Since 1981
CAFNEC has been advocating for the protection of nature in
Far North Queensland since 1981.
ABOUT CAFNEC
The Cairns and Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC) is a not-for-profit incorporated association that acts as conservation council for the region from Cardwell north to Torres Strait and from the east coast to the Gulf of Carpentaria. We work to protect the environment by enhancing the capacity of local groups and community members to act for conservation, strengthening networks within FNQ, facilitating region-wide cooperation to identify and coordinate action on issues of regional significance and when necessary, engaging in campaigns that are strategically important for the region.
The FNQ environment needs a strong voice, and the people of FNQ who know, love and live in the region are the best ones to be that voice. Protecting the world’s largest living structure (the Great Barrier Reef) and the oldest continuously surviving rainforests (the Wet Tropics) – as well as the other spectacular natural areas in the region – is a huge challenge and needs resources. These World Heritage Areas are important to Australians and global citizens alike so we also need people outside the region to join and support us in giving voice to the local community members who speak and act for these globally-recognised natural wonders.
Like many not-for-profit organisations, we have a small number of staff that keep things ticking along but volunteers, members and donors are the real power behind the organisation so the more we have, the more we can do.
OUR HISTORY
CAFNEC was formed in 1981 by members of a number of local conservation groups. It was felt that group coordination and a higher profile for regional environment issues was needed with a single, accessible contact point. Since 1991 that contact point has been both an office and library in Cominos House, a restored Queenslander at the corner of Greenslopes and Little Streets, where the then city council chose tenants for their contribution to restoration and to co-operative management. Cominos House is one of the most well know cultural and historical buildings in Cairns, close to the Flecker Botanic Gardens. Since CAFNEC’s establishment it has been the focal point for environmental action and education in the region.
Team
Our Staff
Lucy Graham | Director | She/Her
Lucy was born here at the Cairns Base, and grew up on the Atherton Tablelands. She has a deep love for our World Heritage Areas and the wide ranging nature that our region has.
Prior to her appointment in August 2019, Lucy has been actively involved with CAFNEC for more than five years, as a volunteer, management committee member and representative. Lucy has strong networks with a wide range of organisations and community groups in Far North Queensland, as well as at a State and National spheres.
Lucy has a B. Sustainability from JCU, and has trained with The Change Agency and for many years worked in Outdoor Education and Tourism. Lucy has worked with organisations such as The Wilderness Society, GetUp and the Queensland Conservation Council and brings knowledge and exprience valuable to CAFNEC.
Email: director{at}cafnec.org.au
Mari Short | Office Manager
Mari has worked for us for many years and maintains a vast knowledge bank in relation to our work, our members and the not-for-profit sector.
She says there is never a dull day in the CAFNEC office and that she is fortunate to be able to interact with so many diverse and interesting people, and of course the myriad of environmental issues.
Apart from her CAFNEC life, she enjoys exploring the walking trails and waterfalls the region has to offer.
Email: admin{at}cafnec.org.au
Monique Jeffs | Community Organiser | They/Them
Monique is our community organiser, taking over the role in July 2023 from Aïsha who worked for CAFNEC for the past five years. Monique has been inspired by the important advocacy and deep organising work CAFNEC does centring grassroots community. They’re so excited to learn from the amazing membership groups, volunteers and funders that make CAFNEC great.
Monique has been working and volunteering as a community organiser and campaigner in Meanjin (Brisbane) on Jagera and Turrabul Country for the past five years and a half years. Most recently Monique worked for Amy MacMahon, MP for South Brisbane as a Community Campaigner collaborating and supporting community groups to fight against dodgy developments in the rapidly developing neighbourhood of West End and surrounds.
Monique fell in love with community organising when they started volunteering with the Australian Youth Climate Coalition in 2018 and believe it truly is the way that we can make the world a better place. They bring a wealth of skills and experience from community organising across the climate and environment space – both paid and unpaid, they love people and are deeply committed to the movement.
