Abzeco Staff
	Abzeco Home Contact Abzeco	Abzeco is staffed by qualified and experienced botanists, zoologists, engineers and landscape designers. The director of the company is Richard Francis. Richard Francis Richard Francis is a zoologist and botanist with extensive experience of Victorian and arid-zone NSW and tropical QLD ecosystems. Richard holds a BSc in Botany and Zoology from LaTrobe University and has been working in the ecological management and restoration industry since 1991. Richard has worked as an environmental works consultant and contractor, in local government, and in the tertiary education sector. Prior to starting Abzeco Richard developed and implemented the new Conservation and Land Management Diploma training program for RMIT University. Richard lives in Eltham north-east of Melbourne where he is able to observe the urban-bush interface daily. Richard can be contacted directly on 0414 475 654 or richardfrancis@abzeco.com.au

Karl Just

Karl is a botanist who also has a strong interest in zoology, geology and cultural and natural history. Karl has undertaken fauna and flora surveys throughout most regions of Victoria including a recent project over several months working closely with Cam Beardsell in the Kinglake National Park. He also has experience in Western Australia, South Australia, Thailand and the cloud rainforests of Fiji. At the end of 2009 Karl undertook for DSE Index of Wetland Condition assessments across the Mallee and Glenelg Hopkins CMA regions. He has been involved for a number of years in detailed ecological restoration and monitoring projects throughout the Yarra Valley, Nillumbik Lowland and Upland Hills, Kinglake Ranges and Volcanic Plains, where he continues to work closely with a wide range of ecologists, park rangers and naturalists. Although interested in all things ecological, Karl has a particular interest in native orchids, fire ecology and grassland, desert, rainforest, riparian and wetland ecosystems. He is currently studying the little known often overlooked world of bryophytes.

Contact Karl on mobile: 0434 815 374 or by email: karljust@abzeco.com.au

Paul Kviecinskas

Paul holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Conservation Biology and Ecology) with Honours and a Diploma in Applied Science (Conservation Ecology). Having recently completed his honours year investigating the establishment and early seedling growth of Buloke in the West Wimmera, Paul is currently expanding his ecological knowledge and applying his broad plant identification skills whilst undertaking vegetation surveys and mapping of grassland communities in Melbournes west.

Contact Paul by email: Paulk@abzeco.com.au

Justin Pegg

Justin holds a Bachelor of Science (majors Environmental Science & Conservation and Australian Wildlife) from Melbourne University and a Masters of Environment & Sustainability at Monash University. At Abzeco, Justin works closely with the field team, applying his flora and vegetation community identification skills to large-scale mapping, monitoring and restoration projects in remote areas of regional Victoria.

Contact Justin by email: justinpegg@abzeco.com.au

Dan Young

Dan has been with Abzeco as a technical officer for over 18 months and has been working in the Natural Resource Management industry for over 4 years. As an experienced Bushland manager and with training and qualifications including Occupational Health & Safety, Level 2 First Aid, Certificate 3 in Horticulture, an Agricultural Chemical Users Permit amongst others, Dan manages the Abzeco field team, undertaking large-scale vegetation mapping and weed and pest animal control projects across greater Melbourne and throughout regional Victoria.

Contact Dan by email: danielyoung@abzeco.com.au

Geordie Scott-Walker

Geordie is an experienced field Botanist, holding a Bachelor of Natural Resource Management and recently completing his honours in biomass management of reconstructed native grassland at Chepstowe, western Victoria. Geordie is particularly interested in the ecology of lowland grassy ecosystems of south eastern Australia. For Abzeco, Geordie is currently applying his broad botanical identification and vegetation management skills to restoration projects for private landholders and local government across greater Melbourne and throughout regional Victoria.

Contact Geordie by email: geordiescottwalker@abzeco.com.au

Ben Hodgens

Ben has recently completed a Bachelor of Conservation Biology and Ecology degree from La Trobe University and is currently developing his vegetation management and plant identification skills by assisting with vegetation monitoring and mapping projects as part of the Abzeco field team across greater Melbourne and throughout regional Victoria. Ben has also been involved in the preparation of weed identification kits for joint Parks Victoria and DSE vegetation monitoring projects and has also undertaken remote camera data analysis as part of a long term biodiversity monitoring project in east Gippsland.

