Our Staff

Sustainable tourism, environmental science and community engagement and education consultant.

Kieran has a Bachelor of Science with majors in Environmental Science and Wildlife Biology with a background in Environmental Science, Conservation Biology and Ecotourism. In 2005 Kieran co-founded the tourism and environmental education department of Natura Pacific Pty Ltd.  From constructing and writing educational material for centres in Costa Rica and Panama to training guides and rangers in Thailand, Kieran relies on using sustainable tourism and his community engagement skills as a tool for conservation. 

Kieran also has experience in vegetation assessment, classification, mapping and restoration planning as an evironmental consultant and botanist for the Environmental Protection Agency as well as project manager with Natura Pacific Pty Ltd.  He held a position of senior botanist in the Queensland Herbarium, undertaking work on the EPA Regional Ecosystem mapping project and working in the Wetlands Assessment Unit mapping and validating the classification and condition of wetlands.

Email: kieran(at)natura-pacific.com

Ecotourism Consultant & Environmental Interpreter
Nature Guide Training Instructor, Eco-tourism and Eco-tour Consultant

Masaki Yahagi is Natura Ecotours' Japanese and English language speaking tour guide who was born in Tokyo, 1976. His previous experience includes time as campaign staff for the international environment NGO, "Greenpeace Japan" working on the reduction of pollution and climate change. He has experience also as a gym and swimming instructor. At the Australian National University he completed an Environmental Science degree, studying Biology, forest science, soil science, geology, climate, management and protection of ecology and wildlife. In 2003 he received the ANU's Environmental Achievement Award.

He has extensive experience in volunteering activities and as a National Park guide. He has been serving as a nature guide for the Gold Coast region since 2003. In 2004 he began work with JTB and the Kinki Nippon Tourism travel agency and is an expert tour guide for Fraser Island tours. In 2006, he partnered with other environmental professionals to create the Natura Ecotours tour company on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia.

For an introduction of Natura's ecotourism activities, visit Masaki's Japanese language weblog at masakie11.space.live.com

Email masaki(at)natura-ecotours.com

Environmental education and community engagement consultant.

Sarah has a bckgound in vegetation community and condition surveys, mapping and modelling at a local and regional scale for Natura Pacific, for Government and non-Government organisations and for her PhD.  Her experience in vegetation community, condition and resilience classification and assessment at a research and management level provides a rare insight into the most up to date technology, methodlogy and systems in her field.  Sarahs current work also requires her to utilise her skills and experience in Government and landowner liaison in undertaking assessment of vegetation condition based on land use patterns.

Using her inter-personal skills together with her passion for education and community engagement, she has been able to successfully empower a variety of stakeholders to work effectively with local, regional and federal governments. This approach has facilitated the development of a collaborative framework towards the conservation of their respective natural assets.

Email: sarah.butler(at)natura-pacific.com