Martin Pritchard
Executive Director
Martin has been working to safeguard the natural environment for over 20 years, protecting endangered species, rivers, threatened ecosystems and Ramsar-listed wetlands in South West WA and the Kimberley. In partnership with Traditional Owners and other conservation organisations he has led EK’s efforts to have 30,000 km² of the Kimberley coast secured in marine parks, to stop a coal mine on the Martuwarra Fitzroy River and a copper mine at the Horizontal Falls, as well as to prevent Walmadany / James Price Point from being destroyed by one of the world’s biggest gas factories which would've led to the wholesale industrialisation of the Kimberley. He advocated, with the leadership of Traditional Owners, for the National Heritage listing of 19 million hectares of the West Kimberley, World Heritage listing for the Kimberley where Traditional Owners want it, new National Parks along the Martuwarra, as well as for the protection of its surface water from being taken for irrigation. Martin was the Executive Director of EK from 2008 to 2023, then moved into the role of Director of Strategy. He is now the Executive Director.
Liam Wright
Operations Director
Liam brings a strong background in operational management and community development to Environs Kimberley. With a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Environmental Science, he is passionate about supporting sustainable initiatives and building strong, people-focused teams. Before joining EK, Liam worked in operations, leading teams, and projects to drive strategic growth and community impact. He has a strong commitment to community engagement, workforce development, and environmental sustainability. Outside of work, Liam volunteers as a firefighter and serves on community committees advocating for safety and inclusion.
Christine Elsasser
Finance and Administration Manager
Christine hails from Germany, where she gained a Master of Arts in German Mediaeval Literature and worked in the production department of a publishing house, calculating costs and organising the printing and binding of books. After moving to Australia in 1998, she worked in various office roles for a number of organisations, including Magabala Books, Broome’s Aboriginal publishing house. Christine joined EK in 2007.
Tessa Mossop
Project Coordinator, Kimberley Nature Project
Tessa completed a combined law and communications degree at the University of Newcastle. After graduating, Tessa worked in North-east Arnhem Land as solicitor with the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency, and then for an Indigenous corporation in WA. Initially, Tessa assisted EK with engagement, community projects, events, fundraising and organisational capacity. She now provides strategic project support services to Aboriginal organisations, as well as coordinating the Social Enterprise Project.
Hamsini Bijlani
Project Coordinator, Kimberley Nature Project
Hamsini grew up in southern India, where she completed a bachelor’s degree in Zoology, Botany and Chemistry, and studied human-wildlife conflict near Bangalore. She moved to Sydney in 2016 to complete a master’s degree in Conservation Biology at Macquarie University. She worked as an ecologist for WWF - Australia with Aboriginal ranger groups, on projects such as protecting Wiliji (West Kimberley Black-footed Rock-wallaby) with Nykina Mangala Rangers. Hamsini joined EK to work on the Dampier Peninsula MVT and Karajarri Pirra Warlu Projects.
Samuel Younis
Project Coordinator, Kimberley Nature Project
Sam grew up on Kirrae Whurrung Country on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria and moved to Naarm on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country to complete a BSc and a Masters of Environment. Sam recently completed a yearlong research project looking at the effects changing fire regimes can have on the temperate rainforests in the central highlands of Victoria. Sam first joined EK as an intern to help conduct research into how fires and fire regimes are affecting the savannahs and woodlands of the Dampier Peninsula, including looking at the individual species responses of plants. Sam is now employed at EK to support the development of new projects and implementation of current projects including the Dampier Peninsula Fire Working Groups, Gooniyandi Healthy Country and the Kimberley Wetland Projects.
Shaun Clark
Frack Free Kimberley Coordinator
A long-term Kimberley resident and former Danggu Geikie Gorge Park Ranger, Shaun has a particular interest in Aboriginal knowledge of animals and plants. He has extensive experience with Dampier Peninsula communities and environmental management. Shaun has worked in computer programming, landscaping, irrigation, land care and community development. He has taken part in environmental projects, such as weed control, bush regeneration and coastal protection. Shaun says, “From campaigns and protecting wildlife, to joining forces with Aboriginal rangers, EK works and advocates for the nature of the Kimberley.”
Wendy Mitchell
Community Organiser - Frack Free Kimberley and Save Scott Reef
Originally from Western Australia, Wendy has spent much of the last decade both on and under the water, working as a dive instructor and photographer, and running expedition liveaboards through Eastern Indonesia and Western Australia. She has also campaigned against offshore oil and gas with Greenpeace, with a focus on the proposed developments at Scott Reef. After recently moving to Broome earlier this year, Wendy joined the Environs Kimberley team to work on the Frack Free Kimberley and the Scott Reef campaigns.
