Jonny lives in Alice Springs, central Australia where he works for the Indigenous Desert Alliance (IDA). The Australian desert is one of the largest and most culturally connected and environmentally significant areas on the planet. It has been cared for and expertly managed over thousands of years by Indigenous minds, hearts and hands. Today, a network of Indigenous rangers are sharing information, practices and working together to provide the highest standard of stewardship and care for the desert. Jonny’s role with the IDA includes bringing together IDA member organisations, desert ranger teams, and partners together to ensure the desert story, especially the Indigenous desert land management sector, has a strong and united voice that is heard both nationally and internationally.

What are your best memories of BGS? 

Almost all my memories are centred around sport at BGS. From Saturday mornings in the Lower School playing rounders at Golden Hill through to captaining the 1XI at hockey in the Upper 6th and being a recipient of the Cutter Stick (awarded to services to school hockey). Other sporting memories include the opening of the sports hall and the trip to Twickenham to watch my peer group win the Daily Mail cup in rugby.

Can you remember any teachers who had an impact on you?

My housemaster, Ian Rolling, would have had comfortably the most influence over the years and we remain in touch. Others include the late Shaun Holman, who I played hockey against at club level occasionally and was always a supporter of my sporting endeavours, and Pete Jakobek as PE Teacher.

What did you do after school? 

I’m sad to say I didn’t take advantage of any academic virtues I may have had and did not finish university. I had a few jobs before starting a brief career in IT which led to me taking a six month break to travel Australia and New Zealand in 2005. Within a year of returning to the UK, I was back in Australia on a Working Holiday visa and have been here ever since.

Why environmental work? 

I chose to study again as a means of obtaining additional visas in Australia and environmental stewardship had always been an interest and passion. By studying in this field in Australia, it opened new opportunities and experiences and I continue to reap the rewards of such a decision.

What motivated you to move to Australia? 

There was no underlying motivation, more a desire to travel. My original intention was to seek out a career in New Zealand however I found myself enjoying my time in Sydney where I ended up spending the first four years of my Australian life. I subsequently moved to the Sunshine Coast to study and then to the Northern Territory for work.

What have been the highlights of your career?

I have spent the last thirteen years living in the Northern Territory. In that time, I’ve worked on some of the largest cattle stations in the world on a weed management program, have spent time in remote Indigenous desert communities working with Traditional Owners to develop Indigenous ranger programs and more recently now represent an organisation supporting and advocating for the work that Indigenous rangers do in caring for Country; where cultural land management activities also have significant environmental benefits and help maintain one of the world’s most significant and iconic landscapes, as well as 60,000 plus years of culture. I have been taken to many incredibly remote sites of cultural significance by senior Traditional Owners and am always thankful for the privilege. I have also had the honour of representing IDA at COP28 in Dubai and travelling to Peru to learn and share knowledge with the Awajún people of the western Amazon, both times travelling in support of Indigenous colleagues.  As such, there are too many highlights to mention!

What’s next for you? 

I’m happy in Alice Springs and thoroughly enjoy my work with the IDA. As the desert Indigenous land management sector continues to grow in scale and visibility, there will be plenty more work ahead and I am excited to be a part of the journey.

What motivates you? 

The Australian desert is one of the most culturally and environmentally significant ecosystems on the planet. To be part of an organisation that supports the work that Indigenous people have been doing within it for millennia in a system that supports them to continue for many years to come is motivation enough.

How do you relax? 

Alice Springs is around 1500kms from a city however, we are surrounded by an incredible landscape. We have hundreds of kilometres of marked trails around town and the 230km Larapinta Trail that runs west out of town. My relaxation is to run as many of these trails as I can! I recently upped the mileage by running an Ultra Marathon in Rotorua, New Zealand, and have a shorter trail race coming up on part of the Larapinta in May.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

To stay patient and enjoy the journey. My time at BGS gave me a strong foundation and I left as something of a generalist. It took me a long time to find my forever, but I had the skills from a strong educational foundation to try many other pathways first. 

Find out more about the IDA and how to support them financially by visiting https://www.indigenousdesertalliance.com/ 100% of funding being directed to supporting on-ground priorities determined by Indigenous ranger teams.