Our Team

In July 2021, Sheree took a leave of absence from her roles on CCA’s Board of directors and Regional Economic Development Steering Group Chair to fulfil the position of CEO, Sheree will continue in the acting role until July 2023.

Sheree was born in Tasmania, studied at the University of Tasmania (BA, Dip Ed, M ED), and worked for the Tasmanian Department of Education in a variety of roles across the State including serving as Principal of Reece High School in Devonport. Sheree left the Department to take up the position of Executive Director and National President of the Australian Secondary Principals Association, and Executive Secretary for the International Confederation of Principals.

Prior to joining Cradle Coast Authority as the Interim CEO, Sheree worked as a consultant and project manager across education, community development and strategic planning and implementation within individual private and NFP businesses and government departments.

Sheree’s experience, expertise, and commitment to the region, shape her leadership and are key, to ensuring that the CCA strategic intent to build stronger councils and a stronger region is the centrepiece of the Authority’s work.

EMAIL: [email protected]

Patrick has held a number of accounting positions in businesses on the Cradle Coast for the last 30 years, before joining CCA in August 2020 as the Finance Coordinator/Accountant, in November 2021, Patrick took on the role as Finance Manager. 

Patrick has experience in the wholesale/retail, manufacturing and not for profit sectors. He was also previously the team leader of the finance hub at Cradle Coast Campus of the University of Tasmania and is a member of the Institute of Public Accountants. 

EMAIL [email protected]

Grace joined the CCA in September 2022 as an Executive Assistant to the CEO. Grace joined the team with a Finance background and has experience in banking, speculative trading, admin and retail sales.

Grace holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance, Cert. III in Community Services and a Cert. III in Education Support.

After relocating to Australia in 2019, Grace chose the Cradle Coast to call home due to its stunning nature, friendly community and better opportunities.

EMAIL: [email protected]

In 2024, Mel joined Cradle Coast Authority as the Operations Support Officer. 
 
Mel has experience in administration and financial planning. Mel is studying Human Resource Management while working at CCA.

EMAIL: [email protected]

Jessica was born and raised in Burnie, Tasmania, in 2018 she relocated back to the Coast with her young family, after spending time living and working on the mainland. She completed a Bachelor of Business from the University of Tasmania and prior to employment at CCA she worked predominantly with small businesses in digital marketing and e-commerce.

In 2021, she joined CCA as a Communications Officer, taking maternity leave in late 2022 to welcome her third child. Jess has returned to CCA to work across Communications, Media and assist with Regional Development, taking on the role of Future Energy Facilitator in mid 2023.

EMAIL: [email protected]

Veronica is a qualified economic developer, holding a Bachelor of Business and a Graduate Diploma, with a financial background. Her role involves identifying and enhancing economic strengths and opportunities within the Cradle Coast region. This includes creating opportunities to build on and cross-pollinate local expertise in key sectors, such as agriculture, renewable energy, and manufacturing.

Veronica will work with CCA Member councils to contribute to regional economic development through strategic initiatives and partnerships.

Veronica and her husband, Rob, run a dynamic farming business that focuses on vegetable and grain production. Over the years, other farming activities have included winter dairy cow agistment for local dairy farmers, contract grain harvesting, spray contracting, contract potato planting, and contract potato harvesting.

EMAIL: [email protected]

In 2024, Isabella joined the Cradle Coast Authority as NRM Communications Officer.  

Isabella has always had a passion for sustainable agriculture. Growing up in Smithton surrounded by the diverse Circular Head agriculture industry, she witnessed the rapid industry growth first-hand and saw the need for innovation and education to ensure efficient production can remain environmentally sustainable.  

This led her to study a Bachelor of Natural Environments and Conservation at the University of Tasmania, focussing on holistic management of both natural and modified landscapes. While doing so, she gained valuable experience in communications, environmental compliance, and NRM project work across a variety of government and non-profit organisations.

Isabella hopes to continue making a positive impact on communities across the Cradle Coast region through her role with the Cradle Coast Authority.  

Claire joined the CCA in August 2022 as an NRM Project Coordinator, with a focus on Rice Grass management in the Rubicon Estuary and Circular Head region to protect and enhance our valuable salt marsh habitat in the Northwest. Claire is now appointed as NRM’s Engagement Officer.

Claire is a marine biologist and environmental scientist and is well versed in environmental education and interpretation, community engagement, behaviour change campaigns and ocean plastic clean-up. With experience working within terrestrial and coastal environments, she has spent the last decade working with marine mammals, invertebrates, seabirds and threatened species around the country, and brings her passion for conservation and natural resource management to the Cradle Coast.

