Our team

Joe Pickin – Director

Dr Joe Pickin is a waste and circular economy specialist with over 25 years of experience as a consultant, researcher, policy analyst and strategist. He has completed over 400 consultancies and has particular expertise in data analysis, modelling and climate change issues in relation to waste. Joe was the primary author of the last five versions of the Australian Government’s National Waste Reports, an advisor to the ABC’s War on Waste series, and chair of the National Carbon Division of the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia from 2012-2020. His PhD was on the environmental economics of waste.

Kyle O’Farrell – Director

Kyle has more than two decades of experience across the areas of environmental management, material and product use and recovery, material flow analysis, life cycle assessment, environmental strategy and policy, and resource efficiency in industry. Since 2008 Kyle has been the lead author and analyst for the annual Australian Plastics Flows and Fates study, and since 2019 has been the lead author for the annual Australian Packaging Consumption and Recovery Data project. Kyle is an EIANZ Certified Environmental Practitioner (CEnvP) and a life cycle assessment certified practitioner (LCACP). He is also a Climate Active carbon neutral program registered consultant and verifier.

Carmen Edwards

Carmen is Blue Environment’s Business Manager, with an administration and communications background of over 20 years. Her experience includes team leading, project management, market growth, community engagement, change advocacy and implementation. She also has expertise in geospatial data visualisation, mapping, infographics and design for the waste management sector, many examples of which have been published by state and federal government agencies, client sites and media publications.

Lisa McLeod

As a Principal Environmental Scientist, Lisa is a strategic senior leader and sustainability advocate with more than 20 years’ government experience and a proven track record of establishing and delivering on complex programs spanning business transformation, environmental regulation, and organisational change. Lisa brings up to date knowledge acquired as a global student at the Cambridge University Judge Business School circular economy and sustainability strategies.

Piya Nyunt

Piya is a Senior Analyst and Environmental Scientist with a science degree and a masters in earth science. He has extensive experience in waste and resource recovery data analysis and modelling, as well as modelling of carbon storage outcomes. Piya’s expertise includes recycling collection system feasibility analysis and material flow assessment, government waste management strategies and transition planning.

Tom Elford

Tom is a Senior Environmental Scientist with a career background in data analysis and waste and resource recovery management for state government and regional authorities. Tom has established himself as a trusted industry advisor particularly with regards to recovered material markets, economic feasibility, circular economy, hazardous materials, landfill and waste facility management.

Georgia Caggiati-Shortell

Georgia is an Environmental Scientist with a specialist focus on waste management strategies, feasibility studies, circular economy reporting, environmental policy, and social change. She has experience in project management and communications, local, state, and federal government projects, research, analysis, packaging materials, environmental quality assessments, hazardous waste and organic waste management.

Yong Lin

Yong is an Environmental Scientist who has worked with numerous councils throughout Australia in data collection, site investigations and auditing. He has experience in data visualisation, multi-level stakeholder consultation, research, analysis and modelling particularly with regards to resource management including hazardous waste, plastics and packaging.

Noah Jones

Noah is an Environmental Scientist who specialises in data collection and interpretation, and greenhouse gas management. He has experience in multi-level stakeholder consultations, data visualisation, modelling, and analysis with particular emphasis on hazardous waste and carbon emissions from the waste sector.

Louise Witherow

Louise is an Environmental Scientist with a career background in commercial waste and energy solutions for a multi-national group. She holds a solid knowledge of waste management across the areas of collections, resource recovery, health, safety and environment, sustainability, data, reporting, education and training. Louise has worked on projects requiring project management, strong multi-level stakeholder engagement, data analysis and presentation skills. She holds a bachelor of science and a bachelor of commerce, majoring in earth science and accounting.

Fiona Harney

Fiona has an extensive background in environmental consulting, community services and tertiary education. She specialises in stakeholder consultation and primary data collection and research, particularly in relation to material and product use and resource recovery.

Kate Dillon

Kate is Blue Environment’s Office Coordinator and has experience in administration, staffing coordination and stakeholder communications. She holds a Master of Environment specialising in climate change and a Bachelor of Arts majoring in international politics and minoring in Geography. Her particular interest is in climate resilience and adaptation projects as well as climate equity, particularly within urban sustainability. She has experience in climate policy analysis and reporting, research, stakeholder consultations, administrative systems, and staffing coordination.