Mandy Shovellor
Project Officer
Mandy is Karajarri woman with a lifetime of experience collecting and making medicine, soap and food from bush products. She runs a small business with her sister, Jacqueline Shovellor, selling bush products. Mandy has facilitated wattleseed collections and cleaning events in Broome and Bidyadanga for the Wattleseed Collective for many years, and has recently joined Sustainable Communities Team as a Project Officer supporting the Social Enterprise Project.
Kailee Savoia
Project Officer, Kimberley Nature Project
Kailee holds a Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife and Conservation Biology and is undertaking Honours in Conservation and Wildlife Biology, specialising in feral cats. She joined EK’s Nature Projects team working on projects with Nyangumarta and Ngurrara Rangers. Kailee spent five years working in Gariwerd (Grampians - Western Victoria) as a Park Ranger and then as an Environmental Project Coordinator on pest animal and weed control programs. She made the move to the Kimberley and worked for Australian Wildlife Conservancy in 2024. She loved the experience of her first wet season bringing epic storms and transforming the landscape. Kailee loves gardening, birdwatching, building things out of recycled materials and scheming about the next bike-packing trip!
Holly Timperley
Project Officer, Kimberley Nature Project
Holly grew up on sheep and broadacre farms across the wheatbelt in WA. She has a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations with an Asian Studies minor from Curtin University and the University of Essex. She later completed a Bachelor of Science in Conservation Biology at UWA. Most recently she has worked with the Bardi Jawi Rangers on the Dampier Peninsula as a ranger coordinator. At EK she works on the Social Enterprise and Seeding for Success, and the Gooniyandi Flood Recovery projects.
Dr Michelle Pyke
Project Officer, Kimberley Nature Project
Michelle grew up in Donnybrook, graduated in Environmental Science (Hons) at Murdoch University and gained a PhD (Geography) at UWA. Michelle has worked for WA and NT governments in riparian assessment, and water conservation and planning. From 2012 to 2015 Michelle lived in One Arm Point and worked with Bardi Jawi, Bardi Jawi Oorany (women) and Nyul Nyul Rangers, investigating local-cultural ways of managing freshwater places for her PhD. Michelle is working on EK’s Kimberley Wetlands Project.
Kylie Weatherall
Project Officer, Kimberley Nature Project
Kylie was born in Northam, WA, and has a lifelong love of the state’s landscapes and natural environment. She studied biological sciences at Murdoch University and has a Postgraduate Certificate in Indigenous Management Studies from Edith Cowan University (ECU). Kylie also holds qualifications in fine art, and conservation and land management. She has worked in human services,
community development, tourism and art and science. Kylie joined EK in 2011. She is the contact person for the Broome land care group, the Society for Kimberley Indigenous Plants and Animals (SKIPA).
Danielle Bain
Project Officer, Kimberley Nature Project
A Melbourne girl, Danielle graduated from Monash University with a BSc (Environment) in Zoology and Conservation Biology and completed her honours at James Cook University (Townsville), researching the impacts of boat traffic on Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins. Danielle tried her hand at being a public servant at the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Canberra) before moving to Broome. Danielle joined the Roebuck Bay Working Group and, in 2007, went on to establish and manage the Broome Community Seagrass Monitoring Project with EK. After a long break, Danielle has returned to EK and now facilitates the Kimberley Weeds Network and provides mapping support for the Kimberley Wetlands Project and Google Desert Eyes and Ears Project.
Michelle Ashworth
Administration Officer
Michelle holds bachelor’s degrees in Arts and Education and a graduate certificate in teaching English as a second or other language. Teaching has taken her to indoor and outdoor class settings in the ACT, WA and NSW. Michelle followed the sun from Canberra to Broome in February 2023, and caught the last of that wet season’s lessons in learning how to slow down. Leaving the classroom, she now runs a small literacy tutoring business to support local children while also working in administration for EK.
Fiona West
Media and Communications Officer
Fi has been a faithful, hardworking, and cheerful member of the EK family since 2008, when she joined to run the award-winning Broome Community Seagrass Monitoring Project. Over the years, she has supported EK in various roles, including grant writing and volunteer engagement. As a former journalist with nearly three decades of media experience, Fi thoroughly enjoys her current role as Communications Officer and is grateful to work in ways that help make the world a better place.