Image: Rehabilitation and hazard reduction burns, Gulf Savannah Country, Queensland, 2023 (Courtesy of Jackie McLeod, Firecraft Environmental)
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Jackie McLeod
Jackie was born and spent much of her childhood in Papua New Guinea, and then in Cairns, which is the foundation for her passion for the natural world and tropical ecology. Initially studying Education and then Environmental Science at university as a mature age student, she went on to work in environmental consulting in the private sector.
Jackie’s initial role in environmental consulting ensured she gained experience in management of a broad range of local and regional environmental issues. From this point her professional career has been predominantly specific to fire management. For seven years’ Jackie was a key contributor to the establishment and ongoing growth of a reputable fire management consultancy in Far North Queensland specialising in bridging the gap between bushfire policy and strategic planning and developing onground appropriate fire regimes. This included building the organisation to become the prominent specialist fire management consultancy delivering burn programs in Queensland and maintaining the largest private fire management contract portfolio with clients in the mining industries, airports and RAAF Bases, Department of Defence, Aboriginal Land Councils, and various corporate and land council entities.
Jackie’s experience both as a consultant and as a fire practitioner lighting large landscape-scale fires in this niche field and has allowed her to establish her own successful consultancy specialising in fire which has been operating for 6 years. Some of the most rewarding work she is currently engaged in is teaching traditional owners how to revitalize their country using fire.
See Jackie's McLeod's Company: Firecraft Environmental
Facebook: @firecraft.enviro
Jackie’s initial role in environmental consulting ensured she gained experience in management of a broad range of local and regional environmental issues. From this point her professional career has been predominantly specific to fire management. For seven years’ Jackie was a key contributor to the establishment and ongoing growth of a reputable fire management consultancy in Far North Queensland specialising in bridging the gap between bushfire policy and strategic planning and developing onground appropriate fire regimes. This included building the organisation to become the prominent specialist fire management consultancy delivering burn programs in Queensland and maintaining the largest private fire management contract portfolio with clients in the mining industries, airports and RAAF Bases, Department of Defence, Aboriginal Land Councils, and various corporate and land council entities.
Jackie’s experience both as a consultant and as a fire practitioner lighting large landscape-scale fires in this niche field and has allowed her to establish her own successful consultancy specialising in fire which has been operating for 6 years. Some of the most rewarding work she is currently engaged in is teaching traditional owners how to revitalize their country using fire.
See Jackie's McLeod's Company: Firecraft Environmental
Facebook: @firecraft.enviro
Career Pathway
Bachelor of Environmental Science (CQUniversity)
Land management training:
Bachelor of Environmental Science (CQUniversity)
- Co-founder & Principal Consultant/Managing Director environmental consultancy specialising in fire management and advice (Firecraft Environmental)
- Project manager; Operations Manager; Fire and land management practitioner
- Environmental consultant
- Bushfire hazard assessor
Land management training:
- Fire Management 1 (crew member/ Level 1)
- Fire Management 2 (crew leader/ Level 2)
- Planned Burn Supervisor, Complex Plans (nationally recognised)
- Overall Fuel Hazard Assessment (QPWS recognised)
- Fire Weather 1 (QPWS recognised)
- Aerial Incendiary Operators Certificate (nationally recognised for rotary aircraft)
- Agricultural Chemical Distribution Control (ACDC) Commercial Operators License
- Certificate in EMAS Eco-mapping
- Firearms license A and B, and M(d) class for incendiary device for vegetation management