Elaine lives and works in central Victoria.  

Expertise:

1. Wetland ecology and management
2. Flora and fauna surveys (Wetland frogs, birds and vegetation, Box Ironbark flora and fauna including Eltham Copper Butterflies)
3. Education and training

Elaine has been working as an environmental scientist and ecologist since 1994.  Elaine was the Co-director and ecologist at Rakali Ecological Consulting, which operated from 2012-2020 where she carried out flora and fauna surveys and wrote management plans, particularly in wetlands and in the Box Ironbark country.   

Elaine along with Damien Cook established a not for profit, charitable environmental trust in 2020 called Wetland Revival Trust.  

Elaine’s main focus is on wetland ecology and management, frog and reptile surveys, fire effects in the Box Ironbark and Eltham Copper Butterfly surveys and protection. 

Elaine is an experienced environmental educator and developed the popular Wetland Plant Identification and Management course which is now run through WRT, as well as many other wetland related courses.  She worked for 10 years teaching conservation courses at TAFE and as the education and training manager for Greening Australia Victoria. 

Prior to this Elaine studied wetland and riverine processes at Melbourne and Monash University as a student and as a research assistant for the CRC for Freshwater Ecology and CRC for Catchment Hydrology. Elaine further developed her knowledge on broad water related issues while working for four years for the Environment Protect Authority focusing on water related environmental issues and compliance. 

Elaine is passionate about biodiversity, conservation and environmental protection. Elaine grows much of her own food, has a chemical free household and lives as sustainable as she can. Elaine volunteers with many groups such as the Australian Wildlife Conservancy carrying out fauna surveys.