The team.

I lead Element’s vision of being the go-to planning, environmental and social sustainability consultancy for both government and private sector within the markets that we operate and to be the employer of choice. And to achieve this without compromising our core values – Wellbeing and Integrity.

I provide honest, technically accurate, commercially appropriate, timely advice to our valuable clients to reduce their risk so they can sleep well at night … and look good in front of their boss 😉

NSW REAP certification: After going through a rigorous nine month application process I have been certified as a NSW REAP (Registered Environmental Assessment Practitioner), which is the highest level of certification that can be obtained under the Certified Environmental Practitioner scheme. This allows me to provide advice, interrogate the robustness of the impact assessment approach and process and if adequate sign off on the environmental impact statement for State significant development and infrastructure projects prior to their submission to the Department of Planning and Environment.

Leading Element: I am in the fortunate position to lead such an incredible group of professionals in our mission to give our clients the best possible experience they can find - where ‘excellence in everything we do’ is our slogan and where our culture of collaboration, finding solutions, accountability, never giving up and wellbeing is what we all live and breathe every day.

Downer Sustainable Road Resource Centre: One of those State significant development projects where you, your team, your client and the regulators are running at 100 miles an hour to deliver a worlds first sustainable road resource manufacturing facility where the ethos of circular economy is truly put into practice using latest technology and sustainability principles. An incredible project to have had the privilege to lead where we pushed the boundaries in impact assessment and were bold enough to test approaches, methods and technologies not previously used, resulting in what a number of regulators claimed to be the ‘gold standard’ in the industry.

Marulan South Limestone Mine: Probably the most complex, technically challenging, major State significant project I have ever lead in my 20 years of managing environmental impact assessments and development applications. To apply for the continued operation of one of the oldest and largest limestone mines in the southern hemisphere, perched on the edge of two major creeks, a river, a national park and within a drinking water catchment, required the involvement of more than 15 technical discipline leads and an incredibly experienced team. Achieving a balance between competing environmental, social and economic interests through applying sound impact assessment principles and a thorough engagement and social impact process resulted in development consent for the continuation of the mine for another 30 years – a mine that is critical to the State as it produces the limestone to make more than 60% of the cement used in NSW.

I love working with people (our team and our clients) and supporting them in every way I can to reach their professional and personal dreams while maintaining balance – their wellbeing.

I love finding solutions to development problems that will result in thriving communities where peoples live’s truly benefit from good planning and protecting and enhancing environmental values.

In my spare time, I love anything outdoors and in nature. I grew up living near the beach and my passions are surfing, kayaking, mountain biking and camping, with my family.

I provide advice to construction contractors on how to minimise their impact to the environment and comply with environmental legislation.

Most recently, I'm proud to be involved in construction of the Sydney Metro Crows Nest Station. Sydney Metro is Australia's biggest public transport project. When completed, Sydney Metro will significantly increase the capacity of the Sydney rail network. I also helped deliver the station and signalling works for the Mariyung Fleet, ensuring all the regional stations meet the improved safety and accessibility requirements for when the new regional fleet of trains start operating. I am also proud to have been involved in various aspects of the Inland Rail program. Inland Rail will significantly improve the Australian freight and supply chain capabilities on the east coast by reducing journey times between major cities.

I enjoy the challenge of helping contractors deliver complex projects while minimising their impact on the environment and community they work in.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and volunteering for the local rugby club.

My role is to scour the globe for talented people to join our team, support their onboarding so they have a great experience with us, look after our most precious resources, our people, by providing opportunities for them to bring their whole selves to work – where they are happy, healthy, feel included and have a sense of belonging.

I am most proud of seeing team members I’ve had the pleasure of working with achieve great things, in work and in life, and watching their careers go from strength to strength.

This includes growing the skillsets of apprentices, trainees, and graduates, who would never have had the opportunities to attain qualifications or career development.  I also enjoy coaching leaders to be empowering, who want to learn to make a difference in their own lives and those they have an impact on. Working with inspirational businesses and leaders, who share my values, and being able to contribute to a culture where we create a great place to work where people can be themselves.

I find purpose in helping people grow their capability and realise their full potential, so they can be the best versions of themselves. I love those light bulb moments when people do something they never thought possible.

Most of my spare time I am mum’s taxi, sports mum, boating mum and ‘piggy bank’... to my two teenage boys. I also make time for me by investing energy in my career, staying active through sports and relaxing through Yoga/Pilates, reading and watching movies – I think I have finished Netflix twice! I love to connect with, family, ‘framily’ and friends. 

My role is to inform people about projects to help them understand their needs and impacts associated to their work.

