We are thrilled to be rolling out a series of face-to-face events to launch our new Nature Funding Framework. Please join us in Brisbane on Monday 11 March to hear from sector experts and connect with other funders and environmental NGO.

A sister to the Climate Funding Framework, developed by the AEGN in 2020, the Nature Funding Framework integrates expert voices and ideas drawn from conferences, workshops, ongoing conversations and focused interviews with more than 50 leaders from environmental non-government organisations as well as academia, government and philanthropy.

The new resource, co-ordinated by Nature Program Manager, Margie Jenkin, presents priorities and opportunities for AEGN members to protect, restore and manage nature and realise the full potential of their giving.

We'll be joined by nature conservation experts from Queensland's conservation councils who are meeting in Brisbane for the Ministerial Environmental Round Table. We look forward to making new connections and hearing more about their important work across the state.

Dave Copeman (Director, Queensland Conservation Council), Lucy Graham (Director, Cairns and Far North Environment Centre) and Natalie Frost (Nature Campaigner, Queensland Conservation Council) will also provide updates on the national pilot projects they are running on bioregional planning and ensuring a 'site renewables right' rollout.

Dave Copeman (Director, Queensland Conservation Council)

Dave is an experienced campaigner and community organiser who has spent 20+ years organising for social change in Queensland. He has been the Director of Queensland Conservation Council since 2021, and loves to push Queensland to be a climate and biodiversity leader. He was the founding lead organiser of the Queensland Community Alliance, and before that has worked as a union member, human rights and pro-democracy campaigner and a political advisor. Dave's family has worked for generations to protect Queensland's natural wonders as environmental activists and he is committed to building people power to change Queensland for the better.

Lucy Graham (Director, Cairns and Far North Queensland Environment Council

Lucy is both the QCC Deputy Chair and Director of Cairns and Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC) and longtime resident of Far North Queensland. She is deeply interested in regional Queensland and the important role that regional bodies play in helping protect our environment. Lucy excels in community organising and campaigning, aligning her expertise with a fervent commitment to combating climate change in regional communities through QCC and CAFNEC. She has most recently been at the frontline of flood recovery in Cairns and helping her community understand the necessary transition to renewable energy.

Natalie Frost (Nature Campaigner, Queensland Conservation Council)

Natalie is the Nature Campaigner at QCC, leading a campaign to end broadscale land clearing and protect Queensland’s iconic forests and woodlands and works with other leading eNGOs through coordinating the Queensland Forests Alliance. Natalie is an ecologist with over 10 years experience in ecological assessments and monitoring, project management, community engagement, campaigning and advocacy. Having previously worked for multinational consulting companies and a range of environmental charities and social enterprises, Natalie has a diverse skill set and is passionate about protecting biodiversity and driving social change.

Margie Jenkin, AEGN Program Manager - Nature

Margie manages the Nature Program at the Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network. She has previously worked with the Tasmanian Land Conservancy (TLC), Environmental Defenders Office (Tasmania), Landcare Tasmania and the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service. Margie is a graduate of the Tasmanian Leaders Program and the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Bachelor Degree (Honours) in Natural Environment and Wilderness Studies (UTas) and a Grad Cert in Business Management, Non-profit studies (QUT). Margie is a member of the Atlas of Living Australia Advisory Board and an Honorary Life Member of the TLC.

Daisy Barham, AEGN Program Manager - Climate Change

Daisy lead’s AEGN’s climate change program where she supports funders to increase the scale and impact of their climate philanthropy. For over 15 years Daisy has worked for state, national and international organisations dedicated to protecting our natural world.

Prior to working with the AEGN, Daisy held a range of campaigning roles where she has led a team of campaigners, organisers and policy officers to take on the key threats to nature. These included climate change, tree clearing and deforestation, coal and gas mining, and overfishing.

Having worked for the Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales, 350 Australia and the Australian Marine Conservation Society, Daisy has experience working with a range of small to medium environmental organisations with local, state and national reach.

Daisy was a Councillor at the Australian Conservation Foundation for 6 years, and holds a Bachelor of Health Science in nutrition from the Queensland University of Technology. As an avid lover of the ocean, you can probably find Daisy at the beach if she is not at the desk.

Banner image credit: Annette Ruzicka