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Our People

PRCA is powered by passionate people dedicated to protecting and restoring the Pine Rivers catchment. Meet our team of leaders, project officers, and volunteers who drive our mission forward.

Meet Our Committee
Meet Our Staff

Meet Our Committee

Our leadership team guides PRCA’s strategic direction and ensures we stay committed to sustainable catchment management. With experience across community, industry, and government, they oversee projects that make a real impact.

Derek Johnson

Chair
[email protected]

Derek Johnson is the current President of the PRCA and is honoured to continue to oversee and guide the significant improvements we have made to the organisation over the past few years. He is a passionate ecologist with experience terrestrial ecology and business management. Derek has almost 30 years of experience in vegetation assessment, having completed regional botanical mapping exercises and floristic survey over an extensive portion of Queensland in his role as Senior Botanist with the Queensland Herbarium (EPA/DES). Derek is also well experienced in computer applications including Geographic Information Systems. He has science qualifications and is currently studying for a Ph.D at the University of the Sunshine Coast. He runs his own consulting business QTree (since 2007) and also works for the Australian Koala Foundation. 

Margaret Goody
Deputy Chair
[email protected]

Margaret serves as the Deputy Chair of the Pine Rivers Catchment Association Management Committee, where she contributes to environmental conservation efforts. Margaret is deeply committed to making a positive impact on her community, both in business and environmental spheres. She actively supports and participates in Chambers of Commerce, reflecting her dedication to local business development. 

Establishing Akyra Strategy & Development as a human resource consultancy practice in 2011, Margaret offers practical hands-on experience and knowledge to define, develop and implement employee relations, human resources and industrial relations strategies using employer branding frameworks to support our clients in achieving business objectives. Margaret provides expert advice on HR and business development for PRCA. 

John Atkins
Secretary
[email protected]

Dr. John Atkins is the secretary of the Pine Rivers Catchment Association. John is an honorary research fellow at the University of Queensland and has worked as an academic at universities across Australia and the world. He is an expert on environmental philosophy and contributes meaningfully to PRCA’s environmental and community engagement strategies. John’s previous committee experiences include Auscycling’s Ethics and Integrity Panel and Vice-president of the Queensland Billiards and Snooker Association.

Richard Clarkson
Treasurer

Richard has been a long serving and extremely active member for the Pine Rivers Catchment Association for over 20 years. Richard’s working career began with QPWS and he has extensive knowledge of the North and South Pine Rivers, its tributaries, and surrounds. Richard is a driving force behind our clean up groups where he engages the local Scout Group to assist with their watercrafts, assist with Festival attendance and enjoys the role of Treasurer. His aim along with many others is to promote action within the community and through interested sectors to achieve sustainable, responsible, and productive management of the Pine Rivers catchment.

David Houghton
Committee Member

David is a retired environmental professional with over 45 years of experience in environmental consulting for government agencies and the private sector. David’s expertise spans the realms of site planning, development and environmental rehabilitation. David has a particular passion for the control and management of invasive environmental weeds within the Pine Rivers catchment, and provides assistance in the implementation of strategies to address this major issue in our catchment. David has been a member of the PRCA management committee as a general member for 2 years.

Linda Kalle
Committee Member
Employed as an educator in the Queensland VET sector for 27 years, Linda developed, wrote and delivered training materials for the public and private sector. After acquiring acreage in 1992, she volunteered in different conservation groups to learn about native plants. Since 1994 Linda has been the founder, grant recipient, and a volunteer for different riparian regeneration projects. As a member of the Land for Wildlife voluntary conservation program, Linda’s 30 year passion for on-going riparian restoration flows from observing the connections between flora biodiversity, habitat creation and healthier land and water.
Hunter Brownscombe
Committee Member
Hunter has a very strong environmental consulting and project management background, having worked as an environmental consultant for over 30 years. Hunter has experience with community revegetation and Landcare projects, spending many years with Greening Australia. As a consultant, he has delivered many environmental and ecological assessments and approvals for defence, health, mining, roads, power and water supply bodies principally in Queensland. In his time as an environmental consultant, Hunter developed effective management skills, as a manager of environmental, ecology and planning consultants. Hunter is keen on photography and bushwalking, and is trying to improve his bird identification skills.
Graeme Beuth
Committee Member
Graeme has over forty years’ experience in the motor industry, retail and wholesale. He was the sales manager of Auction house and the Principal dealer of Motor Dealerships. Graeme has extensive experience in business management and ownership and provides a great deal of knowledge on business processes for PRCA. He is also a member of PRCA’s Audit and Finance sub-committee.

