Belinda Wilson has just been announced as our ACT Emerging Environmental Educator of the Year Award winner for 2022!
Passionate about restoring ecosystems, Belinda Wilson has spent the last few years working on a PhD with The Australian National University, investigating the reintroduction of the eastern quoll. Since moving to Canberra, Belinda has volunteered on a number of projects including 'turtle patrol' and community night walks at Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary. Belinda was also employed by the Woodlands and Wetland Trust as the Outreach Officer delivering conservation and cultural knowledge for Mulligans Flat and Jerrabomberra Wetlands; educating people from all walks of life. Her work included education activities such as Hollow Homes, Bird Quest, Kids Night walks, Bug and Waterbug Detectives, and talking to the community at the National Folk Festival, National Science Week, Tidbinbilla Open Day, and World Wetlands Day events.
Belinda is also the coordinator for flying-fox monitoring at Commonwealth Park as a voluntary member of the Australasian Bat Society (ABS). Through this work she has developed strong relationships with government, wildlife rescuers, and the public, to advocate for bat conservation in the ACT. She has presented this work at the Jerrabomberra Wetlands Bat Nights, the NatureArt Lab Threatened Species Workshop on bats in 2018, and as a panel member for the NatureArt Lab 2021 Bat Night fundraiser for the ABS. Belinda is working with the Woodlands and Wetlands Trust to find ways to change perceptions about bats, including focussing on their roles as pollinators and insectivores.
In addition to Belinda’s academic studies, work as an ecologist, and volunteer work in the ACT, Belinda is an avid nature photographer and shares her photos alongside ecological information about little-known species. She has also successfully contributed to public dialogue around the use of Indigenous language for native species including quolls.
Congratulations to Belinda for her environmental advocacy and education work! The AAEE ACT Chapter Executive would like to offer a huge welcome to Belinda as our newest member. The Emerging Environmental Educator Award includes a complementary one year membership of the Association.
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