Dr Chels Marshall is a cultural systems ecologist belonging to Gumbaynggirr Jagun from the Baga Baga/Ngambaa (Northern NSW). Dr Marshall is a Researcher at the University of Tasmainia NESP. An associate of the Indigenous Knowledges Systems (IKS) Lab of the NIKIRI Institute Deakin University. Implementing cultural ecological knowledge and First Nations science frameworks to create virtual and physical environments for sharing knowledge through art, science and Indigenous metaphysics.

She has extensive experience in environmental science and marine science and management a PhD, Traditional Knowledge Systems and climate change in the Pacific, International Governance (Australian National University). She holds a Masters in Marine Science and Management at the National Marine Science Centre /University of New England on Spatial Analysis of Indigenous Marine Associations in Gumbaynggirr Nation.  Chels also has Degrees in Wildlife Management and Cultural Resource Management.

Chels has worked as a Protected Area manager within the NSW and Australian Government  for 28 years in private land conservation, coastal marine, karst, wildlife management,  policy and protection development assessment, operations and co-operative and integrated cultural landscape management.  Over 28 years Chels has also been actively involved locally and nationally in increasing the capacity of Aboriginal people to participate in land & Sea Country management, planning, research and monitoring.

Chels also sits on a number of councils that provide advice, analysis and direction to Aboriginal people, the Australian Government and Senior Management and environmental sectors regarding policy, legislation and initiatives that affect biodiversity, Aboriginal cultural values, providing advice and analysis on the Ecological and Cultural values of marine and terrestrial estate as it relates to technical, ecological, and cultural engagement of Aboriginal people and associated cultural values and issues.

For 26 years, Chrisy Clay has been a constant presence on the floodplains of the Northern Rivers. Across roles in local and state government, Southern Cross University, and NGOs, she’s worked to address complex issues like acid sulfate soils and blackwater – both which significantly impact estuarine health.

Throughout her career, she’s prioritised building trusted relationships with landowners, the sugar cane industry, oyster growers, and fishers. Her technical expertise, deep local knowledge, and hard-earned experience, especially in the Richmond, have earned her widespread respect. Chrisy has focused much of her career on floodplain drainage, the water quality issues it can generate and the downstream impacts on estuaries.

Now Flood Mitigation Manager at Rous County Council, Chrisy leads with heart and pragmatism, balancing the challenges of historical floodplain infrastructure with a focus on real, long-term outcomes. This year, her dedication was recognised nationally as a finalist for the FMA Allan Ezzy Flood Risk Manager Award.

Chrisy’s vision is for the Richmond floodplain to be a showcase of sustainable floodplain land use—where productive floodplain agriculture and a healthy estuary thrive side by side. She remains hopeful this future can be realised in her lifetime.