Working on the Coffs Harbour bypass project for example has been particularly exciting, challenging and fulfilling. As the final piece of the Pacific Highway upgrade, it’s important infrastructure that will bring many benefits to the region I live in.

The upgrade of the Pacific Highway was an extremely rewarding program to be involved in. Providing communications support on such a large-scale project provided unique challenges but was ultimately one which improved the lives of a significant number of people.

The new Grafton Bridge project, while small in comparison to other projects I’ve worked on, not only helped transform Grafton but provided significant benefits to many people.  

I like keeping people informed and up-to-date and enjoy it when the community provides solutions to project challenges. Sometimes the engineers don’t have all the answers and it can be easy to forget that the people who live in the communities we build projects in will often know what the best solution is, even if it’s technically not the correct one.

When I’m not at work I’m either ferrying my kids to sporting commitments, volunteering at my local rugby club or responding to a call-out as an on-call Fire Fighter for Fire & Rescue NSW.

With Element I help deliver multi-disciplinary environmental assessments for medium to large scale projects in the infrastructure and waste management sectors in NSW. I work closely with clients to help solve complex strategic issues quickly and efficiently to ensure projects achieve planning approval in the most cost-effective way possible.

I consider myself fortunate to work on projects that clarify efficient land use and land management.  It is important to me as I love the protection of our natural environment and sharing it with family and friends.  When I'm not working you could often find me in our precious National Parks and our natural environment here in NSW!  

Carolyn is a Principal Environmental Planner with over 30 years experience.

Carolyn has worked as a planning consultant in the private sector, where she has been responsible for successfully project managing a number of large multi-disciplinary projects, including infrastructure, waste, mining and extractive industries, medium density housing and large residential subdivision developments.  She has extensive experience in environmental impact assessment, including preparation of Environmental Impact Statements (EIS’s), Environmental Assessment Reports (EAR’s), Review of Environmental Factors (REF’s), Statement of Environmental Effects (SoEE’s) and due diligence and planning feasibility reports.  She also has experience in community and Government authority consultation, as well as preparation and presentation of evidence in respect of planning appeals.

Carolyn has also worked at numerous Councils across NSW and Victoria, in a range of strategic planning and development assessment roles.  She has extensive experience in the assessment and determination of a broad range of rezoning and development applications, including numerous large-scale residential, commercial, industrial, subdivision, recreation and tourism development proposals, as well as preparation of strategic plans and policies, Section 7.11 Contributions Plans and development control plans.

I am currently solely working for a globally diversified mining and metals company. In my role as a community and landholder liaison, I help manage the land access arrangement program and develop consultation strategies to ensure their exploration program can successfully continue for future mining plans.

In my previous related role, I worked on a State significant greenfields mining project, from the pre-feasibility through to the approval process stage. As a communications professional, I was exposed to dealing with the NSW planning system, land access arrangement process and more. As part of the project team, I was involved with developing and managing the social reference group, assisted with the water advisory group and regular consultation with the local registered Aboriginal parties.

I was proud to work with a diverse range of stakeholders, using their input when developing the social impact, water impact, and Aboriginal and European heritage impact assessments, to name a few.

The project overall was quite contentious which made it challenging however the proposal was exciting and the benefits in the community were far-reaching.

Furthermore, another significant part of my role on that project was managing the community investment and sponsorship programs. I was proud to work with our team and external apprenticeship and traineeship providers, to award dozens of fully funded apprenticeships and traineeships in the local community. These were determined and awarded by an independent Board of Directors, who carefully considered each eligible individual to ensure the investment benefited locals who could give back to the community once qualified.

I enjoy making a difference in the communities I work with, and the storytelling side of being a communications professional, which also applies to my photography work too.

Everyone has a story to tell, organisations included. It is one of the most effective ways to connect with your audience and stakeholders.

I am also a professional photographer, capturing interiors, lifestyle content and have just started shooting weddings.

I have a beautiful brood of boys and a very supportive and hardworking husband. We enjoy spending time at the beach on weekends, and I enjoy going to the gym and swimming laps for some ‘me’ time.

I supervise and manage the delivery of a broad range of projects, on time and to a high standard. Key projects/activities include: provision of high quality and detailed planning advice on complex development and land use situations, preparation of development applications for local and state significant projects and working with Councils to help manage and assess their DA workload, preparation of strategic plans and studies, client management, winning work and creating business opportunities, mentoring and supporting members of our planning team.

I was previously a team leader in the Codes team at DPE, delivering a variety of complying development Codes including the Inland Code, Greenfield Housing Code and Low-Rise Housing Diversity (medium density) Code.

I was a successful independent planning consultant for 4 years.

