Associate

Linda is Strategen's lead consultant for Mining Services. She is an Environmental Science Graduate of Murdoch University and an honours graduate in Geology from Monash University. She has experience in environmental project management including environmental impact assessment, rehabilitation and revegetation, environmental and construction management, fire and risk management, mining proposals and closure planning, and community consultation.

Linda has a detailed understanding of environmental management processes, ecology and bushland management as well as State and Federal requirements relating to mining approvals, mine operation and closure. She has wide experience liaising and working with Government agency representatives, mining companies and community groups. Prior to joining Strategen in March 2008, Linda worked in the gold mining industry and with various local governments in the Perth Metropolitan Region.
Jeremy Mitchell BSc (Cons Biol); BA (Sus Dev)

Associate

Jeremy is Strategen's lead consultant for ecological services. He graduated from Murdoch University with degrees in Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development. Since joining Strategen in 2006, Jeremy has consulted on number of projects, ranging from mining ventures and large infrastructure projects to land subdivisions. In this time Jeremy has gained experience in environmental impact assessment, preparation of environmental management plans, environmental constraints assessment, Environmental Protection Act 1986 (Parts IV and V) and Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 approvals and rehabilitation. Jeremy is a provisional Auditor with RABQSA International in the Environmental Auditor scheme.

Prior to tertiary study Jeremy had several years experience working in the areas of rural land and catchment management and conservation, assisting landholders to assess and manage key issues such as salinity and biodiversity loss.
Liam Heitson PhD (Sociology); BA (Hons Sociology)

Associate

Liam is Strategen's Social Management and Support team leader. He joined Strategen in 2011 and brings a wealth of experience in the private, public and academic sectors. Liam is recognised globally as a leading researcher in developing new ways of making social science relevant for communities.

Liam recently completed work as the lead researcher for the first socio-economic impact assessment of the Christmas Island Immigration Detention Centre - the first impact assessment of its kind in Australia. He worked closely with local ethnic groups to assess the impacts of the detention centre on the community of Christmas Island. His research yielded new insights into the local community and the positive and negative impacts of the centre.

Prior to this, Liam delivered the award winning stakeholder and community engagement program for the Roe Highway Extension Project – a large scale road infrastructure project with multiple affected communities and high potential for public outrage. The project was awarded the IAP2 Australia and New Zealand Regional Project of the Year in 2011 for adhering to IAP2 Core Values and achieving an 80% community satisfaction rate. Liam played a pivotal role in the options analysis process to determine the road alignment through the sensitive Beeliar Wetlands area and he designed and implemented the engagement outcomes measurement process for the project.

Liam specialises in coordinating and delivering rigorous social research programmes including social profiles, social impact assessment, behaviour change programmes and community engagement.
Anna Welker BSocSc (Geography & History) (Hons); BSc (Landscape Management)

Consultant

Anna joined Strategen in 2006 and since then, has developed considerable expertise in environmental impact assessments, environmental management plans and EPBC referrals. Anna has also gained experience in social and visual impact assessments and offset implementation plans.

Anna has undertaken extensive training in the area of geographic information systems and has expertise in data interrogation, analysis, environmental drafting and map presentation. Her role has involved the manipulation of data to determine environmental constraints and analysis of/mapping areas of vegetation condition and fauna habitat. She has also developed her office administration skills including project and subcontractor administration, quality assurance and accounting.
Bart Downe BSc (Development Studies)(Hons)

Senior Consultant

Bart has an honours degree in Development Studies from the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England. Bart joined Strategen in 2009 and since then has been involved in preparing environmental impact assessment documentation, environmental management plans and related secondary approvals under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (WA) and Mining Act 1978 (WA).

Bart’s prior experience included Environmental Officer at Esperance Port (2007 - 2009) where he was responsible for implementing the Port’s operating licence issued under the EP Act and facilitating improvements to environmental management at the Port following lead pollution events in 2006.

Bart is a Provisional Auditor with RABQSA International in the Environmental Auditor scheme. Bart has held industry management and licensing roles within the Western Australian Water and Rivers Commission, Department of Environment and Department of Water.
Alix Chinnery BSc; BEc

Environmental Scientist

Alix graduated from the University of Western Australia in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Economics majoring in Marine and Coastal Management and International Business Economics.

Alix has expertise in project planning, field sampling, spatial data analysis using ArcGIS software, use of economic market theory and mathematic modelling to approach environmental issues and problem solving.

Since joining Strategen in 2010 Alix has gained experience in the environmental approvals process, the management of environmental issues in mining and land development, and social impact assessment including socio-economic profiling and baseline studies.
Jeannette Crute MSc (Geography/Geology/Cartography) (Hons)

Senior Consultant

Jeannette completed her degree in Geography at Humboldt University and Free University in Berlin/Germany, and joined the Strategen team in 2010. Prior to joining Strategen, Jeannette worked with environmental consultancies in Germany, Namibia and Australia. She was involved in preliminary contaminated site and land degradation assessments, undertook groundwater flow modelling to assess the environmental impacts of mine dewatering and mapped modelling results.

