About

Who are we?

The people behind BMRG

The Burnett Mary Regional Group for Natural Resource Management Ltd. (BMRG) is the peak body for natural resource management (NRM) within the Burnett Mary region. Established in 2001, we are one of 56 national, not-for-profit regional bodies providing an essential link between the community and various programs procured by Government and other funding sources.

What do we do?

Fostering strong relationships

BMRG’s vision is “to protect and enhance the agricultural and natural environment of the Burnett Mary region for future generations”. We achieve this by directing investment into a wide range of community-based programs that deliver positive outcomes in the areas of ecological diversity, sustainable land management, water quality, cultural heritage values and coastal and marine management. Community collaboration and partnerships are paramount to us achieving our vision. We continue to foster strong relationships with a range of organisations including: Local, State and Federal Governments; Landcare and Catchment Care groups; Indigenous organisations; agricultural and industrial sectors; universities and schools.

MEET THE BOARD

Tony Ricciardi

In addition to serving for many years as a BMRG Director, Tony also has a long history of service in Local government. He served for seventeen years as an Isis Shire Councillor and post amalgamation, another seven years as a Bundaberg City Councilor. Tony is also a third generation cane farmer and has diversified into other crops including avocados and peanuts. His wealth of Local government experience, rural farming skills and previous experience as a Board member make him the ideal person to take up the role of Chair of BMRG.

Nadia Campbell

Nadia is a lawyer with previous experience in private practice, as well as having worked as an in-house counsel for the finance sector and government-owned corporations. Nadia has comprehensive experience in advising regarding high-level strategic development, and in communicating and negotiating with key stakeholders regarding finance, property acquisition, land management and operational performance. Nadia is also a skilled business leader with a focus on combining optimal business solutions with sustainability of the environment and local communities.

Dale Holliss

Dale is a current non-executive Director on the National Irrigators Council and Chair of the energy committee. He has a wealth of experience in a vast array of sectors, including economics and finance, natural resource management, agriculture, renewable energy and business management. Furthermore, he holds a Masters in Environmental Management, as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Agricultural Economics and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Horticultural Technology. Dale’s goal as a BMRG Director is to attain ecological sustainability in economic, environmental, social and cultural practices in the region.

Brent McLellan

Brent is the co-coordinator of the Port Curtis Coral Coast Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreement, the largest of its kind in Australia and dedicated to the perseveration and sustainability of the Port Curtis Coral Coast Region, including Great Barrier reef and Sandy Strait. Additionally, Brent manages the Gidarjil Land and Sea Ranger programs, ensuring that rangers and managers achieve sustainable management of natural resources, preservation of the region’s wildlife, and cultural heritage protection. As a proud Tarebilang Bunda, Goreng Goreng man, Brent collaborates with numerous partners and the community about Indigenous Elders’ aspirations for sea country, in accordance with his commitment to his people and to the future of the natural environment.

Elke Watson

Elke has extensive experience in both agriculture and governance. She currently runs a pasture-based dairy farm in the upper Mary valley with her husband, which has given her 35 years of natural resource management skills, as well as an award for Outstanding Land Managers from BMRG. She has served, and is currently serving, as director for multiple organisations dedicated to sustainable agriculture, and is presently the Chair for the Sunshine Coast branch of Subtropical Dairy. These roles have additionally afforded her extensive skill in strategic planning and management, experience that has made her an effective leader in her time on boards working with a multitude of different people in a variety of industries.

MEET THE TEAM

Sheila CharlesworthCEO

Leadership is about creating opportunities that enable your organisation to find successful outcomes. It’s also great to see young people develop and grow in their ability to deliver these opportunities. We all want to leave the world in a better place for future generations!

Pete KafkaOperations Manager

Leveraging my experience in operational excellence I will be driving operational discipline and rigor across BMRG ensuring strong systems and processes are in place to improve effectiveness and efficiency. My role will also lead BMRG’s digital and technical offering continuing to drive the digital transformation, including the drone program.

John CraigStrategy & Partnerships Manager

With a cross-disciplined background, I am passionate about designing and implementing the foundations teams need to be truly successful and realise their individual and combined potential.

Megan MagillPeople Culture/Communications Manager

I love connecting team’s collective knowledge, skills & experience under a unified brand & purpose to achieve positive outcomes we can all be proud of.

Abbie TaylorDeputy Operations Manager

I am passionate about protecting and preserving the marine environment. As a marine biologist I understand how fragile the Great Barrier Reef is and I am excited to contribute to its protection through coastal projects at BMRG.

Nick MacleanNatural Capital Ecosystems Manager

I love seeing holistic environmental outcomes achieved through partnerships with our stakeholders. Projects where once completed, everyone has a better understanding of the issue and the solutions – stronger country, stronger people. For me the glass is always half-full, and every cloud has a silver lining.

Emma BakerProject Coordinator

I come from four generations of farming in Australia. I live and breathe the Agricultural industry, thriving on the knowledge that I am helping people to improve their business productivity and sustainability.

Ryan TrottProject Coordinator

Having grown up in the grazing industry, I really love working with landholders to enhance their businesses, especially when they reap the rewards of sustainable agricultural practices. This is what motivates me to keep going.

Praktan WadnerkarProject Coordinator

I am passionate about finding innovative ways to solve problems. I have recently completed PhD in waterway management coupled with engineering Masters degree. I am experienced in managing teams and collaborating in research projects.

