ANPC Staff

Jo Lynch – Business Manager Jo Lynch has been the Business Manager at the ANPC since 2013. She is passionate about the protection and restoration of natural areas including bushland regeneration, weed management and increased awareness and appreciation of endangered plant species. After graduating from Southern Cross University and 18 years working in Tasmania and Sydney in the rehabilitation of natural areas and regional weed management, Jo moved to Canberra in 2007 and is responsible for seeking grants, sponsorship and donations at the ANPC along with promoting and raising awareness of the ANPC and native plant conservation in Australia. Jo’s love of plants was cemented in the cool temperate rainforests of Tasmania and resulted in many overseas trips to see such botanical wonders as the redwoods of California, the rainforests of New Zealand and Patagonia, the remnant European laurel forests of the Canary Islands and the tropical rainforests of Borneo.

Dr Martin Driver – Project Manager Healthy Seeds Martin Driver is Project Manager for the Healthy Seeds project funded by the NSW Environmental Trust. This has resulted in the publication of The Australian Native Seed Survey Report and revisions of the Florabank seed guidelines. The project is working on the current status of the seed sector in NSW and will report on interventions required to enhance NSW native seed supplies. In this role Martin enjoys running regional workshops and extension programs. Martin has also been coordinating the Bring Back the Banksias Wettenhall Environment Trust funded project. This involves working with a large network of organisations and practitioners in investigating issues relating to the restoration of Banksia marginata populations across its range. These roles draw on Martin’s background in vegetation management and ecology with the CSIRO Division of Wildlife and Ecology. He has also been the Regional Manager of Greening Australia, Riverina and worked for the Murray Indigenous Seed Service and subsequently managed the Murray seedbank and restoration programs for the Catchment Management Authority.

Dr Amelia Martyn Yenson – Project Manager Germplasm Guidelines Amelia Martyn Yenson began as Project Manager, Germplasm Guidelines, in February 2020. Amelia is coordinating the revision of the publication ‘Plant Germplasm Conservation in Australia – strategies and guidelines for developing, managing and utilising ex situ collections’, which is funded by The Ian Potter Foundation. The third edition of the Germplasm Guidelines will be available mid-2021, with workshops to follow. Her background is seed research, particularly seed dormancy and longevity, at the Australian PlantBank of the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney. A highlight of her current ANPC role is connecting with plant scientists and conservation experts throughout Australia and discussing their role in ex situ conservation. She is particularly excited about showcasing the techniques, projects and partnerships across Australia that conserve threatened plants in seedbanks and botanic gardens. You can see Amelia’s publication list on Google Scholar  or ResearchGate and follow her on Instagram.

Christine Fernance – Communications Manager Christine has been with the ANPC as Communications Manager since June 2020 after completing a Master of Science Communication at the Australian National University. She loves communicating science and is particularly interested in sharing conservation stories. Her background is in Marine Science and Management which allowed her to volunteer on marine projects along the Queensland coast. Christine also loves photography and where possible combines this passion with communicating science in digital storytelling. You can see some of her photography on her Instagram page.