Operations Managers

Andrew Whitford

Regional Manager NSW Metro I Operations Manager Greater Western Sydney I Restoration Ecology and Land Management Lead,  NSW

Andrew is a restoration ecologist with over twelve years of experience who manages restoration ecology within ELA and our land management implementation team based in Harrington Park. He has extensive experience writing management plans and directing their implementation, including strategic and landscape-level management, in-perpetuity management, pest management and threatened species protection and translocation.

Kalya Abbey

Operations Manager Canberra, Huskisson, Narooma and Mudgee I Senior Environmental Consultant,  NSW

Kalya's interests lie in strategic environmental and land use planning at a regional level. She project manages a range of projects from small scale local government planning requirements, through to major project approvals and operational monitoring programs. Kalya has experience in environmental regulation and compliance, environmental impact assessment, approvals and planning, mine site environmental management, project management and environmental auditing. Kalya’s experience covers a diverse range of environmental management areas and industries, including local government, mining and extractive industries, ports, coastal development, heavy industry, civil projects, water and waste management and rehabilitation.

Deanne Hickey

Operations Manager Sutherland & Wollongong I GIS Discipline Lead I Senior Environmental Senior Consultant,  NSW

Deanne is a Senior Environmental Consultant, working across a diverse range of disciplines including GIS, bushfire, arboriculture and environmental planning and assessment. She is an experienced project manager and utilises her multi-disciplinary knowledge to achieve positive project outcomes. As the lead of the ELA GIS team, Deanne enjoys opportunities to facilitate knowledge transfer and the development of junior consultants.

David Bonjer

Operations Manager Sydney I Principal Planner NSW I Planning and Approvals Lead,  NSW

David has worked in the planning and environmental field for the last 20 years, with extensive experience both in local and state government. He provides senior project management and strategic planning advice for our government and private clients. David’s early work focused on environmental management projects, before moving into the planning field and working on regional strategies, local environmental plans and developer contributions.

Konrad Grinlaubs

Operations Manager Newcastle I Principal Planner,  NSW

Adam Loader

Operations Manager Perth (Acting) I Regional Manager Victoria, South Australia, West Australia and Northern Territory I Principal Consultant, GIS,  SA

Nathalie Whitby

Operations Manager Coffs Harbour & Armidale I Principal Sustainability Consultant,  NSW

Zak Jones

Operations Manager Victoria I Senior Heritage Adviser I Victoria Heritage Team Lead,  VIC

Sarah Holt

Operations Manager Adelaide I SA Approvals Team Lead I Principal Approvals Consultant,  SA

Andrew Walsh

Regional Operations Manager NSW/ACT/QLD, Acting Operations Manager (Brisbane) & Principal Consultant, NRM,  NSW

Andrew has 19 years of experience in environmental and heritage management across Australia, as an environmental consultant and in various government roles. His technical focus has been on planning and approvals, invasive species management, conservation, restoration ecology, environmental impact assessment and mine closure and rehabilitation. Over his career, he has developed significant experience in senior leadership, effective stakeholder engagement and project management, focusing on delivering high quality solutions. One of his strengths is developing and maintaining long-term relationships with staff, clients, regulators and other stakeholders based on trust, integrity and mutually beneficial outcomes. For the last four years, Andrew has been the Project Manager for the $16M Lord Howe Island Rodent Eradication Project. The project was one of the largest single conservation actions undertaken in NSW. Prior to this role, Andrew has 8 years’ experience consulting experience, leading a diverse team of environmental scientists, ecologists and planners across five offices in North Queensland and the Northern Territory. As a consultant, Andrew has delivered a range of technically diverse projects for a variety of clients across most Australian States and Territories. Sectors include Conservation, Defence, Resources and Energy, Transport and Property. Andrew also worked for a number of years as a supervising quarantine and export inspector for the Australian Quarantine and inspection Service preventing and monitoring for exotic invasive species.