Meet Our Staff

Our project officers lead on-ground conservation efforts, working with landholders and communities to restore habitats, improve water quality, and protect biodiversity

Trudi Young

Office and Finance Manager
[email protected]

Trudi is PRCA’s Office and Finance Manager. Trudi has been with the organisation for 20 years in a part-time role and is passionate about the environmental services we deliver to strengthen our community, our environment, and our ecosystems. 

Trudi’s has over 35 years of work experience and qualifications in Operational Office Management and Administration. Holding a Certificate IV in Financial Services of Bookkeeping and Horticulture II, she provides support and assistance with project administration and management including schedules and cost controls.

Dan Pagotto
Operations Manager
[email protected]​

Dan is the Operations Manager at the Pine Rivers Catchment Association. He holds a Bachelor of Environmental Science (Hons) with a major in ecology and conservation, specialising in freshwater ecology. Dan’s primary interests are the interface between land and water and engaging the broader community in citizen science initiatives. Dan leads our Seqwater and Healthy Land and Water partnership programs, and in collaboration with Trudi, manages the general operations of the organisation.

Mitch Peake
Project Officer
[email protected]

Mitch joined PRCA in 2023, primarily to manage the Wongam Koala Gully Project. Now that the project is complete, Mitch has been involved in various other projects including the Riparian Management Incentives Scheme at Cedar Creek. Mitch has a bachelor’s degree in animal ecology, minoring in geospatial analysis, and has a strong passion for koala conservation and habitat protection/restoration. He’s always on the lookout for opportunities to plant more trees for our endangered icon.

Ianuk (Nuk) Athien-Hayes
Project and GIS Officer
[email protected]

Nuk is a Project and GIS Officer at PRCA, having joined the team in 2024. They lead community engagement projects; including workshops, community plantings and small grants. Nuk also assists with projects that require GIS work. They hold a Bachelor of Animal Ecology, and is undergoing their honours thesis on the spatio-temporal relationship between humpback whales and large shark species in Southeast Queensland. Nuk is passionate about citizen science and wildlife biodiversity in the Pine Rivers Catchment.

Jason Ramsay
Research Project Officer
[email protected]

Jason has been part of PRCA since 2022 and is our Research Project Officer, leading our RiverWatch and biological control programs while supporting our volunteer Catchment Care groups. He holds a Bachelor of Environmental Science and is completing his honours thesis on the biological control of cat’s claw creeper. Jason is dedicated to the preservation of our catchment’s precious biodiversity.

Love nature and want to make a difference?

Join our passionate team and take action for the environment. From hands-on conservation work to community events, there’s a way for everyone to help.

Volunteer With Us

Derek Johnson

President of the PRCA

Derek Johnson is the current President of the PRCA and is honoured to continue to oversee and guide the significant improvements we have made to the organisation over the past few years. He is a passionate ecologist with experience terrestrial ecology and business management. Derek has almost 30 years of experience in vegetation assessment, having completed regional botanical mapping exercises and floristic survey over an extensive portion of Queensland in his role as Senior Botanist with the Queensland Herbarium (EPA/DES). Derek is also well experienced in computer applications including Geographic Information Systems. He has science qualifications and is currently studying for a Ph.D at the University of the Sunshine Coast. He runs his own consulting business QTree (since 2007) and also works for the Australian Koala Foundation. 

Margaret Goody

Deputy Chair

Margaret serves as the Deputy Chair of the Pine Rivers Catchment Association Management Committee, where she contributes to environmental conservation efforts. Margaret is deeply committed to making a positive impact on her community, both in business and environmental spheres. She actively supports and participates in Chambers of Commerce, reflecting her dedication to local business development. 

Establishing Akyra Strategy & Development as a human resource consultancy practice in 2011, Margaret offers practical hands-on experience and knowledge to define, develop and implement employee relations, human resources and industrial relations strategies using employer branding frameworks to support our clients in achieving business objectives. Margaret provides expert advice on HR and business development for PRCA. 

John Atkins

Secretary

Dr. John Atkins is the secretary of the Pine Rivers Catchment Association. John is an honorary research fellow at the University of Queensland and has worked as an academic at universities across Australia and the world. He is an expert on environmental philosophy and contributes meaningfully to PRCA’s environmental and community engagement strategies. John’s previous committee experiences include Auscycling’s Ethics and Integrity Panel and Vice-president of the Queensland Billiards and Snooker Association.

