Hunter Environmental Institute, Newcastle (2026)

15/03/2026

We are thrilled to welcome three new members to the HEI Committee! Get to know them below, and keep an eye out for them at our upcoming events. You can also view our full committee on our website: https://www.hei.org.au/our-committee

Bridie McWhirter
Bridie is a Senior Environmental Consultant at Umwelt, bringing over 10 years of experience in environmental impact assessment and management. She specialises in large-scale, multidisciplinary resource developments under the NSW State Significant Development planning pathway and is known for her collaborative approach and strong stakeholder engagement skills. Bridie is also a Certified Environmental Auditor and holds a Diploma of Project Management. We are so excited to have her on board!

Kai Neville
Kai is an experienced environmental and sustainability professional with ten years of experience spanning major infrastructure, government, extractive industry and consulting. He specialises in delivering practical, high-impact environmental outcomes and brings a strong blend of technical capability, strategic thinking and on-the-ground project experience. With postgraduate qualifications in Environment and Business Management, Kai is passionate about shaping resilient, sustainable infrastructure. Welcome, Kai!

Mathew Billings
Mat is a Principal Environmental Consultant and risk management leader with more than 25 years of experience across major infrastructure projects. Currently working with Healthy Buildings International, Mat divides his time between environmental representative and auditing roles and business development. He brings a wealth of knowledge in management systems, governance frameworks and corporate risk, along with a strong commitment to leadership and developing the next generation of environmental professionals. We are so glad to have him on the committee!

13/03/2026

What a night! Thank you to everyone who joined us at the EIANZ Envirodrinks last night, hosted in collaboration with HEI at the Clarendon Hotel, Newcastle.

It was so wonderful to see such a diverse mix of organisations come together — AECOM, Atlantech, City of Newcastle, SLR, ERM, Becca, RestoreAG, Hunter Joint Organisation, and many more. The turnout is a true reflection of the Hunter region's commitment to advancing environmental management skills and networks.

A huge thank you to Apical Environmental Services for sponsoring the event and keeping us fed with pizza!
We also handed out the first round of our 2025 merchandise — keep cups and water bottles, all made from recycled materials! Check out our previous post for details on how to get yours.

Here's to a big year ahead of events, connections, and community. We can't wait to see you all at the next one!

08/03/2026

2026 brings new and exciting things.. and this includes merchandise! We have designed keep cups and water bottles, made with recycled materials, to help reduce waste while keeping you hydrated (or caffeinated!).

From 2026 onwards, all paid HEI memberships will include your choice of:
• a 12oz travel coffee cup, or
• a 600ml drink bottle

If you choose one this year, you can grab the other when you renew your membership next year! Check out our membership options on our website: https://www.hei.org.au/memberships, where students can become members for FREE and our standard membership comes at an annual cost of $40.

Already a member or just want one anyway? You can purchase them for $10 each.

Your new sustainable merch can be:
• Picked up at one of our upcoming events, or
• Posted to you (cost of postage applies)

To arrange pick-up or postage, please email: [email protected]

We will be attending the EIANZ / HEI EnviroDrinks next Thursday 12 March and will have this Merch with us - so feel free to buy one while you are there!

Join us in reducing waste, supporting HEI, and repping the environmental community across the Hunter.

07/03/2026

This International Women’s Day, we want to recognise and celebrate the incredible women on the Hunter Environmental Institute committee who generously volunteer their time to support and strengthen the environmental community across the Newcastle and Hunter region.

A huge thank you to Tracey Doczy, Lucy Stanton, Alina Neilson and Bridie McWhirter for the passion, dedication and leadership you bring to HEI. Through organising engaging events, creating opportunities for connection and knowledge sharing, and championing environmental conversations in our region, your contributions make a lasting impact on the community and the next generation of environmental professionals.

Women in environmental science and STEM continue to shape the future of our industries, bringing expertise, collaboration and innovation to some of the most important challenges facing our world. Beyond their professional achievements, these women also balance many other roles as mothers, daughters, partners, mentors and carers, showing every day the strength, resilience and compassion that make our community stronger.

