AbCF acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands where we work and live and pay our respect to Elders past, present and emerging and celebrate the stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples of all Communities. AbCF acknowledges, respects and honours Indigenous peoples vital role in caring for country in the past and stress the importance of this continued practice into the future.
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers please be aware that content on this website may contain images, voices and or names of people who have passed away.

THE AbCF TEAM

ROWAN FOLEY - CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

ROWAN FOLEY - CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

I am a Ranger by trade, first coming to Uluru – Kata Tjuta National Park – shortly after hand back in 1989. I later returned with my family, to once again live at Mutitjulu, this time as the Park Manager. Working with the Board and park staff we successfully developed the $21m sunrise area, established the Mala (Hare Wallaby) paddock and introduced the summer seasonal closure of the climb.

In between time at the rock, I worked for the Kimberley Land Council in 1995 as their first Land Management Officer where I negotiated the first Indigenous Protected Area at Paruku (Lake Gregory) in WA and with a National Heritage Trust Co-ordinator established their Land and Sea Management Unit. As the CFI was being developed in 2010-11, I worked with a dedicated team of people to ensure Indigenous interests were acknowledged and supported through the establishment of the $22m Indigenous Carbon Farming Fund, a co-benefits report and Indigenous Negotiation Roundtables with the Australian Government.

I come from the Wondunna clan of the Badtjala people, Traditional Owners of Fraser Island (K’gari) in Queensland. I live in Alice Springs.

LISA MCMURRAY - LEARNING & PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

LISA MCMURRAY - LEARNING & PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

I am an experienced consultant and international development specialist, with extensive experience in non-government (NGO) health, overseas aid and Australian Indigenous community development initiatives.

My skills-set and experience are in the areas of research, facilitation, program design, monitoring, evaluation and learning (DMEL) and stakeholder and partnership management. I’m passionate about program effectiveness best-practice, that genuinely puts decision-making in the hands of people that it impacts the most.

I first came into contact with Aboriginal Carbon Foundation in 2014, whilst facilitating a meeting of Aboriginal organisations at Ross River, outside Alice Springs. At the time I was in a DMEL role at Caritas Australia. In 2016 we began to work on the Core Benefit Standard, and I came on board with AbCF in early 2018, to dedicate my time to the implementation and continued learning and improvement around this unique and exciting peer to peer verification approach.

MAHALA STROHFELDT – COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

MAHALA STROHFELDT – COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

I am a proud Goreng Goreng woman with strong connections to both my Aboriginal and Malay heritage – the Appo and Wone families, born and raised on Mamu country in Innisfail.

I graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism degree from James Cook University in 1999 and have enjoyed a long career in media, much of which has been reporting on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and events.

As a media and communications specialist for national Indigenous organisations, I have found professional satisfaction in working on national campaigns that that give First Nations people a voice and work towards empowerment, social justice, and reform in Indigenous affairs.

With over two decades of work within the Indigenous political and communications space, I have been fortunate to be invited into loungerooms and campfires of first nations people around the country, sitting down with community, recording stories of hope, survival and determination.

As the newest member of the AbCF, I continue this journey of uplifting and promoting the voices of First Nations peoples in the Aboriginal Carbon space, empowering Traditional Owners and Elders in Cape York and remote communities across the country to tell their stories of taking care of country using culture and innovation.

SEAN APPOO - PROJECT MANAGER

SEAN APPOO - PROJECT MANAGER

I am a proud Murri Man descended from the Kabi Kabi and Birra Gubba Nations, with a bit of Danish and Sri Lankan thrown in. I was born and grew up on Goreng Goreng Country where I was shown a great life amongst my family and peers.

I have worked in construction, mining, agriculture, retail, hospitality, health, corporate, government, and community sectors. For the past 20 years I have worked almost exclusively in the Aboriginal Community Controlled sector in health, consultancy and business development roles.

Through all this life experience and study in health, management, and business development I’ve developed strong skills in community engagement, business development, research, and program design/implementation/evaluation. I am passionate about social justice; Indigenous knowledge and excellence; and business development with our Mob, by our Mob.

SADE GEIA

SADE GEIA

I am a proud Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person of this region, with close family ties to the Gimuy area, having been born and raised in Cairns. I have gained experience gained in Tourism and Hospitality, and particularly enjoyed my time as a broadcast administration worker with Indigenous radio station Bumma Bippera Media where I worked on show production including National talk shows. I am family orientated and enjoy meeting mob near and far and consider myself to be a very outgoing person. I am a hardworking mother and enjoy challenging myself to new situations. I am excited to be a part of the AbCF team and the important work we do for mob.

MICHAEL COLEMAN

MICHAEL COLEMAN

Michael is based in Narrm (Melbourne) where his work with Aboriginal Carbon Foundation focuses on building commercial relationships.

With a background in forestry, finance and volunteer management, Michael has spent many years in local government, private enterprise and not-for-profits. These experiences have given him the strengths of focus and resilience. By bringing different groups together, he seeks to leave the place better than he found it – creating space for communities to work on Country and restore some of the damages of colonialisation.

Michael’s work aims to bring opportunities for Indigenous-led ecosystem care, using ecosystem services to unlock funding streams to restore Country.

EXPERT ADVICE

EXPERT ADVICE

The Aboriginal Carbon Foundation also draws on other qualified experts as required, to meet industry standards and add value to our work. For clients needing financial advice about selling their carbon credits, we use Australian Carbon Traders Pty Ltd AFSL 425512. Please note anyone providing financial advice about carbon credits, such as what the price might be or dealing in carbon units, must have an Australian Financial Services License with appropriate authorisations.

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