Our operations team
Sean Willmore
Founder & Director
A former Australian park ranger and past president of the International Ranger Federation, Sean has worked with rangers in over 80 countries on six continents. Experiencing the best and worst of what rangers deal with, Sean encountered many hair-raising situations with them along the way. His efforts to help his ranger colleagues and support their conservation work has shone a light on the sacrifice rangers and their families make to protect our natural world. Sean continues to be inspired by rangers working on the frontlines of conservation every day and he uses their inspiration for his work at Thin Green Line.
When Sean isn’t pottering in his garden, or reclaiming timber, he loves to attend music gigs and spend time at the beach with his young family.
Tim Schneider
General Manager
Tim has spent most of his professional life working as a ranger in different parts of Australia. Many of his life lessons and much of his inspiration comes from time spent working alongside Traditional Owners in the vast Western Desert regions of Australia. He still gets to the desert when he can, but spends most of his time dedicated to growing the Thin Green Line. Tim has big aspirations for the worldwide ranger family and is excited to explore the possibilities of their potential with the rest of the Thin Green Line team.
Tim’s favourite thing is to spend time in nature with a good campfire and a swag.
Leigh Foster
Operations
Leigh is an experienced financial controller with a 20-year background in the television industry. Her role at Thin Green Line sees her involved in most areas of the Foundation’s work, including finance, programs, governance, fundraising, and administration. Leigh has an academic background in community development and international aid and has a particular interest in community-led conservation initiatives.
Leigh loves to travel, especially to nature hotspots like East Africa and Asia. Her favourite experience was seeing mountain gorillas and chimpanzees in Uganda
Jennifer Mann
Programs
Jennifer is a former ranger with rich experience in protected area and threatened species management. Through her work, and travels around Africa, Jennifer has gained first-hand experience of the challenges that rangers are facing each and every day. Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, Jennifer is thrilled to be supporting and uplifting rangers through Thin Green Line’s programs. She is passionate about the role rangers play within environmental education and community development and is excited to develop Thin Green Line’s programs with the next generation of conservation heroes in mind.
Jennifer loves gardening and spending time in nature with her dog, Obi.
Laura Moso
Fundraising
Laura is a conservationist and all-round nature and people lover – the perfect fundraiser for Thin Green Line. Laura loves connecting inspiring individuals with causes that make a difference. She has a background in communications, marketing, and media production, having worked for international broadcasters, tech companies, and smaller creative agencies. Laura enjoys using her skills for the greater good and feels humbled and inspired by our rangers, donors, supporters, and volunteers. Laura hails from sunny Spain, so is also Thin Green Line’s official Spanish translator!
Laura loves the beach and spending time in the great outdoors with her young family.
Nick Besley
Fallen Rangers & Communications
Nick is Thin Green Line’s resident wordsmith and copywriter. In addition to that important role, he also manages the Fallen Ranger Fund and assists with fundraising strategies and campaigns. Nick’s experience has been developed over more than a few years working in the tertiary education sector, where he was primarily focused on management in marketing and communications. At RMIT University he established a university-to-school peer tutoring program and developed a successful series of science roadshows for regional schools.
Nick loves to bake and is responsible for fuelling the Thin Green Line team with plenty of cakes and scones.
Breanna Williamson
Fundraising
Bre has worked as a fundraiser in the not-for-profit sector for more than ten years. She has a particular passion for using storytelling and authenticity to build deep connections between supporters and charitable causes. The unique role of fundraising has allowed Bre to experience how connections between supporters, charities, and project partners can make a huge impact to the lives of individuals, communities and entire ecosystems. Bre is a strong believer that rangers and their communities hold the key to conservation.
Bre loves to travel and is always up for a grand adventure with her family.
Sandi Allen
Merchandise & Administration Support – Volunteer
Sandi is Thin Green Line’s longest serving volunteer and an integral member of the operations team. Her background is in education, but her real passion is travelling and wildlife. During her visits to Africa and Asia, Sandi came to understand the work, plight and passion of rangers protecting wild places. Sandi oversees our merchandise, encouraging supporters of Thin Green Line to become a member of the wider ranger community.
Sandi loves animals and volunteers as a guide at a local zoo, teaching visitors about endangered species. Her favourite animal, though, is her dog Millie.
Finn
Chief Good Boy
Finn is a very special member of the Thin Green Line team and is responsible for fun and distraction in the office. His interests include fetching balls, sniffing out Nick’s baked goods, and ‘helping’ to pack ranger uniforms. He particularly enjoys belly rubs, treats, and snoozing under desks.
Finn loves spending time in nature with his humans, and is an ambassador for K9 rangers around the world.
Our board
Dr William (Bill) Jackson
Director & Chair
Dr Jackson is an independent environmental consultant with extensive experience in forest conservation, protected area management, and community development. He was Chief Executive of Parks Victoria and Director of National Parks for the Australian state of Victoria. Prior to his appointment to Parks Victoria, he was Deputy Director General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
During his career, Dr Jackson has worked in Africa and Asia, supporting projects in Uganda, Tanzania, Vietnam, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Nepal where his PhD and practical field work took place.
Chantal Fowler
Director
Chantal has over 15 years’ experience working in the conservation and not-for-profit sector. Beginning her career within the parks service in both Australia and overseas, (including working as a ranger), she has since held roles that span across strategy, business management, governance, conservation planning, systems, and operations.
Chantal currently manages Bush Heritage Australia’s Aboriginal Partnerships Program in Western Australia’s Kimberley region. This role prioritises the support of Aboriginal ranger groups and Aboriginal corporations in the development and delivery of their healthy country work.
Josh Watts
Director
An experienced business executive and people leader, Josh has over a decade of senior management experience across global corporations and emerging businesses. He held national general manager roles at Canon and Telstra and has helped in the transformation of enterprises striving to achieve their greatest potential. Josh’s achievements in business and law include negotiation of some of the biggest annuity contracts in Australia, running one of the largest multinational commercial cases ever in the Federal Court, and driving vision, developing strategy, and building the culture that delivers it.
Glenys Reid
Director & Company Secretary
Glenys, who lives in Melbourne, Victoria, has had a diverse professional background working in the not-for-profit sector, as well as government, and consultancy roles across Australia and the USA. Her field of experience covers the domains of disability, IT, portfolio management, and strategic investment. She currently runs her own business – Hayles Consulting – and is managing director of the Chatty Café Australia, a charity that focuses on preventing and reducing loneliness and social isolation.
Glenys is a seasoned traveller, passionate about safekeeping our natural world, and supports a range of conservation and animal welfare organisations.
Lisa Renkin
Director
Jim van Bruinessen
Director
An experienced business leader with strengths in strategy setting, marketing, and people management, Jim has worked in senior executive levels at blue chip organisations such as Coca-Cola, Arnott’s, and Blackmores across the Asia Pacific region. His passion for wildlife conservation and the work of rangers was ignited through many trips to Africa where he saw first-hand the challenges rangers face every day, and the fragile balance they seek between sustainable communities and conservation needs.
Jim is also the chair of Quest for Life Foundation, a not-for-profit that assists people living with trauma to find hope, healing, and peace.
