Our team.

Accounting for Nature is led by a highly experienced and motivated management team who are committed to using rigorous, science-based methods to drive positive sustainability outcomes here in Australia, and around the world. With a wealth of strategic and operational expertise, the management team will continue to seek out and drive new projects demonstrating best-practice benchmarks for measuring changes in the health of the environment.

Meet the team.

  • Dr Adrian Ward

    CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

    has more than 15 years experience (private and public sectors) in managing businesses and providing advice and training centered on environmental markets and natural capital in Australia and internationally. He is a former Australian Government Greenhouse & Energy Auditor who holds a Bachelor of Business, Post Graduate Certificate in Energy Economics and a PhD in Environmental Finance. He is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

  • Prof Hugh Possingham

    CHIEF SCIENTIST

    is the former Queensland Chief Scientist and is best known for his work in conservation biology, applied ecology, and basic ecology theory including population ecology. He is also a Professor of Mathematics, Professor of Zoology and an ARC Laureate Fellow in the Department of Mathematics and the School of Biological Sciences at The University of Queensland.

  • Dr Rachael Marshall

    GENERAL MANAGER

    has over 15 years experience across public and private sectors in conservation research and management, environmental economics, governance, regulatory reform, and operational program delivery. She has a PhD in Marine Science and an overarching passion to apply science, economics, and practical thinking to the complex task of restoring and enhancing Australia’s natural capital through collaboration and decentralisation of historic areas of expertise.

  • Mel Brooks

    CHIEF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

    has more than 20 years experience in marketing and communications, across private and public sector. Specialising in brand management, advertising and digital communications she has a special interest in environmental and social communications with experience in carbon market, waste behaviour change and environmental education communications. Melissa holds a Bachelor of Screen Communications with a major in marketing.

  • Amanda Hansson

    Dr Amanda Hansson

    MANAGER - ENVIRONMENTAL MARKETS & POLICY

    has more than nine years experience in environmental research, natural resource management and the creation and delivery of educational material. She holds a Batchelor of Science (geology and climatology), a Master in Environmental Management, and a PhD in alpine forest ecology. Amanda has project management experience in both the private and public sector and has provided consultancy services on national emission reduction projects.

  • Syvannah Wilson

    Syvannah Wilson

    TECHNICAL OFFICER - ENVIRONMENTAL MARKETS & POLICY

    is passionate about helping businesses understand their reciprocal relationship with nature to create better environmental outcomes and progressive business solutions. Her experience crosses the realms of carbon and nature markets and policy, green investment mechanisms, and strategy creation.

    She holds a Bachelor of Environmental Management with Honours and is currently undertaking a PhD exploring how organisations understand nature and incorporate it into their decision making. Her current work and research aid the sustainability endeavours of various industry, government, academic, and NGO partners.  

  • Chrissy Elmer

    Chrissy Elmer

    MANAGER - SCIENCE & METHODS

    is an ecologist with over seven years experience in environmental research, local government, and private consulting. She has broad interests in ecology, GIS, and economics and holds a Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Plant Science and a Master of Environmental Management in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics.

  • Dr Molly Grace

    Dr Molly Grace

    SENIOR RESEARCH LEAD

    is a conservation biologist and ecologist with over 13 years experience in research, teaching, and scientific framework development. She has a passion for translating scientific research results into practical conservation methods, which she has implemented as a Knowledge Exchange Fellow for the UK's National Environment Research Council and as the current Co-Chair of the IUCN Green Status of Species initiative. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a concentration in Ecology, and a PhD in Conservation Biology.

  • Annie Keleher

    Annie Keleher

    MANAGER - CERTIFICATIONS

    has 20 years of experience across private industry and research, delivering on project management at various scales, workshop facilitation and the design and delivery of technical training material. She holds a Master in Environmental Management and is motivated to create sustainable solutions that enable a balance between the environmental, economic and social demands on land use.

  • Will Felesina

    TECHNICAL OFFICER – CERTIFICATIONS & EXPERTS

    joined Accounting for Nature during his undergraduate studies. He has since completed a dual Bachelor of Science and Economics majoring in Geographical Sciences, GIS and Public Policy. Prior to joining AfN Will worked as a university tutor and has a strong interest in GIS, environmental policy, and sustainability.

  • Misty Neilson

    MANAGER - CAPACITY BUILDING

    is an ecologist and conservation biologist with eight years of experience in conservation within agricultural landscapes. She has worked collaboratively with land managers, Traditional Owners, citizen scientists, tertiary institutions, and government. Her prior experience in corporate accounting and executive management, primarily in the Community Services sector, has helped hone her ability to better understand financial, community, and environmental priorities.

  • Harry Wright-Smith

    Harry Wright-Smith

    TECHNOLOGY OFFICER

    joined Accounting for Nature after completing an undergraduate degree in Science and is now pursuing a Master's in Geospatial Science. With a farming background and a strong passion for environmental sustainability, Harry has developed a keen interest in leveraging technology, particularly GIS implementation, to support a sustainable future.