More recently, I joined Element where I have been working closely with DPE to support the delivery of the Riverwood Estate SSP. I also support the Executive Director to grow Element’s planning team.

I especially enjoy finding solutions to complex planning problems!

Outside of work, I love spending time with my awesome kids and partner. Enjoying the amazing outdoors of the northern Illawarra, surfing, running, bushwalking and then just relaxing in the sun.

I work across the Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management and Compliance team. I spend my days working with clients to support them in achieving their goals and get developments off the ground and running, from project inception and approval pathways all the way through to post-approval environmental management.

I have been fortunate to work on some amazing projects, some of these include assisting TfNSW in the development, management and delivery of a vast contaminated land management project across a portfolio of over 900 regional rail sites. The project spanned the entire state, including a range of highly complex and intricate sites. I was responsible for the development of land management strategies from environmental assessments through to remediation and long-term environmental management.

I managed a thorough multi-staged environmental assessment on a large $8m project spanning over 35 km of road upgrades including a complex contaminated land investigation, to deliver safer roads for regional road users. Once operational I continued to support the project through post-approval environmental performance monitoring to ensure regulatory compliance.

I love taking opportunities to learn, be challenged and create positive and meaningful impacts on the world around me. I assist clients across a broad range of industries to improve the environmental performance and outcomes of projects, including State significant infrastructure & development, which certainly scratches that itch.

Outside of work you will generally find me within a few kilometres of a beach, on a rock face or enjoying our beautiful National Parks, keeping me inspired to do what I do.

I support our diverse base of clients with community engagement services.

Though I consider myself a padawan-among-jedis with my team here at Element, I'm very proud of my international project engagement and stakeholder management experience that saw my work impact across 5 countries in SE Asia. Developing the soft skill of cultural awareness and working across timezones, differing languages, traditions and a range of socio-economic representation allowed me the scope to sharpen my empathy, efficiency and ability to meet people where they are at and achieve tangible outcomes.

I see my professional accomplishments through the values that are developing in my two children. The rigour I express and execute with at work in a professional setting is what I come home to tell them stories about each day. Seeing that translate into their expanding understanding of the world around them provides me with the greatest sense of accomplishment I could ever ask for.

I take a more anthropological approach in life - in widening the breadth of what it means to create legacy. I seek to always learn. If I'm always learning, it means I have more to pass on to subsequent generations - whether through my children or my work impact. I'm in the business of tangible legacy.

I love volunteering and have done so since I was 15 years old. My family and I enjoy all-things outdoors. I love marinating in a good book. Oh, and there is no greater sensation than to sing at the top of one's lungs while not in earshot of anyone else - something I try and do as often as possible.

My day to day predominantly comprises preparing environmental impact assessments under the NSW Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979, including environmental impact statements, statement of environmental effects, review of environmental factors and modification reports.

I also have a strong background in construction environmental management, which sees me preparing construction environmental management plans, along with environmental inspection, auditing and compliance.

I have been fortunate throughout my career to have worked on a diverse range of developments spanning a wide range of industry sectors. Everything from private development assessment for a tyre recycling facility, through to major State significant developments including waste management facilities, extractive industry, mining and industrial applications, as well as public infrastructure such as utility, road and rail infrastructure.

I gain the most satisfaction from working on projects which I believe will benefit society, including road and rail upgrades and resource recovery initiatives.

I also enjoy mentoring junior professionals and thrive in a team environment having successfully assisted many clients in tender support and secondment roles for major infrastructure projects.

My passion in environmental consulting includes the ability to steer the design of development to achieve positive environmental outcomes. I believe if I can influence the design of a development to include the environment at the forefront I have done my job.

In my spare time I love spending time with my wife and two beautiful kids, and when I can I enjoy a bit of Stand Up Paddle-boarding on stunning Lake Macquarie.

I have an established environmental sciences career with 6+ years project experience within the renewables, energy and resource recovery sectors. The projects I work on often require analysing complex environmental data, conducting assessments, and offering practical solutions to environmental issues. As someone who thrives on critical thinking, research, and problem-solving, I find environmental consulting intellectually rewarding. 

Outside of work, I'm passionate about sports, especially Formula 1, and make it a point to attend the Melbourne Grand Prix every year. I also love spending time outdoors, whether it's hiking with my dog, wild swimming or tending to my garden.

With Element I am contributing across a variety of environmental work including the following;

• Environmental Impact Statements (EIS)
• Statement of Environmental Effects
• Review of Environmental Factors
• Submission responses for SEARS request and State-led rezoning

The diversity of projects keeps me engaged, while the opportunity to make a tangible impact on protecting natural resources provides both professional growth and a deep sense of purpose.