Find them playing and listening to music, reading or going on adventures in the rainforest.
Email: getinvolved{at}cafnec.org.au
Shannon Bredeson | Projects Officer | She/Her
Shannon is originally from California, USA and arrived in Australia as a Master of Science student in early 2020. She studied at JCU, specialising in Tropical Biology and Conservation. Being amazed at how green and beautiful Cairns is compared to the Californian deserts, she decided to make it her home and began volunteering with CAFNEC in early 2022. This fostered a deeper sense of community and connection within her, and she later joined CAFNEC as an employee in early 2023. She is passionate about helping others develop a love of the environment, and feel empowered to take care of it.
Email: projects{at}cafnec.org.au
Derryn Knuckey | Fundraising & Comms Coordinator | He/Him
Derryn is a long term Cairns resident with a diverse background in community work. Predominantly working in the human services sector in the past 20 years, Derryn’s journey has taken him to various parts of Australia, working in regional and remote communities at times and working in the creative industries, community arts, on Country projects and supporting vulnerable young people.
Bringing together a strong passion for people and the wild climes of tropical Far North Queensland, Derryn stepped into the Fundraising and Communications Coordinator role in October 2023.
Email: community{at}cafnec.org.au
Bronwyn Opie | Community Campaigner | She/Her
Originally hailing from Ontario, Canada, Bronwyn has been in awe of the FNQ environment since she arrived in Australia in 2014. She joined the CAFNEC team in 2021 as the Climate Organiser, and has since taken on additional campaign work, including our Water Advocacy campaign.
As the Community Campaigner, Bronwyn’s role is to lead and coordinate CAFNEC’s Climate Justice Campaign and Water Advocacy Campaign. These campaigns aim to bring concerned community members together to advocate for better policies and actions to prevent further climate destruction, and ensure our local government is pursuing sustainable water security solutions that protect our vulnerable river systems and are resilient to the changing climate.
Bronwyn has a B. Sustainability from JCU and is currently completing a Master of Environment, majoring in environmental economics and policy, through Griffith University. When she is not working or studying, she enjoys hiking with friends, breakfast food, and painting.
Email: climateaction{at}cafnec.org.au
Our Management Committee
Pia Harkness | President | She/Her
Pia was born and raised in Townsville and was fortunate to spend much of her childhood on Magnetic Island where her love for the environment and the seeds of her interest in tropical marine ecosystems were sown. Professionally, Pia is a community engagement expert, working to support Traditional Owner-led land and sea management in the Great Barrier Reef and its catchments, with a focus on water quality. This work builds on her scientific background with research focused on bringing western science and traditional ecological knowledge based understandings together to support Indigenous land and sea management. Pia holds a Bachelor of Environmental Management, a Master of Tropical Environmental Management and a PhD which focused on marine conservation and community engagement practices and their implications for coastal ecosystems and communities in remote eastern Indonesia.
Pia moved to Cairns in mid 2019 and joined the CAFNEC management committee soon after in an effort to connect with the FNQ environmental community. She has served as President since 2021, where she has led important work to build cultural competency among staff and management committee for stronger partnerships with Traditional Owners. Pia now lives on Eastern Kuku Yalanji Country the Mossman region and has a deep understanding of the environmental and cultural heritage values CAFNEC works tirelessly to protect.
Belinda Billing | Vice President |She/Her
Belinda has worked in sustainable tropical agriculture in the Mackay Whitsunday and Far North regions for more than ten years. Her focus has been on improving water quality in Great Barrier Reef farming regions by working collaboratively with agricultural communities and science leaders. She also works with Traditional Owners to help design and deliver programs for the monitoring and management Country based on Traditional Owner values and aspirations.
She has a Bachelor of Professional Writing and Communication and is currently studying Psychological Science and Sociology, her work experience spans journalism, adult education and, more recently sustainable agricultural extension and project management. Belinda's passion lies in bringing together science and community to create change for a more sustainable and equitable world. When Belinda is not working you'll probably find her playing with her dogs or hiking the region's beautiful trails.
