MELISSA PEPPER
Ranger Program Manager
land.management@
karlka.com.au
MELISSA PEPPER
Ranger Program Manager
land.management@
karlka.com.au
Mel grew up in Brisbane but really calls Kangaroo Island home and when she gets a break from her busy role she loves getting back there for a visit.
Having studied Environmental Management at University in Brisbane, Mel has since gained significant experiences to support her in her role as Ranger Program Manager. Prior to joining us at KNAC in 2001, Mel worked as the Indigenous Protected Area Coordinator in the Nantawarrina Indigenous Protected Area which was the first IPA in Australia. In her role there she directly managed a team of seven full time Rangers.
She has also visited many remote communities across Australia from Torres Strait, to the central desert, Arnhem Land and the Kimberley in previous roles with AMRRIC and Parks Australia.
NOEL TAYLOR
Ranger Program Officer
rppo@karlka.com.au
Noel is a Nyiyaparli/Nyamal man, originally from Marble Bar and now living in Hedland. He joined KNAC in 2023 and is employed part time as a Ranger Project Officer.
In addition to his cultural knowledge of Nyiyaparli land he brings to the role his technology skills. He has helped create Fulcrum data collection apps for the Rangers to use in the field and as a drone pilot he leads the use of drones in our work on country.
Going forward he is keen to upskill in the GIS mapping, fulcrum and drones space to become a specialist in the area of fire and vegetation health mapping.
SOPHIA BOCCARDO
Field Coordinator
fieldcoordinator@
karlka.com.au
Sophia is from Perth and since joining KNAC in May 2024 as the Ranger Program Field Coordinator has relocated to Hedland.
She has a Degree in Conservation and Wildlife Biology which influenced her passion for protecting Country to preserve it for future generations.
In this new KNAC role she is excited to be collaborating with the Nyiyaparli Rangers to facilitate learning and transfer of knowledge, working together to achieve the shared goal of ‘looking after Yurlu‘
CEDRIC LAW
Ranger Field Support Officer
Cedric is originally from Tennant Creek NT, has been living in South Hedland for 24 years now. and joined KNAC in May 2024 as a Ranger Field Coordinator.
Cedric already has lots of experience with the KNAC Heritage crew with many trips on country, including at the Fortescue Marsh area where the Ranger teams works.
With so many years of experience on Nyiyaparli country in addition to knowing the community well, Cedric is a great addition to the Ranger team.
CAROL-ANNE TUCKER
Lead Ranger
Bio coming soon
CLARE MEREDITH
Pilbara Ranger Network Partnership Coordinator
clare.meredith@pclmp.com
Clare is based in Perth and works in a stakeholder engagement role with the Pilbara Ranger Network to help support partnerships with government and industry that collectively progress Traditional Owner aspirations to build sustainable ranger programs and care for country.
She has a Degree in Environmental Biology, Geography and Politics and spent her early career working on the floodplains of the Murray Darling Basin helping to return water to rivers, floodplains, and wetlands of the Basin to help make them healthier.
Later she worked as a consultant with communities and scientists across WA to define water allocation limits for rivers and aquifers and most recently partnered with Traditional Owners, industry, government, pastoralists, and land managers to deliver biodiversity offset projects across the Pilbara as part of the Pilbara Environmental Offsets Project.
♦ This role is being auspiced by KNAC through a funding partnership with Rio Tinto for the Pilbara Ranger Network of which KNAC is a member.
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