Our Staff
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Fiona Veikkanen
Fiona is a born and bred Canberran, a front-yard grower and a practical can-do, go-getter. She previously owned and operated a busy Canberra restaurant with her chef husband, has trained as a visual artist in sculpture and worked in education at the National Gallery of Australia.
These diverse experiences have embedded Fiona with practical skills, local connections and the ability to creatively respond to change. Throughout this time, she has been particularly interested in permaculture and communicating sustainability solutions in diverse settings and continues to be curious about the role of community gardens within our city.
Fiona is motivated to take climate action in both large and small ways – like riding a bike instead of driving, and backyard composting these small things all add up – collectively creating a positive impact on our environment. On a Sunday afternoon you will usually find Fiona at home with her family, dogs, and chooks, with dirt under nails, cuppa in hand and something delicious in the oven.
Project officer
Katrina Cachia
Katrina is deeply passionate about the health and well-being of people and the planet and is driven to live, work and create in the sustainability space. She is a multi-disciplinary creative with experience in horticulture, permaculture, design, architecture, zero-waste living and more.
Katrina feels incredibly privileged to work at the Canberra Environment Centre as Project Officer. She sees it as a role that can positively impact her broader community, supporting people with educational opportunities and resources. She loves meeting and connecting with people and facilitating the weekly community garden sessions to which she brings her fervent interest in food and food production.
COMMUNICATIONS Officer
Kelly Thorburn
Kelly is passionate about sharing stories of hope and inspiration in the face of a changing climate and empowering people to take positive action. With 10 years in natural resource management and regenerative agriculture and 25 years in communications, she loves sharing knowledge around permaculture, growing food, composting, recycling, soil health, landscape restoration and building biodiversity.
She is currently studying a Diploma of Sustainable Living at the University of Tasmania and taking part in the Sharing Stories Arts Exchange program at the Australian National University. Kelly once spent a whole northern summer camping out in Mongolia and horse-trekking across the vast steppes and spends her spare time exploring textile arts and enjoying nature.
OUTREACH OFFICER
Tina Gopalan
Tina is passionate about conservation and loves learning about and promoting all the little things that we can do, and make it matter for the environment.
Tina graduated with first class honours from the Australian National University in 2022 studying the feeding behaviour of greater gliders. She brings expertise in ecology, evolution and taxonomy linked to conservation.
Tina is also working with the ANU-Optus Bushfire Research Centre of Excellence, investigating different sensors and methods of early bushfire detection, and has previously worked on the taxonomy of species in Australia and around the world with the Australian Biological Resources Study.
RECYCLERY Manager
Geordie Ferguson
More details coming soon!