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INTRODUCING
Judith Charnaud OAM
Ecologist, Geologist, Teacher and GREEN Timor founder.
Judy has had an interesting and varied career including teaching, designing, and implementing school and community education programs, working as a geologist with a large multi-national mining company, senior secondary science teacher and geology coordinator, costume maker for school musicals and Rock Eisteddfods, community volunteer and bush regeneration work.
Travels in her twenties included 10 months hitching around the United Kingdom and Ireland and then following the “Hippie” trail” back home via countries in Europe, Middle East and the Far East. Further trips to South America and through outback Australia has given her a wide perspective of the global situation. Marriage and two children put a stop to her wanderlust for a while.
In 1999, needing a break from teaching, Judy decided to work with an Australian based NGO, OzGREEN and the rest as they say is history! She has since been involved in projects such as “Kids, Companies, Creeks”, MyRiver, YouthLEAD and the Great Eastern Ranges biodiversity corridor.
Since 2001 Judy has been Program Manager of ozGREEN’s Timor leste Project which has involved living and working in the enclave of Oecusse for seven months a year. The core of the project, Sustainable Villages Oecusse, is a community based, transformative learning program. Villagers are empowered to critically analyse their environment and livelihoods and design their unique, site specific vision to building a community which is socially and ecologically sustainable.
In 2004 Judy set up a local NGO, in Oecusse, GREEN Timor leste and is now their mentor and supporter. With her teaching background Judy saw the need for youth activities in Oecusse so initiated the Youth in Action Program which includes environmental education, sport and leadership activities.
In 2020 Judith was awarded the Medal of the Order Australia, (OAM) for her service to conservation and environment in Timor leste.
Judith brings all that experience to Pittwater as part of Your Northern Beaches Independent Team.