Join us in extending a warm AELERT welcome to our newest Community of Practice Co-Chairs Jerilly Armstrong, Eva Sheppard, Maxine Dudman and Rebecca Griffiths! They will be supporting the Chair of the Impact Assessment, Legal Practice & Policy and Organisational Maturity network groups respectively.
Since reforming many of the Community of Practice network groups this year we have had a fantastic turnout from members, with most joining at least one group that reflects the diverse regulatory activities of our member agencies.
The Co-Chair supports the network group by assuming the responsibilities of the Chair in their absence, but also contributes by helping to shape and steer discussions and contribute ideas to the cluster working groups on behalf of fellow members for action during the two 6-month work programs each year.
Without further ado, meet your new Co-Chairs!
Jerilly Armstrong – Impact Assessment Community of Practice
Jerilly is Manager of Environmental Impact Assessment within the Department of Environment and Science (Qld). With 25 plus years’ experience within both public and private sectors she has gained considerable experience providing proponents/clients of linear infrastructure, mining and heavy industry sectors with a range of services including environmental impact assessment, approvals management, site operational environmental management and compliance, tenure management and the facilitation of cultural heritage processes.
Through her work she has gained a robust basis for interpreting Queensland’s legislative and compliance requirements managing many significant mining and non-mining projects. Jerilly’s ability to interpret project stoppers in relation to EIS Projects within Queensland (eg Trigger Criteria, EP Act Standard Criteria and EPBC Controlled Actions) enables her delivery of quality advice in relation to both process and compliance works.
In her spare time, Jerilly loves to travel, with her most recent trip to being to South Africa to see all things fauna and flora.
Eva Sheppard – Legal Practice & Policy Community of Practice
Eva joins us as a lawyer within the Department of Environment and Science, providing advice on a wide range of legal issues, conducting prosecutions and civil proceedings on behalf of the State of Queensland. She has been involved in the AELERT Legal Practice & Policy working group (now Community of Practice) since 2020 and loves keeping in touch with what the exciting cases and legislative changes that are happening across Australia and New Zealand.
Rebecca Griffiths – Organisational Maturity Community of Practice
Bec has been with the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, Western Australia, and its predecessors for 16 years. Currently taking on the challenge of setting up the new Office of the Deputy Director Generals – Approvals, as the Executive Manager.
With a background in licensing, compliance, and enforcement, Bec has been working alongside Maxine to establish the new Assurance Directorate (previously Compliance and Enforcement), and the overarching new portfolio of Approvals. In a volunteer capacity, Bec manages the State-wide Operational Response Division within State Emergency Services (SES). This team responds and manages the logistics across the state of WA in emergency situations.
Maxine Dudman – Organisational Maturity Community of Practice
Maxine is the Senior Environmental Officer-Green Energy Assurance for the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, Western Australia. In this role, Maxine is focussed on: developing best practice assurance processes, exploring opportunities for integrating First Nations people and to leverage technology into assurance processes. Maxine returned to the Department in 2022 after an extended period working across other sectors including wildlife, public utilities and professional services and is currently involved in the planning and implementation of organisation reform within the Assurance Directorate (previously Compliance and Enforcement).
Maxine has a background in investigations, compliance and enforcement roles across state government and is passionate about working with other regulators to establish a network of sharing knowledge and experience to ensure the best environmental outcomes.
Become a network group Co-Chair
We are also looking for nominations for a Co-Chair to support and contribute to the vibrancy of the following network groups:
- Better Regulation
- Biodiversity & Protected Area (Marine/Land)
- Biosecurity (Chair & Co-Chair required)
- Emergency Operations
- Intelligence & Analysis (Chair & Co-Chair required)
- Local Government
- Waste Crime
- Wildlife Crime
If you are interested in contributing to your Community of Practice and build your personal skills in the following areas then please get in touch with your respective CoP Chair or submit your nomination (yourself or a colleague) in the CoP forum.
Community of Practice Co-Chair responsibilities:
- Assist in shaping the direction of the Community of Practice;
- Assist in determining agenda items and forward agenda discussion topics;
- Suggesting ideas for guest presenters of interest;
- Contribute to building CoP membership; and
- Holding meetings if the Chair is absent.
To all of our CoP members we wish to thank you for your continued support and contribution to the network groups, AELERT is your network and we work to support you in cultivating our collective regulatory strength and depth.