Today we celebrate the women who help lead our industry forward and inspire those who will follow. Thank you for everything you do for HEI and for the environmental sector more broadly.

Happy International Women’s Day 2026!

01/03/2026

Looking to kick-start your environmental career in 2026? Are you a current university student wanting to expand your network, meet new people in the industry, and gain practical experience alongside your studies?
The Hunter Environmental Institute Internship Program offers hands-on event experience, mentoring from environmental professionals, networking opportunities across the Hunter region, and the chance to build real-world skills that will set you apart as you enter the workforce.

This is a fantastic opportunity to get involved in committee activities, grow your professional confidence, and connect with like-minded students and industry professionals who share your passion for the environment.

- Applications close 20 March 2026
- Interviews will follow shortly after
- Learn more and apply via the link in the graphic

Take the next step in your environmental journey, we can’t wait to see your application. Reach out if you have any questions!

22/02/2026

Join us for the Autumn EIANZ Envirodrinks at the Clarendon Hotel, Newcastle, on Thursday 12 March 2026!

In collaboration with EIANZ Australia, this is a great opportunity to connect with colleagues in the same industry, meet committee members, expand your network, and catch up with colleagues in a relaxed setting.

Whether you're a long-time member, environmental professional, or new to the industry, we’d love to see you there for an evening of conversation and connection. If you are unable to make this event, Envirodrinks are run four times a year - one every quarter.

Register via the link: https://www.eianz.org/events/event/nsw-enviro-drinks-march-2026

We can't wait to see you there.

Make sure to keep an eye out for our socials posts, we have some exciting events this year!

06/01/2026

Happy New Year 2026 from the Hunter Environmental Institute!

As we step into 2026, we’re reflecting on an incredible year of connection, learning, and collaboration across the Hunter region. In 2025, HEI proudly delivered a range of engaging events, including:
- A Place Called Hollywood, viewed at Newcastle Museum
- Careers in the Environment at the University of Newcastle
- M1 to Raymond Terrace (M12RT) Project Site Tour
- The use of AI in the Environment seminar

All of these events are available to view on the Events page on our website, including those from previous years: https://www.hei.org.au/seminars

These events helped shape a successful year, fostering important conversations for both current environmental professionals and undergraduate students. The momentum and ideas generated throughout the year are already inspiring what’s ahead for HEI and our members.

Keep an eye out for our Q1 event announcement coming soon — we can’t wait to share what’s next. Here’s to another year of learning, collaboration, and positive environmental impact!

16/11/2025

Well, what an afternoon! Last Thursday evening, we held two events, being the Annual General Meeting and a Seminar for the AI and innovation in the Environment. At our AGM, we explored the events and seminars that were successfully run this year, thanks to all of your support! We also farewelled our Committee Chair, Fiona McKay. We extend our deepest gratitude to Fiona for her dedication and leadership over the past three years. Her guidance has shaped the direction of HEI and helped build it into the strong, connected community it is today.

We re-elected existing members where they chose roles to either continue in or gain new experiences in. We also welcomed new committee members, who we look forward to introducing in the coming weeks. We are excited for them to carry the HEI values forward and to be part of the important work ahead!

Following the AGM, we hosted our AI and Innovation in the Environment seminar, featuring five insightful speakers who shared cutting-edge technologies and methodologies transforming how we collect, analyse, and interpret environmental data. Thank you to Simon Pearce, our Deputy Chair, for MC’ing the event. A massive thank you to our photographer from TAFE NSW, Rohan Walker - the photos really capture how special the evening was!

A special thank you to GHD for hosting both events in your office space and for providing delicious catering for the networking. We appreciate your ongoing support as our 2025 Gold Sponsor, and also NGH and BEEP, our Silver Sponsors for 2025.

