Key staff profiles…

Edgar Freimanis

Director and Project Manager

Edgar is the Director of Ecohort Pty Ltd. He is also the Ecohort quality representative and environmental representative.

Edgar has worked in the bush regeneration field for 19 years. This work started in the Lithgow area as a part of his University degree. During these studies Edgar also worked as a bush regenerator on River-flat Forest on NSW Agriculture lands in Camden. He worked as a bush regenerator for Urban Bushland Management from 1992-1993. Four years were spent with Greening Australia undertaking bushland regeneration and revegetation supervision, management and extension throughout the western Sydney region between 1992-1996. In 1996 Edgar was a tutor for the bush regeneration certificate course and plant propagation elective at Ryde TAFE.

Since 1995 Edgar has been operating Ecohort Pty Ltd - a business which has completed numerous projects, primarily in western Sydney in the following fields:

- flora and fauna surveys and bushland management plans/consultancy

- wholesale nursery- propagating tubes native to the Sydney Region and

-  bushland regeneration, seed collection and revegetation contracting.

The Ecohort bush regeneration and revegetation contracting business has been operating in effect since 1994. Since that time we have completed a diverse range of bush regeneration and revegetation contracts throughout the Sydney region. Since the formation of the Ecohort, Edgar has worked with numerous community groups, local, state and federal government agencies, construction firms and development proponents in the field of native vegetation assessment and restoration.

Qualifications:

- Bachelor of Applied Science in Horticulture from the University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury, 1991

- Bush regeneration Certificate, Padstow TAFE, 1990

- train the trainer certificate, 1993

- Farm Chemical Users Trainers Course.

- Certificate 3 in Bushland Regeneration.

- Senior First Aid Certificate

- Chainsaw Users Certificate 1

 

Andrejs Lasmanis

Site Supervisor

Andrejs has over 20 years experience working in the landscaping industry including hard and soft, domestic and commercial landscape installation and maintenance and 4-years experience as a bush regenerator. Some of the work Andrejs has undertaken during his 20-year landscaping career has included paving, rock-wall construction, track construction and various types of small and large scale drainage works. Other projects he has been involved with have included planting 3,000 street trees for Liverpool City Council, supervision of the Olympic Corridor Greening Project along the Western Line between Auburn and Emu Plains, the construction of paths and rock armouring drainage work at Moore Reserve for Kogarah Council and 2 sites for Hornsby Council. He is currently supervising bush regeneration jobs for Ecohort at: Smalls Creek and Mt Riverview for Sydney Water; Mamre house for Greening Australia; Annangrove Park for Delfin Lend Lease; and at Nangarin Estate at Picton.

Qualifications:

- Certificate of Horticulture, Ryde TAFE 1983

- Bush Regeneration Certificate 2 from Ryde TAFE.

- Senior First Aid Certificate

- Chainsaw Users Certificate 2

 

Alex McCarthy

Site Supervisor

Alex has been working as a bush regenerator since 2001. Since the beginning of 2005, Alex has been supervising a number of bush regeneration and weed control jobs undertaken by Ecohort for Wollongong Council and Landcom in the Wollongong and Shellharbour areas. Some of these include weed control at bushfire asset protection zones at Woonona and Coalcliff, 2005.

Qualifications:

- Graduate Diploma in Environmental Management

- Bachelor of Science (Physical Geography), University of Wollongong 1999.

- Certificate 2 Bushland Regeneration Yallah TAFE 2000.

- Associate Diploma in Engineering (Land Information Systems) Wollongong College of TAFE 1996.

- Chainsaw User Certificate 1

- Senior First Aid Certificate

 

Adam Hutchinson

Site Supervisor

Adam has been working as a bush regenerator for over six years. Adam has supervised regeneration work at: Fairfield City Farm, Abbotsbury; Blacktown Creek, Prospect; Rouse Hill/Kellyville area for Abigroup Contract.

Qualifications:

- Currently studying at the University of Western Sydney Hawkesbury for a Degree in Horticulture

- Certificate 3 in Bushland Regeneration.

- Chainsaw Users Certificate 2

- Senior First Aid Certificate

 

Kevin Seymour

Site Supervisor 

Kevin has 8 years experience in the bushland regeneration industry and started working for Ecohort in late 2004. During his time with Ecohort Kevin has worked on many various sites throughout western and the greater Sydney region including 3 years acting at a supervisory level.

Qualifications:

- TAFE certificate of attainment in Bushland Weed Control.

- Senior First Aid Certificate

- Chainsaw Users Certificate 2

 

Steve Norman

Assistant Supervisor / Site Supervisor

Steve  has worked for Ecohort since early 2006 as a bush regenerator. Steve has spent 8 years supervising work-for-the-dole teams undertaking a range of bush regeneration and outdoor construction activities in the Penrith area. In the past year Steve has taken on the role of Assistant Supervisor and stepping up to Supervisory role whenever necessary.

