Jo Harding
Bush Blitz Manager
Jo Harding (MPhil (Wildlife Conservation Management); BA) is the Bush Blitz Manager. Jo has undertaken field work in Australia, Thailand and Vietnam. Before moving into the field of natural resource management she studied non-human primates and has published and presented scientific papers on the study of wild and captive primate behaviour, ecology and taxonomy. Jo has worked and travelled in Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan, India, Indonesia and the United Kingdom. She has 3 children and lives in Canberra.
Kate Gillespie
Bush Blitz Senior Project Officer
Kate (B. Science - Honours in Zoology) is a Bush Blitz Senior Project Officer and Field Team Leader. Kate joined the Bush Blitz team in 2010 and has lead 19 Bush Blitz expeditions across every state and territory in Australia. Kate has over 15 years experience in undertaking biological field survey management and ecological impact assessments for the private and government sectors. She has undertaken volunteer work for a number of conservation organisations and worked on threatened species programs throughout Australia. Originally from Melbourne, Kate has also lived and worked in Ireland as an ecologist and has undertaken coyote research in California USA. Kate has been playing AFL for over 5 years.
Dr Kate Grarock
Bush Blitz Senior Project Officer
Dr Kate is an ecologist, who worked for 5 years on research and restoration of critically endangered grassy woodlands in the ACT, before joining the Bush Blitz team. This work included reintroducing locally extinct species, such as the Eastern Bettong, Quoll and Bush Stone-curlew. Kate also developed a suite of education programs for the Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary, sharing science with policy makers, students and the local community. This work resulted in her being a Eureka Prize finalist in 2018 and ACT Australian of the year nominee in 2019.
In her spare time Kate loves hiking and packrafting; and is a member of the NSW Bush Search and Rescue Squad.
Paula Banks
Bush Blitz Reporting Officer
Paula (BSc Hons Zoology) compiles the reports that follow each Bush Blitz expedition. Growing up in Wales, Paula's interest in wildlife led her to undertake personal species discovery trips to places such as Madagascar and the Galapagos Islands before she finally settled in Australia. Paula is passionate about science communication and delivered environmental education and volunteer management through non-profit organisations before joining Parks Australia in 2012.
Helen Cross
Bush Blitz Business & Finance Officer
Helen (BSc - Ecology & Natural Resources) joined Bush Blitz at the end of April 2019 to look after administration and finances. Helen grew up in Canberra, then moved to western Queensland, where she enjoyed working as a Wildlife Ranger, Park Ranger and Regional Landcare Facilitator, and also married a local and had 3 children. Helen and her family moved back to Canberra in 2016. As at the end of 2023 Helen has attended 10 Bush Blitz expeditions, including 3 as the Expedition Leader. In her spare time she enjoys photographing wildlife and documenting it on the NatureMapr platform.
Megan McLeod
Bush Blitz TeachLive Coordinator
Megan (M.Sc. Ecosystem Management and Conservation) is Program Coordinator for Climate and Biodiversity at Earthwatch, and runs the Bush Blitz TeachLive Program by organising the placement of BHP employees and STEM teachers as research assistants on Bush Blitz expeditions. Prior to this role Megan worked as an ecological researcher, using trail cameras and acoustic recorders to analyse wildlife responses to fire across Victoria. She is passionate about the conservation and protection of Australia’s unique ecosystems, and believes engaging the community through citizen science is fundamental to achieving this goal.