EMAIL: [email protected]

Hannah Sadler has held a couple of different positions in the NRM team at CCA, NRM Facilitator, Engagement Officer since September 2019 and most recently as Land Program Manager. Hannah has worked in natural resource management, agriculture, and local government in Western Australia and around Tasmania. She holds a Bachelor Degree in Natural Environment and Wilderness Studies and a Certificate III in Digital Media. Hannah has extensive experience in working with local government, industry, farmers, volunteers, and school groups. Hannah grew up on a dairy farm at Flowerdale and has a passion for this region, its community, and natural resources.

EMAIL: [email protected]

Tom has been working at CCA since 2014, currently coordinating the small landholder property management planning programs including facilitating workshops for farmers. He is qualified to deliver agricultural subjects in University, including soil health management and pasture identification and was previously a microbiologist in the dairy industry with an in-depth understanding of food-borne pathogens, and pathogens in pyrethrum.

Tom holds a Bachelor of Applied Horticultural Science, Bachelor of Applied Agricultural Science with Honors, and a Doctorate of Philosophy (Agriculture, Plant, Pathology). He has experience in whole farm planning (property management), soil health and pasture identification (for animal nutrition), natural fertilizer application (compost teas and extracts), agricultural research (designing and managing research projects in field, glasshouse, laboratory techniques, DNA/RNA extraction, virus testing), microbiology/mycology (microscopic and biochemical identification and detection of numerous microorganisms pathogenic to both plants and animals and teaching agricultural science.

EMAIL: [email protected]

Iona joined CCA in 2017 and is responsible for CCA’s Three Hummock Island project (protecting Hooded Plovers from feral cats) and now as Biodiversity Program Manager she is responsible for oversight of selected biodiversity projects.

Iona has been working in science and natural resource management since 2002. In Queensland, she worked on several large waterway restoration projects, managed water quality monitoring activities across the region, delivered an update to the region’s Water Quality Improvement Plan, and coordinated stakeholder engagement groups. Iona has a BSc (Hons) Environmental Science, Master of Resource Management (Coastal and Marine Management), a Cert IV in Project Management, and experience in the public service, academia, and consultancy.

Jason recently joined CCA in 2024 as our Healthy Harbour Project Officer, aimed to raise awareness and increased community engagement and support towards the recovery of the Maugean skate, endemic to Macquarie Harbour.

Extremely passionate about protecting native flora and fauna, Jason has worked for numerous conservation and environmental organisations with roles varying from supervising a bush-regeneration crew, running environmental workshops, community planting and clean-up days, native nursery operations, wildlife sanctuary keeper and operated a Southern-brown Bandicoot and Long-nosed Potoroo breeding program.

Before moving into the conservation field and completing a Cert 3 in Conservation & Land Management, Jason attained a Bachelor of International Studies and a Bachelor of Spanish before completing his Post-Graduate Certificate in International Development while simultaneously working on a waste-management development project in Guatemala, Central America.

EMAIL: [email protected]

This rols is coming soon to the Cradle Coast Authority. 

Joining CCA in July 2021 as an NRM Project Coordinator, to deliver CCA’s Rice Grass control projects in the Rubicon Estuary and the Circular Head Region. In July 2022 Nick began a new role as Soil Extension Officer and also provided support for the Tasmanian Weed Action Fund Program.

Nick now is responsible for delivery of selected biodiversity projects.

Prior to joining CCA, he worked as a consulting environmental scientist for the mining, agriculture and infrastructure industries in the fields of land rehabilitation and management, soil science and environmental chemistry. He has also worked as an environment advisor on a major rail project spanning multiple states. Nick has a Bachelor of Environmental Science (Honours) majoring in Natural Resource Science.

EMAIL: [email protected]

Kylie joined CCA in 2022 as the Regional Cat Management Coordinator. She completed her Bachelor of Animal and Veterinary Biosciences degree in 2012, looking at stress in shelter dogs as an honours student. From here she spent 6 years working in Victorian shelters, working both hands-on and in an engagement capacity as an advocate for responsible cat ownership. She has also fostered cats for RSPCA Victoria and dogs with the Australian Working Dog Rescue Inc.

Passionate about biodiversity, Kylie has also volunteered with Birdlife Australia, Zoos Victoria and Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater, and more recently completed a 3-month internship with Phillip Island Nature Parks monitoring feral cats on the island. She is also a certified wildlife rescuer with Wildlife Victoria, having completed a certificate in Wildlife Husbandry and Rehabilitation.

In 2021 Kylie completed a Master of Environment degree with the University of Melbourne, after which she took on a short-term role with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning as a Forest and Wildlife Officer prior to joining CCA.

EMAIL: [email protected]

This role is coming soon to the Cradle Coast Authority, in partnership with Circular Head and Waratah Wynyard councils.