Board of Management
Margaret Steadman: President/Public Officer
Bachelor of Arts (Hons), Diploma of Education, Master of Arts
Margaret was Executive Officer of the Tasmanian Environment Centre/Sustainable Living Tasmania for 13 years and oversaw the transition from an organisation involved primarily in education in natural environment issues, to one committed to urban sustainability and helping households and communities travel their sustainability journey. She is now 'retired' and is principally engaged in community climate change activism and supporting refugees when she is not working in her food-forest garden.
Kim Barker: Vice President
Bachelor of Arts (Hons), Diploma of Education, Master of Arts
Kim is a project manager currently working on developing building design guidelines for the Department of Education. After spending over 25 years operating an interior design and architectural practice, Kim is very familiar with sustainability issues and design principles associated with the building industry. Kim has qualifications in and has delivered Business Sustainability Assessments and her business delivers NatHERs energy assessments.
Kim is currently undertaking an MBA with a focus on business strategy and has delivered communication strategy projects to the not for profit sector and developed a sustainability framework for the State Government.
Phil Anstie: Treasurer
Bachelor of Economics
Phil Anstie joined SLT and became a Board member in 1991 (when the organisation was called the Tasmanian Environment Centre). He has served as Treasurer for many of the 20 years he's been on the Board. He joined the Tasmanian Conservation Trust (TCT) in 1996 and was Treasurer until 2009 when he became President. Phil was a founding member of the Tranmere-Clarence Plains Land and Coast Care Group in Hobart and still serves on their committee. Phil initially practiced as an economist with the State Government. Later he switched to the Federal Government and finished his remunerated career as an insolvency practitioner with the Commonwealth Attorney General's Department.
Lindi Wall: Board Member
Roman Alzengendler: Board Member
Helen Pryor: Board Member
I have worked in community education for 30 years primarily with the Tasmanian Environment Centre and its successor, Sustainable Living Tasmania, my main focus being
climate change. My last project was a Commonwealth Funded Community Action Program called Cool Communities, in which we incentivised people through education, training and financial rebates to adopt more energy-efficient practices in their homes. It was a highly effective program, which saw hundreds of households insulating, draught-proofing,
window-proofing and installing heat pumps, energy-efficient hot water systems and solar panels.
For the past twelve years, my partner and I have run a small business selling second-hand clothes and books. Alongside the business, I have been an advocate for climate-friendly consumerism, presenting at Sustainable Schools conferences and working alongside teachers to implement simple ‘circular-economy’ practices. I am also an active founding member of the Pedestrian and Public Transport Users Group Inc which lobbies Councils and government to improve services and facilities that will discourage car use.
Oren Gerassi: Board Member
Oren’s interest is in strengthening community and individuals through sharing the practice of art and music. He has over 20 years of experience in the arts, entertainment, media and museums sector as a technical specialist, project manager and entrepreneur, working as a freelancer, in partnerships and in all levels of government. As a passionate sound designer and engineer, Oren’s ambitions in an increasingly noisy world is to use technology sustainably, so it can help connect people while minimising the impact of its pollution on the environment.
Growing up in Israel and experiencing the tragic outcomes of senseless violent conflict, Oren is committed to bridging cultural and ideological gaps through promoting respectful dialogue, collaboration, compassion and compromise.
After living in Melbourne for 12 years, Oren moved to lutruwita (Tasmania) in 2020. He is now proudly growing vegetables in the garden and enjoys hiking and rock climbing while learning about the unique challenges and opportunities of living near the pristine wilderness of lutruwita.
Janitha Senavirathna: Board Member
Rebecca Faloon: Board Member
Staff
Todd Houstein: Principal Sustainability Consultant
Bachelor of (Electrical) Engineering with first-class Honours
Todd is a professional engineer who heads up Sustainable Living Tasmania's consultancy services for organisations, including energy audits, carbon audits and more.
After working as a lightning protection engineer for Tassie business Novaris Pty Ltd, Todd did three years postgraduate engineering research into renewable energy systems with UTAS in Hobart and the Institute for Energy Technology in Norway.
Todd also founded the Tasmanian Chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB) and was president of it for 2 years before moving to Melbourne to take on a paid staff role in their national office. He became fascinated by the intersection between appropriate technology and participatory, strengths-based community development.
In 2010, Todd moved back to his beloved homeland to work towards creating happy, healthy and sustainable Tasmanian communities as our Executive Officer. After running the organisation successfully for over nine years, he took on the position of Sustainability Consultant, heading up our services for businesses and other organisations.
Rebecca Boyle: Sustainability Consultant
BPharm (Hons) PhD; Thermal Performance Assessor (Cert IV); SME Energy Assessor (Cert IV); Home Energy Assessor (Cert IV); Member BDAV
Rebecca is an energy auditor with experience and qualifications in Thermal Performance Assessment (Cert IV), Home Energy Assessments (Cert IV) and Small to Medium Business Energy Assessments (Cert IV). She began her career as a pharmacist working in hospital and community pharmacy and completed a PhD in 1999 (and further post graduate studies afterwards) in plant toxin and herbivore dietary interactions. Rebecca began working in the area of energy auditing and assessments in 2006 as a home energy assessor after climate change concerns precipitated a change in career.
Rebecca has delivered almost 1,000 residential energy assessments under Sustainable Living Tasmania’s Power Savings for Tenants, Energy Champions, and Get Bill Smart programs for State and Federal Governments; as well as commercial audits for schools, aged care facilities and small businesses. Her research background ensures thorough research and investigation of issues arising from audits and assessments.
Rebecca currently works for RED Sustainability Consultants in a number of capacities, including energy auditing, sustainability assessments and NatHERs star rating.
Julie Hargreaves: Sustainability Consultant
Cert IV Business Sustainability Assessment; Cert IV Training and Assessment; Post Graduate Diploma Business, Information Systems – Curtin University (1999)
Julie has delivered Type 2 Detailed Energy Audits for various organisations including Deloraine High School, Meander Valley Council (Council offices, Community sports complex, Visitor Information Centre and Museum); Kentish Council (Council offices and Town Hall); and many Type 1 audits.
Julie has undertaken more than 1,200 residential energy assessments under Sustainable Living Tasmania’s Power Savings for Tenants, Energy Champions, and Get Bill Smart programs for State and Federal Governments.
Janine Cooke: Finance & Administration Officer
Janine is Sustainable Living Tasmania’s Finance and Administration Officer. Janine started working one day a week with SLT in 2007. For a change of pace, Janine also works as a Teacher Assistant at a local primary school, and in her spare time enjoys reading and bushwalking.
Dr Sandra Astill: Community Engagement Officer & Event Coordinator
BA (Hons), PhD (Society & Culture) James Cook University
Sandra (or Sandy) is a Human Geographer whose research interests include resilience, the impact of policy on vulnerable populations, natural disaster prevention, risk and the impact of the aging population on long-term resilience of smaller more remote communities.
After becoming a university and government sector contracted-staff statistic during COVID 19, she returned to her past career as an Event Coordinator, after realising the important role community events play in community connection, information sharing, a sense of belonging and a community sense of pride. After a 20 year career in event coordination in Cairns, Far North Queensland, Sandra is now focused on raising the community profile of SLT throughout Tasmania, and as she resides in Launceston in the north, she is also hoping that the organization will provide information, pathways and connection that will benefit Tasmania and Tasmanians as a whole.