With CSIRO, Jeannette worked on Managed Aquifer Recharge projects, undertaking hydrogeological field and laboratory work, groundwater flow modelling and mapping. She was also involved in the nationally significant South West Western Australia Sustainable Yield project, reporting on the hydrogeology and physiography of the project area, as well as conducting mapping and undertaking database management. Jeannette has experience in liaison and working with Government agency representatives, clients and community groups.

Since joining Strategen, Jeannette has further developed her knowledge of data management and GIS mapping. She also gained experience in Commonwealth referrals for “conservation significant species” listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Karen Britza BEnvSc (Hons)

Consultant

Karen is an Environmental Science graduate from Murdoch University. She has experience in environmental project management including rehabilitation and revegetation, environmental management, and community consultation.

Karen has a detailed understanding of environmental management processes, ecology and bushland management. She has wide experience liaising and working with Government agency representatives, environmental contractors and community groups. Prior to joining Strategen in September 2010, Karen worked with various local governments in the Perth Metropolitan Region.
Margaret Dunlop BEng (Hons); BSc

Senior Consultant

Margaret joined Strategen in 2010 and leads our Water Resource Management business. She has degrees in Environmental Engineering (with first class honours) and Soil Science. Margaret brings to Strategen nine years of practical experience working in the field of environment and water resources.

A significant part of Margaret’s experience involves the development, approvals and implementation of major urban developments, as well as infrastructure projects. Margaret also has a detailed understanding of planning and environmental processes in Western Australia. She has the ability to convey complex environmental and technical issues in a manner suitable for regulators, laypeople and technical experts.
Nicole McAlinden BEnvSc (Hons); MSc

Senior Consultant

Nicole is a Senior Consultant with particular expertise in environment and health. Nicole joined Strategen in 2009 after nine years experience working in environmental health at both a State and National level. Nicole is experienced in project management, stakeholder liaison, environment and health investigations, risk management and communication and preparation of strategic policy advice.

Nicole previously worked as a Senior Policy Officer with the Department of Health and Executive Officer for the national enHealth Council.
Kay Forgie

Administration

Kay joined Strategen in 2009 as an administration assistant and brings 20 years of administration experience gained in the health, finance, mining and education field.
Nicole Zago BE (Chemical)

Senior Consultant

Nicole joined Strategen in 2007 and since then, has gained experience in assessment processes under the EP Act and EPBC Act for both mining and industrial projects. Nicole has prepared referrals, environmental impact assessment documentation (such as PERs and ERMPs) and project specific environmental management plans.

In 2008/2009, Nicole was seconded to the environmental team for the Woodside Pluto LNG Project assisting in review and evaluation of contractor documentation, tender evaluation, preparing, maintaining and reviewing Environmental Compliance, Conditions and Commitment Registers, preparation of documentation for approval by various regulatory bodies, conducting Hazard Identification Workshops and providing advice on environmental incidents.

Prior to joining Strategen, Nicole was in the Mining and Industrial Branch of EPA Service Unit. In her role as an Environmental Officer at the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority, she was involved in investigating, assessing, advising and reporting on the environmental impacts of industrial, mining and petroleum and infrastructure development proposals under Part IV of the Environmental Protection Act 1986. Her role also included assessing industrial projects such as power stations, wastewater treatment plants and other heavy industries as well as mining proposals.
Philip Brand BSc (Animal Science) (Hons)

Consultant

Philip joined Strategen in July 2010 and brings to Strategen, two-and-a-half years experience in environmental planning and management. Philip’s previous employment involved environmental impact assessments for various industrial and urban development projects; environmental planning, management and monitoring; and water planning. To date, Philip’s projects have been largely associated with urban development on the Swan Coastal Plain.
Robyn Chesney BA; BSc

Consultant

Robyn has degrees in Mass Communication, Molecular Biology and Conservation Biology. Prior to joining Strategen in 2010, Robyn worked as a botanist, coordinating and reporting on vegetation surveys in the Southwest, Pilbara and Goldfields botanical regions of Western Australia.

Robyn also has a background in agriculture, having previously worked in a technical capacity for the Western Australian Department of Agriculture and Food in Plant Pathology. She has also undertaken research for the Conservation Tillage Research Centre, based at the China Agricultural University in Beijing.
Zac Cockerill BSc (Animal Science)

Consultant

Zac joined Strategen in 2010 after two years experience working for the Department of Agriculture and Food WA in Carnarvon, Western Australia. During this time he gained invaluable experience in livestock management, animal production and nutrition, pastoral land management, rehabilitation of degraded sites, flora and fauna surveys and monitoring, pastoral lease auditing and biosecurity management.

