Suzanne is a proud Yorta Yorta and Wamba Wemba woman raised in Geelong, as a member of the Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative. Her early career experiences include interning in Object Conservation at the Museum of Victoria, researching the revival of the Wadawurrung language on behalf of the Wadawurrung people and working for over a decade as a Ranger with Parks Victoria. Suzanne has led strategy development as policy and program lead in self-determination reform in the environment and emergency management sectors in the Victorian Government and been a recipient of a team-based national Banksia Award for conservation of threatened orchid species, a Fire Readiness Award for partnership approaches and project design of a Traditional Owner cultural burning project and received leadership awards for her contributions along the way. Suzanne’s adventures also include living in southern Patagonia for 3 years closely associated with the national park system.
Suzanne Coates
