After three years at the helm of Nature Conservation Margaret River Region, Drew McKenzie is stepping down from his role as general manager of the conservation group.
Mr McKenzie said his time as general manager at Nature Conservation had been a privilege and he was proud to have played a key role in building the not-for-profit group’s voice and profile, including in the advocacy space.
He also praised the “incredible depth of work achieved by our team across our range of programs”. And said Nature Conservation has been able to “broaden and strengthen engagement with our community and networks” as well as significantly grow philanthropic funding and partnerships in that time.
Drew McKenzie raising awareness about one of the region’s woody weeds, Sydney Golden Wattle
The long-time Margaret River resident and environmental advocate is stepping down at the end of May to take a break.
He said it has been an “honour working in this role alongside such a highly capable, talented and passionate team”. “Together, I feel we’ve helped grow the organisation’s impact, reach and profile,” he said.
“I believe very strongly in the value of the work that Nature Conservation Margaret River Region does for our biodiversity, landscape and our community. After a break and a recharge, I look forward to continuing my involvement with the organisation into the future.”
Nature Conservation chair Dr Ann Ward praised Mr McKenzie’s work ethic and huge contribution during his time as general manager. She said under his leadership, Nature Conservation has rolled out a series of new initiatives to boost impact for the environment.
Dr Ann Ward praises exemplary abilities
This includes the conservation group’s successful Environmental Sundowner series, the Friends of Wooditjup Bilya (Margaret River) program, securing funding for a significant river-focussed program called Protect Wooditjup Bilya, setting up the fee-for-service Bush Regeneration Team and the annual Catalyst event for funders and philanthropists, adding the Waatu Kaatijin (Ocean Learning) program to the group’s environmental education offerings, expanding the Adopt a Spot school program, and securing new funding for environmental weed control including the Arum Lily Blitz.
Before becoming general manager, Mr McKenzie had worked on a part-time basis for Nature Conservation for 15 years, where he was instrumental in projects focussed on biodiversity, threatened species, coastal protection and catchment health.
“Drew has helped take us to a new level as an organisation and we’ll always be very grateful, his depth of knowledge of this region and ability to communicate this is exemplary,” Dr Ward said.
“I am hopeful that he will return to Nature Conservation in some capacity soon. What we do in terms of protection of nature and biodiversity really matters, and that work will continue.”
About Nature Conservation Margaret River Region
An independent, community-based, not-for-profit organisation, Nature Conservation is the peak environment and conservation group in the Margaret River region. It works to combine the grassroots support of the regional community with sound conservation science and pragmatic policy to achieve sustainable environmental outcomes. Key programs include protection of the Margaret River, tackling environmental weeds with programs including the Arum Lily Blitz, conservation of endangered species and remnant bushland, caring for coast, and school education programs Adopt a Spot, Our Patch and Waatu Kaatijin (Ocean Learning).