What a wonderful way to wrap up the year. We can’t wait to see what 2026 brings. Keep an eye on our socials for updates, upcoming events, and the latest news across the Hunter and Newcastle region. Don’t forget to keep an eye out on our socials for all the latest in the environment space throughout the Newcastle and Hunter! Bring on another successful and insightful year 👏🏻

13/11/2025

🌿 Final Reminder: HEI AGM & AI in the Environment Seminar – Today!

Today’s the day! Join us for the Hunter Environmental Institute’s Annual General Meeting, followed by our exciting AI in the Environment Seminar.

📍 In-person at GHD Newcastle

💻 Online attendance also available

It’s not too late to be part of the conversation! Only a couple of tickets are left for the seminar, so secure your spot now before they’re gone!

We’re looking forward to an insightful discussion on how artificial intelligence is shaping the future of environmental management and sustainability.

🔗 https://www.hei.org.au/seminars

05/11/2025

It is approaching quickly - join us on the 13 November (next Thursday) for an afternoon of reflection, innovation, and connection at the Hunter Environmental Institute’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) and “AI in the Environment” event, proudly sponsored by GHD and hosted at GHD’s Newcastle office (Level 3, 24 Honeysuckle Drive, Newcastle NSW 2300).

AGM: 3:00–3:30 pm
Tune into our AGM to reflect on the past year, thank our outgoing committee members, and welcome our new ones. This portion of the event is free and can be attended in person or online via Microsoft Teams.

A short break with drinks and nibbles will follow before the main event begins.

AI in the Environment: 4:00–6:00 pm

Following the AGM, join us as we welcome leading voices from across our environmental profession to discuss how they use AI to innovate and enhance their work:

Dr Ryan Witt, a wildlife scientist and Director of The Conservation Co.

Drew Morgan, a Senior Environmental Professional at GHD, serving as Technical Director and Service Line Leader for Contamination Assessment & Remediation.

Dr Ally Suzi, holds a PhD in Marine Science from the University of Newcastle and currently works as a Coast and Estuary Officer at DCCEEW.

Laurene Michon and Robbie Cain, head of product and business developer at Site Hive.

An important note... attendees will receive 2 CPD points!

Make sure to purchase your tickets as they are almost gone. They are available via the QR code in the graphic or through the HEI website: https://www.hei.org.au/seminars

Stick around afterward for drinks and nibbles, and network with fellow environmental professionals.

We can’t wait to see you all there!

02/11/2025

We’re excited to announce Drew Morgan from GHD as one of our guest speakers at the Artificial Intelligence in the Environment seminar on November 13!

Presentation Title: GHD Terra – Smarter Environmental Data Management

Presentation Overview:
Drew will showcase GHD Terra, a practitioner-built solution designed to streamline environmental data workflows for contamination assessment and remediation. Used across multiple industries, Terra enables rapid analysis of complex chemistry datasets, automated reporting, and intuitive dashboards for soil, groundwater, and compliance data. Attendees will learn how Terra improves data consistency, flags anomalies early, and supports faster, smarter, and more transparent environmental decision-making.

About Drew Morgan:
Drew is a Senior Environmental Professional at GHD, serving as Technical Director and Service Line Leader for Contamination Assessment & Remediation across the Asia-Pacific region. Based in Newcastle, he brings extensive expertise in leading complex, large-scale site investigations and remediation projects. Known for his strategic leadership and technical excellence, Drew focuses on environmental risk management and regulatory compliance, collaborating across disciplines to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions for challenging contamination scenarios.

Date: Wednesday, 13 November
Time: 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Location: GHD Office – Level 3, 24 Honeysuckle Drive, Newcastle
Networking and catering to follow.

This event is proudly sponsored by our Gold Class Sponsor, GHD.

Tickets are available now via the QR code in the graphic or through the HEI website: https://www.hei.org.au/seminars

Hunter Environmental Institute

15/03/2026

13/03/2026

08/03/2026

07/03/2026

01/03/2026

22/02/2026

06/01/2026

16/11/2025

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05/11/2025

02/11/2025

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