Contact Ben by email: benhodgens@abzeco.com.au

Katherine Whittaker

Katherine holds a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Zoology and Botany, and a Graduate Diploma of Science (Environmental & Conservation Biology). In her time with Abzeco, Katherine has been part of biodiversity monitoring and mapping projects across regional Victoria and has undertaken numerous flora and fauna assessments in Melbourne’s north and west, including targeted surveys for species of conservation significance and a number of salvage and translocation projects. Katherine has extensive experience preparing detailed flora, fauna and net gain reports and land management plans for private landholders and local government and is familiar with the planning process; liaising with stakeholders, attending meetings and providing detailed service proposals and progress reports.

Contact Katherine by email: katherinewhittaker@abzeco.com.au

David De Angelis

David has a Bachelor of Biological Science with Honours from La Trobe University. David has experience in Flora and Fauna Survey, Bushland Management and Education through involvement with Friends of Mullum Mullum, La Trobe University Wildlife Reserves, the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria and the Naturalist Society of La Trobe University. While with Abzeco David has worked on a range of grassland and woodland restoration projects and written several reports on flora, fauna survey and net gain implications from proposed developments. David is particularly interested in the conservation management of reptiles and frogs and has undertaken surveys for several threatened species including the Growling Grass Frog, Southern Toadlet, Hooded Scaly-foot, Grassland Earless Dragon, Striped Legless Lizard and Swamp Skink.

Contact David by email: daviddeangelis@abzeco.com.au

Sharon Wells

Sharon has a Bachelor of Applied Science from Chisholm Institute of Technology. Sharon has 12 years in the information technology industry the last five of those as a project manager responsibility for meeting budget as well as planning and reporting on project progress. An important part of this role was the maintenance of client relationships, including working with multiple stakeholders and departments to ensure that all issues were considered and requirement met. Sharon has been working with Abzeco for two years in a management role including reviewing documentation for projects, her skill set as a project manager has added to Abzeco’s skill base. Sharon’s recent involvement as project manager for the Brimbank Biodiversity Strategy has increased her appreciation for the issues facing Biodiversity and councils role this process.

Contact Sharon by email: sharonwells@abzeco.com.au

Kathy Himbeck

Kathy has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Environmental Management) from Edith Cowan University, Western Australia. Kathy gained experience in the trapping and management of threatened species, reintroduction of threatened flora and fauna as well as feral animal control while working as an ecologist for the Department of Environment and Conservation, Western Australia (DEC). She is a keen member of the Field Naturalist Club of Victoria and has participated in many of their field trips since moving to Victoria in 2009. While with Abzeco, Kathy has been project manager on a range of GIS mapping projects including weed mapping in the Grampians and Westerfolds Park for Parks Victoria, EVC mapping for HVP Plantations and more recently the joint DSE and Parks Victoria post-fire vegetation monitoring projects. Kathy has written many reports for Abzeco on flora, fauna survey and net gain implications for proposed developments.

Contact Kathy by email: kathyhimbeck@abzeco.com.au

Andre Messina

Andre is a botanical taxonomist who is currently completing a PHD at Latrobe University. He is investigating taxonomic and ecological relationships within the Asteraceae family. Andre has extensive botanical experience throughout Victoria and much of eastern Australia having undertaken surveys throughout rainforest, grassland, alpine and heathland ecosystems. Andre has worked in restoration and revegetation projects throughout the Yarra Valley, and has had a strong involvement in recovery programs for a range of threatened flora.

Jack Latti

Jack has an Advanced Diploma in Horticulture and has a broad knowledge, detailed understanding and experience in the propagation, planting and salvage of a wide range of terrestrial and aquatic flora species. Jack assists in the management of a range of Abzeco projects including the Gellions Run Xerochrysum palustre recovery project and restoration of the Woodleigh School Wildlife Reserve.