Richard Clarkson

Treasurer

Richard has been a long serving and extremely active member for the Pine Rivers Catchment Association for over 20 years. Richard’s working career began with QPWS and he has extensive knowledge of the North and South Pine Rivers, its tributaries, and surrounds. Richard is a driving force behind our clean up groups where he engages the local Scout Group to assist with their watercrafts, assist with Festival attendance and enjoys the role of Treasurer. His aim along with many others is to promote action within the community and through interested sectors to achieve sustainable, responsible, and productive management of the Pine Rivers catchment.

David Houghton

General Management Committee Member

David is a retired environmental professional with over 45 years of experience in environmental consulting for government agencies and the private sector. David’s expertise spans the realms of site planning, development and environmental rehabilitation. David has a particular passion for the control and management of invasive environmental weeds within the Pine Rivers catchment, and provides assistance in the implementation of strategies to address this major issue in our catchment. David has been a member of the PRCA management committee as a general member for 2 years.

Linda Kalle

General Management Committee Member

Employed as an educator in the Queensland VET sector for 27 years, Linda developed, wrote and delivered training materials for the public and private sector. After acquiring acreage in 1992, she volunteered in different conservation groups to learn about native plants. Since 1994 Linda has been the founder, grant recipient, and a volunteer for different riparian regeneration projects. As a member of the Land for Wildlife voluntary conservation program, Linda’s 30 year passion for on-going riparian restoration flows from observing the connections between flora biodiversity, habitat creation and healthier land and water.

Hunter Brownscombe

General Management Committee Member

Hunter has a very strong environmental consulting and project management
background, having worked as an environmental consultant for over 30 years.
Hunter has experience with community revegetation and Landcare projects,
spending many years with Greening Australia. As a consultant, he has delivered
many environmental and ecological assessments and approvals for defence, health,
mining, roads, power and water supply bodies principally in Queensland. In his time
as an environmental consultant, Hunter developed effective management skills, as a
manager of environmental, ecology and planning consultants. Hunter is keen on
photography and bushwalking, and is trying to improve his bird identification skills.

Graeme Beuth

General Management Committee Member

Graeme has over forty years’ experience in the motor industry, retail and
wholesale. He was the sales manager of Auction house and the
Principal dealer of Motor Dealerships. Graeme has extensive experience
in business management and ownership and provides a great deal of
knowledge on business processes for PRCA. He is also a member of
PRCA’s Audit and Finance sub-committee.

Trudi Young

Office and Finance Manager

Trudi has been with the organisation for 20 years in a part-time role and is passionate about the environmental services we deliver to strengthen our community, our environment, and our ecosystems. 

Trudi’s has over 35 years of work experience and qualifications in Operational Office Management and Administration. Holding a Certificate IV in Financial Services of Bookkeeping and Horticulture II, she provides support and assistance with project administration and management including schedules and cost controls.

Dan Pagotto

Operations Manager

Dan is the Operations Manager at the Pine Rivers Catchment Association. He holds a Bachelor of Environmental Science (Hons) with a major in ecology and conservation, specialising in freshwater ecology. Dan’s primary interests are the interface between land and water and engaging the broader community in citizen science initiatives. Dan leads our Seqwater and Healthy Land and Water partnership programs, and in collaboration with Trudi, manages the general operations of the organisation.

Mitch Peake

Project Officer

Mitch joined PRCA in 2023, primarily to manage the Wongam Koala Gully Project. Now that the project is complete, Mitch has been involved in various other projects including the Riparian Management Incentives Scheme at Cedar Creek. Mitch has a bachelor’s degree in animal ecology, minoring in geospatial analysis, and has a strong passion for koala conservation and habitat protection/restoration. He’s always on the lookout for opportunities to plant more trees for our endangered icon.

Ianuk (Nuk) Athien-Hayes

Project & GIS Officer

Nuk is a Project and GIS Officer at PRCA, having joined the team in 2024. They lead community engagement projects; including workshops, community plantings and small grants. Nuk also assists with projects that require GIS work. They hold a Bachelor of Animal Ecology, and is undergoing their honours thesis on the spatio-temporal relationship between humpback whales and large shark species in Southeast Queensland. Nuk is passionate about citizen science and wildlife biodiversity in the Pine Rivers Catchment.

Jason Ramsay

Research Project Officer

Jason has been part of PRCA since 2022 and is our Research Project Officer, leading our RiverWatch and biological control programs while supporting our volunteer Catchment Care groups. He holds a Bachelor of Environmental Science and is completing his honours thesis on the biological control of cat’s claw creeper. Jason is dedicated to the preservation of our catchment’s precious biodiversity.

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