Denise True

Full Member

Profile

Leadership. Developed and led numerous programs and projects during the two decades of a professional career. Provided oversight on complex projects and developing programs, achieved by building teams of relevant and specific expertise and engaging community to deliver goals and targets. Leadership is reflected in my role as a CEO and in the appointment and participation to numerous committees and through the contribution made to these forums.

Team Management and Mentoring. Provides direction, management and mentoring of teams to achieve project, team and corporate goals. Has held key management and senior management roles across Commercial, Government and NGO sectors. Key roles have been to recruit, manage and mentor staff, collaborate with community groups, develop business, liaise with clients and participate as a member of the senior management team.

Government, Commercial and NGO experience. Extensive experience in environmental management in the private sector, non-government and government organisations. A rare portfolio of experience having worked at senior management levels in Government, global and local Non-government Organisations and in the commercial consulting area. An effective communicator with clients, external stakeholders, internal project teams and corporate bodies and boards. Competent in business development, project development and management and the development of collaborative approaches and strategic alliances.

Strategic Planning and Organisational Management. Comprehensive experience in providing strong technical oversight and management of multiple and complex projects. Demonstrable skills in problem solving and the development of innovative solutions. Experienced in working at state, national and international levels, and has highly developed project management and strategic planning abilities. As a Business Manager and member of the management teams at both Coffey and ENV, comprising the Managing Director and Group Managers, I was responsible for the preparation of monthly reports on the performance of the Group; participation in monthly management and finance meetings; preparation of annual budgets and strategic plans and ensuring that budget targets were met.

Conservation Advocacy & Community Engagement. Developed the WA Conservation Program for World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) during 1996-2000, establishing WWF as a lead player in nature conservation in Western Australia and with the international Convention on Biological Diversity. This included program components for the Southwest of WA, Rangelands, Marine and Threatened Species. A key success with WWF was the establishment of conservation incentive programs in WA such as Bush Brokers and BushBank for private land conservation. Provides advice and expertise on the assessment of threatened communities throughout WA as a member of the WA Threatened Ecological Communities Scientific Committee.

Environmental Management. A comprehensive and detailed knowledge of the legislation and policy pertaining to biodiversity, natural resource management and environmental protection in Western Australia. Performed as a representative on bodies such as the NHT State Assessment Panel, NHT Bushcare Reference Group, Pastoral Lands Board, State Salinity Council and as a current member of the WA Threatened Ecological Communities Scientific Committee. A sound working knowledge of governance in relation to environmental approvals and government relations, particularly from working in the Department of Agriculture, and later the Department of Environment on the Native Vegetation Protection aspects of the subsidiary EP Act legislation.

Legislation. In addition to qualifications in ecology, completed a Masters degree in Intellectual Property Law at Queensland University of Technology focused on the protection of Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge. This knowledge marries well with experience with environmental legislation and management of environment and heritage projects. For the WA Government, developed subsidiary legislation for the protection of native vegetation under the Environmental Protection Act 1986. Currently undertaking a part-time research thesis on the integration of Indigenous Ecological Knowledge in environmental impact assessment.

Biodiversity Knowledge. Extensive knowledge of national biodiversity issues and of the Western Australian landscape and ecology having both conducted and managed projects undertaking biological studies including, flora and vegetation, rare flora, and fauna surveys and impact assessment. Extensive experience working and living in remote areas, providing advice on rangeland management, and environmental impact assessments.

Experience practicing in:

  • Environmental Impact Assessment
  • Biodiversity knowledge
  • Nature positive
  • Offsets
  • Environmental Management
  • EP Act 1986
  • EPBC Act 1999
  • Conservation planning
  • Strategic Planning
  • Restoration

General Services ? View service descriptions

Conservation
Environmental Impact Assessment and Approvals
Offsets
Terrestrial Flora/Vegetation

Qualifications

Master of Philosophy Research Thesis “Beyond stone, bones and bush tucker: Integrating Indigenous Ecological Knowledge in Environmental Impact Assessment”. University of New South Wales (UNSW), in preparation.
Master of Intellectual Property Law, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Queensland.
Bachelor of Science (Biology), Murdoch University, Western Australia.