Ann McKenzieGrazing Land Management Officer

I enjoy working with people, having conversations and sharing information. I believe in healthy food, produced in a healthy environment.

Radka JackProject Officer

Originally from a Czech farming family, I appreciate the diverse and beautiful Australian environment. The need to proactively manage and safeguard it for future generations and my own children is important to me.

Hannah RussellPartnership Officer

I have a Bachelor of Applied Science and experience in the sugarcane industry as an extension officer. In my role as Project Officer, I look forward to collaborating with the community to improve water quality, stakeholder productivity and natural resource management.

James ThorleyProject Officer, GIS

Maintaining the unique high biological diversity Australia has to offer has been a passion of mine growing up. Developing holistic workflows and methodology throughout my environmental science and honours degrees has given me confidence to protect, maintain and restore natural resources. Now, I have the opportunity to practice this with BMRG as a project officer, while also incorporating Geographical Information Systems (GIS), as technological advances continue.

Bonnie NesbittRegional Agriculture Landcare Facilitator (RALF)

Passion for the natural world, along with studies in Environmental Management, has inspired me to help sustainably manage the complex interactions between people and the ecological environment. I am excited to be working within a role that focusses on bringing community groups and landholders together, to share knowledge and promote workable land management solutions which benefit both the environment and human well-being.

Samuel GroomNRM Extension Graduate

I have recently completed a Bachelor of Environmental Science and have been placed at BMRG by the Agriculture Extension Work Placement Program under the Queensland Farmers Federation. The Bundaberg region is my home and I’m looking forward to working towards sustainable environmental changes here while learning from the best at BMRG.

Tom HubbardDigital Content Officer

I have recently completed a Bachelor of Creative Arts with a Major in Film and Television, where I studied film making and video editing. I am excited to be given this opportunity to work as the Digital Content Officer for BMRG where I can put my studies to the test and help raise awareness for the environment.

Victoria ClarkeCommunications Project Officer

I have a great love for the outdoors and am passionate about the preservation of the natural wonders of the Australian continent. With a Bachelor of Science and experience in wildlife presenting, I look forward to bringing both into my role to assist in the good work BMRG does.

Rachela MuraAdministration Assistant and Project Officer

My passion and curiosity about the natural world lead me to study a Bachelor of Environmental Science. To be part of a team that works on ecological restoration and sustainable productivity projects is inspiring. I believe in a whole system approach where stakeholders and communities work together to protect and conserve our natural assets, to improve biodiversity and quality of life.

Chris KettleAdministration Assistant

Our brand

The BMRG icon is a reflection of who we are, bringing assets together to work in harmony for our region.
To learn more about our brand and the use of our logo click here.

Blue represents the waters of our rivers and marine areas, we are working hard to improve water quality in our region to maintain healthy and diverse ecosystems.

Green represents our unique environment and the people who live there, this is reflected in our daily actions and commitment to sustainability.

Brown represents the agriculture and industry of our region who we support to develop more sustainable practices for better farming outcomes with fewer environmental impacts.

BMRG DOCUMENTATION

Annual Reports & Audited
Financial Statements

Strategic Plan

BMRG Constitution

BMRG Board Minutes

Operational Performance Excellence Review

Burnett Mary NRM Climate Adaptation Plan

Water Quality Improvement
Plan for the Burnett Mary

BMRG Community
Prioritisation Report

OUR REGION

Covering approximately 56,000km² of land and 11,000km² of sea, the Burnett Mary Region is internationally renowned for its ecological diversity, extensive primary production and rich cultural heritage.

The region also supports Queensland’s largest regional population (approximately 300,000 people) – outside of the South East Corner.

Natural Assets

The Burnett Mary region provides habitat for more than half of Australia’s bird species and more than 7,500 of its flora and fauna species are rare, threatened or endangered. Abutting the Southern boundary of the Great Barrier Reef, the region’s marine environment has more marine fish diversity than the reef itself. The region also includes:

World Heritage listed K’gari [Fraser Island] – K’gari is the largest sand island in the world and was added to the World Heritage list in 1992 in recognition of its outstanding natural universal values. It is characterised by long uninterrupted white beaches flanked by strikingly coloured sand cliffs, majestic tall rainforests and numerous freshwater lakes of crystal-clear water.
Ramsar listed Great Sandy Strait – Covering 93,160 ha this internationally renowned site is a double ended sand passage estuary receiving tidal flows from Hervey Bay in the North and Wide Bay in the South. Fresh water is delivered from a 1.25million ha catchment via the Mary and Susan Rivers, creeks, coastal streams and Cooloola Sand Mass to the Great Sandy Strait Ramsar site.

Primary Industries

The Burnett Mary region is well-known for its prime agricultural land, well-managed water resources and innovative farming and fishing practices. These attributes support a range of industries including grazing, pork, sugar, dairy, tree crops, seafood, grain and wine and associated processing and value adding industries.

Cattle grazing represents the largest industry by land use and largest regional employer. The region also represents Australia’s largest macadamia, avocado, sweet potato and chilli producers as well as Queensland’s largest timber plantations.

Traditional industries such as sugarcane, have spawned world-class beverage processing industries including for example, Bundaberg Rum and Bundaberg Brewed Drinks.

Being adjacent to the Southern boundary of the Great Barrier Reef, the region’s fishing industry has an international reputation for clean, sustainable fishing practices.