Sea of Nations - A Campaign Close to My Heart

Over the past few months, I’ve had the privilege of working with the Sea of Nations team to build the communications strategy for their first major campaign launch. Together with the campaign director, Antonia Burke, I helped shape the foundations by gathering the important information, defining the audience, refining the narrative, and finding the right words to capture the heart of the cause.

We spoke with the board, worked with partner organisations to align messages for greater impact, and collaborated closely with a talented web developer who brought it all to life online. By the end of this first phase, we had a clear wireframe, a strong story, and a website ready to connect caring people and coastal communities across borders.

This work was especially meaningful to me as I first brought this issue to Antonia several years ago, knowing how deeply the lives of the Tiwi Islanders are tied to the health of the sea.

It was about getting the right message to the right person at the right time!

Watching this grassroots movement grow and then having the chance to return to support it strategically felt like closing a powerful circle.

Sea of Nations is about connection between islands, cultures, and people whose survival depends on the shared seas and oceans. It is about making sure First Nations communities and those who rely on the sea are consulted before any decisions are made that could cause harm.

I am so proud to have contributed to this first chapter of Sea of Nations, and I cannot wait to see the impact it continues to have in protecting livelihoods, culture, biodiversity, and the deep cultural bonds that unite us all through the sea.

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At Oceans Eco Motive, I help purpose-driven organisations and campaigns find their voice, strengthen their story, and build strategies that connect people to the change they care about most. Working on Sea of Nations reminded me why I do what I do, to support people on the frontline make waves that matter.

Learning Healthy Country Planning

I’ve just completed the Healthy Country Planning short course with Our Common Place (formerly Conservation Management) just outside of Darwin. It was an inspiring week immersing in the course and learning, sharing and collaborating with so many awesome caring people!

I had the privilege of working alongside the team from the Wirriwandi Aboriginal Corporation, learning the tool while helping to develop their Healthy Country Plan for their Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) in the Pilbara region of WA. Six of us where in the group with three being from Wirriwandi who led the process, sharing their knowledge and shaping the plan for their Country.

Together, we explored how spending time on Country, especially through hunting and cultural practices, can strengthen both well-being and connection to land. We also tackled a major challenge: the spread of mesquite weed, which is clogging up and damaging the health of the land and waterways. As a team, we mapped out a pathway to spend funding and develop partnerships (mainly with the mining companies and pastoralists), to support large-scale weed management while including the community in decision making and capacity building. And as a bit of comic relief after 5 intensive days of learning, we formed a superhero gang and became the 'Mesquiteneers'!

More than anything, this experience reaffirmed the importance of First Nations leadership, knowledge, and genuine community consultation in shaping any plan for Country.

I’m looking forward to seeing the Wirriwandi team bring their vision to life and one day soon, I hope to pass through their beautiful Country and, if invited, see the land they are working so hard to care for.

Painting with Purpose

How a Family of Glossy Black Cockatoos Helped Me Discover My Passion

When I first moved to our bush block on the Mid North Coast, I was standing at the kitchen window when a family of Glossy Black Cockatoos flew into the trees right in front of me. That moment changed everything.

I’d never seen these beautiful birds up close before, and after some quick bird ID, I learned they were Endangered! Their gentle, elegant presence sparked what became a deep fascination and love for the species, and a drive to help protect them.

From that day on, I did everything I could to learn about these birds and to protect the she-oak (Allocasuarina) trees and hollow-bearing trees they depend on for survival. Not only did I focus on their habitat while working at the Clarence Environment Centre, but I also began to paint them, using my art to tell their story and raise awareness about the importance of habitat conservation.

That passion led me to meet Victor, a young nature lover who came to our property to help with bush regeneration. Our shared love for the Glossy Blacks sparked not only a beautiful friendship but years of collaboration. I helped Victor secure funding through the Environment Centre and collect known feed trees, and he went on to propagate and plant thousands of seedlings for Glossy Black Cockatoos across the Clarence.

During this time, we worked alongside Biodiversity Legacy to set up an organisation to buy a block of land that is a Glossy stronghold but was under threat from development. Victor is now the Founder and President of Wildlife Preservation Clarence Valley (www.WPCV.org), a grassroots non-profit working to buy and protect more critical habitat in perpetuity.

Over the years, I’ve painted many Glossys, but my biggest piece was inspired by that very first sighting from my window - a Glossy family captured on board. When I sold the painting last month to a local business for their office, I donated the entire $1200 from the sale to WPCV to help cover admin costs and amplify their conservation impact.

It amazes me how, in just four years, a chance moment with a family of birds led to so much connection, purpose, and action.

Never underestimate the power of nature to inspire change. 💚

Kiting Across the Torres Strait

From Fundraising to Friendships

In July 2013, I joined a team of 16 kiters attempting something never done before: to cross the Torres Strait on kites. I wasn’t prepared, but I had a purpose. My best friend was battling breast cancer, so I signed up to raise funds for the McGrath Foundation and push myself far outside my comfort zone.

Over seven gruelling days we kited nearly 400 km across open ocean, through shifting tides, wind shadows and reefs, with sharks and crocs on our minds. Ten of us completed the full distance, and together we raised over $70,000. I personally raised $5,000, which helped fund a McGrath Breast Care Nurse who supported my friend directly. That remains one of my proudest achievements.

Torres Trait Pink Kite Crossing - 386km in 5 days

The journey was not just about endurance. Along the way we were guided and supported by Torres Strait Islanders, including the Masig (Yorke Island) community. Arriving there was unforgettable. We were welcomed by school children waving pink balloons and banners, and the whole village put on a feast for us. It was my first experience of Torres Strait hospitality, culture and resilience.

That connection grew into something bigger. Years later I worked with the Masig people to co-design culturally rich and ethical tours that respected their sea country and shared their stories on their terms.

The crossing taught me about courage, fundraising and the power of community. These lessons still shape the way I work today.