Charlotte Cox | Secretary |
Charlotte grew up in a quiet and leafy part of the NSW Central Coast, just a stones throw from the beach. Her love for the land and sea led her to Djabugay Country (Kuranda) where she lives with her partner, young daughter, and two kelpies.
She holds a Bachelor of Commerce Accounting and a Master of Environment from Macquarie University. Charlotte has dedicated her career to environmental and climate advocacy, playing key roles in campaigns such as Fight for the Bight at Greenpeace, and working closely with Traditional Owners on the Don’t Frack the NT campaign in her current role as Senior Climate Justice Campaigner at GetUp.
When not fighting for climate justice or spending time with her young family, you’ll find her in the garden, by the sea, or dominating a board game with friends.
A long admirer of CAFNEC, Charlotte is eager to contribute her skills and experiences to this incredible team and community.
Bess Murphy | Treasurer | She/Her
Hailing from country NSW and trained as an Environmental Scientist/Biologist Bess is passionate about environmental advocacy, science, social change & sustainability.
She has over half a decade of environmental campaigning and outreach experience spanning Bathurst, Wollongong and Cairns, including most recently working at CAFNEC from 2015-2020.
When not at CAFNEC you can find Bess crafting sustainable timber jewelery in an off grid shed on the Tablelands, under the sea, or hiking in the rainforest nerding-out on botany. She now runs two eco-conscious businesses with her partner and teams.
Will Higham | General Member |
Will is a Land Resource Scientist who specialises in crafting natural resource management plans and implementation strategies at regional and multi-regional scales. He has been designing and implementing successful community based natural resource management solutions in for over 25 years.
Jesse Rheinlander | General Member |
Jesse’s primary relationship to the world began with isolated ecosystems, protected wilderness, human development and often-irrational management regimes. The sprawling human geography of WA’s urban centres provoked some of the seminal questions of Jesse’s trajectory, specifically regarding the relationship between socio-political environments, the built form and environmental footprints.
Jesse was involved in direct action movements as a young adult, but it was ultimately a burning desire to witness the majesty of climaxed rainforest, and a pressing need to consolidate untamed passions that put him in pursuit of a qualification from James Cook University, emerging some six years later with a degree in both Land and Water Management and Urban Design.
After some time spent developing his networks in the region, Jesse’s professional profile now incorporates administrative, operational and management roles, and he has been responsible for net-positive environmental decision-making, strategy and cultural change at all levels.
Jesse brings a background in evidence-based governance, strategy and ethical decision making to the CAFNEC management committee, and remains fundamentally impassioned by the public-facing campaign issues which they navigate.
Liam Roberts | General Member |
Liam is a Jirrbal man from the Atherton Tablelands.
He has 10 years experience working for Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service much of it as a project officer and has served as a director of Wabubadda Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC for 9 years.
As well as being a current director of Wabubadda Liam works in the Cape York Tenure Resolution Program providing governance support to Aboriginal Corporations across Cape York. He is keenly interested in protecting the environment and brings a wealth of governance knowledge and would love to use his experience to support CAFNEC and their projects.
Mandy Soymonoff | General Member |
Mandy is a Queenslander, growing up around the bush and beach of Mackay and the suburban creeks of Brisbane. She has spent 26 of the last 31 years in F.N.Q., immersing herself in the reefs, rainforests, mangroves and savannah country.
Mandy holds a Bachelor of Science with honours in Ecology. She has worked in Cairns and Brisbane for various state and federal government departments in biosecurity and invasive species. She has also spent two years working for non-government conservation organisations on sea turtles and shorebirds in north west Western Australia.
As a volunteer for CAFNEC for more than seven years, Mandy has a sound knowledge of the current projects being undertaken. In her down time, Mandy enjoys watching flying foxes at their daytime roosts and marvelling at trees.