Meet the team
Executive Director | Kirsty Howey PhD, LLM
Kirsty is the Executive Director of the Environment Centre NT and has led the organisation since October 2020. She is an advocate, researcher and strategist with over 20 years’ experience. She was a native title, land rights and environmental lawyer for over a decade. Her PhD thesis at the University of Sydney investigated the intersection between Indigenous institutions, the environment, the state and development in northern Australia, and she has published widely in this area. Kirsty also has a Bachelor of Arts/Laws (Hons) from the Australian National University, and a Master of Laws from the University of British Columbia. She is an adjunct research fellow at Charles Darwin University. Kirsty is inspired by communities across the Northern Territory fighting to protect some of the most precious natural and cultural landscapes in the world.
Philanthropy Manager | Ione McLean
Ione has engaged, supported and been inspired by philanthropists for over a decade at the Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network (AEGN), a member-based organisation for environmental funders that strives to grow effective philanthropy to protect nature and secure a safe climate. Previously she worked in program and business development in the climate and energy efficiency sector with non-government organisations, state government and small business, and as a fundraiser for several environmental organisations, Environment Victoria and the Nature Conservation Council of NSW. Ione has a Master of Environmental Science from Monash University and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne.
Senior Campaigner - Climate | Bree Ahrens
Bree works on ECNT's campaigns to stop dangerous gas expansion in the NT and achieve a just climate. She has previously worked as a campaigner, researcher, editor and translator in Melbourne, Indonesia and Timor-Leste.
Climate Campaigner | Sarah Wilson
Seeing climate justice is the driving force behind the work that Sarah does at the Environment Centre NT as a climate campaigner. She has a background in politics, project management and advocacy work, and she wants to see an end to the expansion of the harmful fossil fuel industry within this critical decade.
Nature Campaigner | Amy Russell
A former Australian Geographic reporter and communications specialist, Amy was drawn to environmental campaigning after witnessing the power and energy of the Save Binybara/Lee Point campaign. As a mother of two young children, Amy believes we owe it to future generations to fight for nature.
Nature and Water Campaigner | Correa Driscoll
Correa has always been passionate about action on climate change, biodiversity conservation and environmental justice. She has worked in fundraising, community-led landcare organisations, local and federal government, and volunteered on several climate and environmental campaigns. Correa brings her expertise in policy and community engagement to the ECNT, where she is building on and supporting critical campaigns to protect the Territory's water and natural environments.
Rural Areas Community Campaigner | Pauline Cass
Community Organiser | Emma Murphy
Emma first worked for Environment Centre in the early days of the anti-fracking movement, when she helped raise the alarm about, and build community opposition to, the threat posed by the onshore shale gas industry. She is now back as a community organiser with the climate team. Emma has worked as a linguist and cross-cultural facilitator with First Nations groups across Australia, most recently in Arnhem Land.
Finance and Administration | Carolina Franca
Digital Communications Manager | Emma Hoy
Senior Media Specialist | Jem Wilson
Jem is a former journalist who helps to profile ECNT's work in the media.
Northern Australian Conservation Alliance Coordinator | Amanda Lilleyman PhD
Amanda has a background in conservation science and has worked in universities, NGOs, and Indigenous ranger groups. She holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons), and a PhD on the conservation and ecology of threatened migratory shorebirds in the tropical north. Amanda is also an active volunteer with community organisations and a frontline defender of nature.