Since joining Strategen’s regional office in Bunbury, Zac has furthered his understanding of environmental management processes and knowledge of environmental policy and guidelines. He has successfully completed public response to submissions on environmental impact assessment documentation (mining), undertaken public consultation, conducted land capability assessments and participated in environmental audits.

Zac has also prepared new mining proposals, conducted preliminary site investigations, prepared environmental management plans and has been involved in the preparation of environmental impact assessment documentation and approvals under WA’s Environmental Protection Act 1986 and the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Mat Brook BSc (Hons); M.Int.Pol.

Senior Consultant

Mat has an Honours degree in Geography majoring in environmental geology and geography as well as a Masters degree in International Politics. Mat joined Strategen in 2008 and has experience in the preparation of environmental impact assessment documentation and approvals under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (WA) and Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Mat previously worked in China for the Greater Mekong Subregion Study Centre on a variety of natural resource management, water quality and development projects as well as delivering training to Post-graduate students on environmental sustainability.
Catherine Rea BSc (Hons)

Senior Consultant

Catherine joined Strategen in 2011 with a background in environmental approvals (land development) at other Perth-based environmental consultancies and with State Government. Catherine originally graduated from the University of Western Australia in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) majoring in Land and Water Management and Physical Geography.

Catherine has six years experience, working predominantly in environmental impact assessment and statutory approvals of land development and resource projects. Catherine has had experience in project management, preparation of environmental assessment reports and management plans, environmental risk assessments, environmental approvals strategies and EIA documentation.
Elfira Jacob BSc; BB (Env Mgt & Int Business)

Consultant

Elfira graduated from Edith Cowan University with a Bachelor of Science/ Bachelor of Business majoring in Environmental Management and International Business.

Prior to joining Strategen in October 2011, Elfira worked in the electrical services industry, where her role comprised of setting up and delivering environmental training to all levels of staff, site inspections and depot audits.

Since joining Strategen, Elfira has worked on the Ord River Irrigation Project and was responsible for the preparation of the Aquatic Fauna Management Plan.
Christine Ingram BSc (Hons); PhD

Senior Consultant

Christine joined Strategen in 2011 having previously held a senior position with Synergetics Environmental Engineering. She has three years experience in the environmental field working as a consultant on a broad range of projects, predominantly in air quality for the resource and waste sectors, across Australia. Christine has a strong technical background and project management skills developed from working in multi-disciplinary teams.

Prior to entering the environmental field, Christine held a bioprocess scientist position with a biotechnology company providing process research and development consulting services primarily to the pharmaceutical and fine chemical industries in the UK. She has also worked in the Biocatalysis and Purification research groups within the Bioprocess Research and Development department for Merck & Co. Inc in the USA. Having worked under quality systems, Christine has a high level of attention to detail and technical rigour.
Kassey Truesdale BSc (Environmental Science)

Consultant

Kassey joined Strategen in May 2011 having worked in contaminated sites, acid sulphate soils, oil and gas, and uranium and other mining. Her experience includes project management, environmental sampling, site supervisory roles, environmental advisory roles, environmental data interpretation, reporting, planning and design of sampling and analysis plans, and strategic environmental planning.

Kassey has coordinated and supervised botany and native heritage surveys and has experience helping client to achieve compliance with environmental regulatory permits. She has exposure to environmental emergency response, waste management, environmental field auditing of geotechnical drilling rigs and implementation of systems-based efficiency approaches. Kassey has worked on numerous contaminated land investigations, including preliminary site investigations, continued monitoring as part of routine and high risk detailed site investigations, coordination of historical and current environmental databases, and conceptual site modelling.
Elizabeth Congear BSc (Environmental Biology) BA (Social Science – Geography)

Senior Consultant

Elizabeth joined Strategen in May 2011. Her experience includes management of environmental impact assessments for major resource projects in Western Australia. She has worked on projects in the Pilbara and Midwest regions of Western Australia and in the Northern Territory.

Elizabeth’s environmental impact assessment experience includes project coordination, management of sub-consultants, development of impact assessment documents, facilitation of industry and stakeholder liaison, development and implementation of supporting documentation including environmental management plans, risk assessment and hazard identification, closure plans and mining proposals to support the impact assessment process.
Julia Morgan BSc MEP

Julia recently joined Strategen in January 2012 from an engineering consultancy firm in Victoria. With over five years experience in both the private and public sectors, Julia has worked predominantly in strategic and statutory land development approvals and environmental impact assessment (EIA) in Victoria and New Zealand.

Julia graduated from Lincoln University (New Zealand) with a Master of Environmental Policy (Hons) and has an excellent understanding of environmental issues involved in both rural and urban settings. Through her work on high profile, multi-disciplinary projects, Julia has sharpened her skills in stakeholder engagement and liaison, data analysis, critical assessment of development proposals against environmental legislative requirements, and her overall project management and analytical skills.