Qualifications:

- Certificate 3 in Bush Regeneration through Richmond TAFE.

- Senior First Aid Certificate

- Chainsaw Users Certificate 1

 

Imants Freimanis

Office Manager

Imants has been working for Ecohort Pty Ltd since the beginning of 2004 as the office administrator, systems administrator and equipment maintenance fitter. Imants has a trade certificate in Fitting, Machining and Welding and also has a Diploma in Electronic Business Support.

Imants plays an integral role in the Ecohort team, ensuring that all administration, supplies, operational and safety needs are coordinated and communicated between all levels of staff, to assist with the smooth operation of the job

 

Tom Kliendienst

Bush regenerator 

Tom has been working as a bush regenerator for Ecohort since the February 2005. Since working for Ecohort, Tom has worked in various sites throughout Western Sydney and the Wollongong area.

Qualifications:

- Certificate 2 in Conservation and Land Management from Yallah TAFE

- Senior First Aid Certificate.

- Chainsaw Users Certificate 1

 

Michael Bremer

Bush regenerator 

Michael has been working as a bush regenerator and irrigation installation specialist for Ecohort Pty Ltd since February 2005. In addition to assisting with the installation of irrigation systems on Ecohort’s revegetation sites, Michael has mainly worked as a bush regeneration team member at worked in various sites throughout Sydney in a variety of plant community types. Prior to being employed by Ecohort, Michael worked in the landscape-contracting field for 7 years, undertaking weed maintenance, soft landscaping, hard landscaping and irrigation activities.

Qualifications:

- TAFE level certificates in irrigation.

- Certificate 2 in Conservation and Land management course at Ryde TAFE

- Senior First Aid Certificate

- Chainsaw Users Certificate 1

 

Allan Chapple: bush regenerator 

Allan is a trained and experienced bush regenerator and has been working as a bush regenerator for Ecohort Pty Ltd since January 2005. Since working for Ecohort, Allan has worked in various sites throughout Sydney in a variety of plant community types. Prior to being employed by Ecohort, Allan worked in the nursery industry for 7years.

Qualifications:

- Certificate 2 in Conservation and Land Management from Richmond TAFE

- Senior First Aid Certificate

- Chainsaw Users Certificate 1

 

Mervin Vessey

Bush regenerator

Mervin has worked as a bush regenerator  for Ecohort since early 2008 . Mervin has worked in the field of bush regeneration since the beginning of 2005. Since working for Ecohort, Mervin has undertaken a large variety of bush regeneration activities, for a variety of clients, including Baulkham Hills Shire Council, Hawkesbury City Council, Baulderstone and Hornibrook, Delfin Lend Lease and Taronga Zoo.

Qualifications:

- Certificate 3 in Conservation and Land Management through Ryde TAFE.

- Senior First Aid Certificate

- Chainsaw Users Certificate 1

 

Ron Spano

Bush regenerator 

Ron has worked as a bush regenerator  for Ecohort since February 2008. Since working for Ecohort, Ron has undertaken work throughout the Greater Western Sydney area, for a variety of clients, including Baulkham Hills Shire Council, Hawkesbury City Council, Baulderstone and Hornibrook and Delfin Lend Lease.

Qualifications:

- Certificate 2 in Conservation and Land Management through Richmond TAFE.

- Senior First Aid Certificate

- Chainsaw Users Certificate 1

 

Craig Horne

Trainee bush regenerator

Craig has been working as a trainee bush regenerator for Ecohort since August 2008.  Since working for Ecohort,  Craig has undertaken work in the Greater Western Sydney area, for a variety of clients, including Baulkham Hills Shire Council, Hawkesbury City Council, Baulderstone & Hornibrook and Liverpool City council.

 Qualifications:

- Certificate 2 in Conservation and Land Management through Richmond TAFE.(In progress)

- Senior First Aid Certificate

 

 

Justin Keys

Trainee bush regenerator

Justin has been working as a trainee bush regenerator for Ecohort since April 2009.  Since working for Ecohort,  Justin has undertaken work in the Greater Western Sydney area, for a variety of clients, including Baulkham Hills Shire Council, Wollondilly Council, Baulderstone & Hornibrook and Liverpool City council.

 Qualifications:

- Certificate 3 in Natural Area Restoration through Padstow TAFE.(In progress)

- Certificate 3 in Horticulture through Padstow TAFE

- Senior First Aid

 

Roland Glover

Trainee bush regenerator

Roland has been working as a trainee bush regenerator for Ecohort since June 2009.  Since working for Ecohort,  Roland has undertaken work in the Greater Western Sydney area, for a variety of clients, including Baulkham Hills Shire Council, Wollondilly Council, Baulderstone & Hornibrook and Liverpool City council.

 Qualifications:

- Certificate 2 in Conservation and Land Management through Richmond TAFE.(In progress)

- Bachelor of Applied Science in Horticulture from the University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury 2009