Principal Ecologist & Founder
Dr. Michelle McKemey founded Melaleuca Environmental in 2008 to provide specialized consultancy services that bridge the gap between environmental science and cultural heritage. An ecologist, researcher, and best-selling author, her work has been featured in international scientific journals, Time Magazine, and the Wall Street Journal. Michelle is a leading practitioner of "Right-way Science," earning national recognition from the Ecological Society of Australia in 2019 and 2020, as well as the CSIRO Award for Indigenous Engagement in 2017.
With over 25 years of experience across local, state, and federal government sectors, Michelle brings a wealth of expertise to complex ecological projects. Her career is defined by a deep commitment to collaborating with Indigenous Elders, language experts, and scientific specialists to conserve natural and cultural resources. In addition to her consultancy work, she co-directs a commercial grazing operation in regional NSW, providing her with a unique, practical perspective on sustainable agriculture and land management.
Contact: +61 (0)437 350 597
Aboriginal Ranger & Specialist Educator
Aunty Lesley Patterson is a Banbai Elder and Ranger from the Wattleridge Indigenous Protected Area who serves as a vital bridge between traditional Country and modern conservation. A gifted public speaker and specialist educator, Lesley travels throughout Australia to share her deep cultural knowledge and stories with a wide range of audiences. Her expertise in plant conservation and cultural burning has been featured in international scientific papers and media, highlighting her role in managing native plant nurseries and leading collaborative research. With over 15 years of operational experience and a dedicated work ethic, she is a leading voice in educating the public on how to work together to look after Australia’s rich heritage.
Chief Botanist
Professor John Hunter is a premier authority on Australian vegetation communities, bringing over 30 years of consultancy experience to his collaborations with Melaleuca Environmental. As a highly valued specialist subcontractor, John partners with our team to provide expert botanical services, including high-level flora surveys, vegetation mapping, and threatened species identification. He has personally established more than 31,000 floristic survey sites, a monumental body of work that has informed the mapping of the majority of the National Park estate in northern and western NSW.
When a project requires specialized botanical depth, John applies his extensive field history and expertise in survey design to ensure rigorous data collection and legislative compliance. A prolific author of definitive botanical guides on Eucalypts and wetland plants, he remains a leading figure in the scientific community through his leadership within the International Association of Vegetation Scientists.
Cultural Connector
Uncle Darryl French is a Gamilaroi Elder and educator who serves as a vital bridge between traditional knowledge and contemporary environmental practice. With a multidisciplinary background including a Bachelor of Teaching, a Diploma of Aboriginal Education, and a Master of Commercial Law, Darryl leads the "right-way" repatriation of knowledge for the Gwydir Reconnecting Watercourse Country Program. His work on the Guwaaydha Warrambul (Gwydir Wetland) project involves literature review, research, and analysis to ensure that cultural and natural values are returned to the community at both a human and documentation level. As a key liaison, he networks with First Nations scientists, archaeologists, and knowledge holders to integrate diverse perspectives into sustainable land management. Beyond his research and community education leadership, Darryl is a talented artist whose work is featured throughout our collaborative projects, visually anchoring our scientific outputs in Gamilaroi culture.
BAM Accredited Assessor & Ecologist
Ian Simpson is an Accredited Assessor under the NSW Biodiversity Offsets Scheme with over 20 years of expertise in environmental science and ecological consulting. He possesses a deep understanding of the Biodiversity Assessment Method (BAM) and its integration with state and federal legislation, stewardship sites, and the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust. His extensive background in tertiary education and industry has equipped him with specialized skills in ecological survey design, threatened species monitoring, and vegetation mapping across the Hunter, New England, and Western regions of NSW. Ian is dedicated to ensuring project compliance and achieving high-quality environmental outcomes through rigorous data collection, GIS reporting, and adherence to legislative guidelines.​
Senior Consultant - NRM
Mark Desailly is a Senior Consultant specializing in fire management, natural and cultural resource planning, and sustainable agriculture. With over 25 years of experience, he possesses extensive on-ground expertise in integrating traditional Indigenous knowledge with modern landscape-scale burning techniques. Since 2007, Mark has worked closely with Indigenous landowners in the tropical savannas of northern Australia on wildfire suppression, carbon abatement methodologies, and vegetation monitoring. After many years in Queensland and the Northern Territory, he joined the team in 2024 to bring his diverse skills in training and capacity development to our New South Wales projects.
Why 'Melaleuca'?
The name Melaleuca is derived from the Ancient Greek μÎλας (mélas) meaning "dark" or "black" and λευκός (leukós) meaning "white", apparently because one of the first specimens described had fire-blackened white bark.
We specialise in working in the cross-cultural space, where people of different cultures work alongside each other. We also love learning about, and applying, fire!
