Every Day Brings Something New
Posted on May 6th, 2025
FBA’s newest Project Officers to join the Waterway team, Chris Sherriff and Jasmine Pippen, credit their unique backgrounds to their love and passion for conservation and environmental science.
Chris’ love for nature stems from growing up in South Africa, with its unique wildlife and the bush right at his doorstep.
Spending school holidays with his grandparents in a game reserve, surrounded by giraffes, elephants and more, Chris made the decision towards the end of high school to pursue a career in conservation science.
“I went on a gap year volunteering on conservation projects in Namibia and Zimbabwe,” he said. “I did that to see if it was really what I wanted to do. I had this huge awakening that this is what I want to do with my life.
“I don’t want to see all these beautiful places, all these beautiful animals, lost to the world.”
Chris moved to Australia with his family in 2009 and, after graduating from high school in Perth, he studied a Bachelor of Science majoring in Conservation and Wildlife Biology at Murdoch University. He later studied a Master of Conservation Science at The University of Queensland before applying for a job at FBA.
He said he was drawn to FBA because he wanted to work on projects that involved protecting threatened species and threatened regional ecosystems.
Jasmine is from the Southern Moreton Bay Islands, which played a huge role in developing her passion for conservation and ecology.
“I watched firsthand as our once-rich biodiversity experienced a rapid decline,” she said. “Dugong sightings were once common, but over time they became less frequent – same with dolphins and turtles.
“When you grow up surrounded by such a unique environment, it’s hard not to care when you see it changing or disappearing. My goal has always been to play a role in protecting and restoring these ecosystems for future generations.”
This inspired Jasmine to study a Bachelor of Environmental Science majoring in Ecology and Conservation at Griffith University and later apply for a job at FBA.
“I’m passionate about the opportunity to make a tangible difference,” she said. “Whether it’s helping to restore riparian areas or seeing the results of improved water quality, knowing that our work benefits both nature and community is really fulfilling.”
As project officers on the waterway team, Chris and Jasmine plan, manage, deliver and report on FBA waterways projects and services. They also provide technical advice on waterway management principles and practices.
Chris and Jasmine are both actively involved in Fitzroy landscape repair projects, where they are responsible for identifying key sites for gully and streambank interventions aimed at reducing sediment impacts on the Great Barrier Reef.
“FBA is a place where your skills and passions are valued,” Jasmine said. “If you care about the environment and want to work with a dedicated and inspiring team, it’s a fantastic place to grow and contribute.
“Every day brings something new, and I love that about the job.”
Click here to learn more about the job opportunities at FBA.
