Our People
Our Board and Executive Leadership are provide strategic and operational oversight of the company and ensure this is aligned with our vision and values.
Our board
Neil McCarthy
Director
Neil is an international leader in natural resource management with a strong focus on policy and strategy. He brings innovation, paradigm challenging thinking, and a global perspective to Mosaic Insights’ work. Neil was originally educated in Forest Science at the University of Melbourne and holds an MBA in government policy and reform from Monash University.<br><br>Neil has extensive understanding and experience in the complexities in balancing environment and economic development for the betterment of the community. Neil has superior communication and negotiating skills, and networks at all levels of Australian government, and globally through his leadership of World Urban Parks.<br><br>Through his senior management roles at Parks Victoria and the North East Catchment Management Authority in Victoria, Neil has been responsible for leading some of the most significant global initiatives in parks management. These include the ‘Healthy Parks, Healthy People’ program, the creation of Parks Victoria, and the establishment of World Urban Parks.<br><br>Neil has been recognised for many of his contributions and was World Urban Parks’ 2016 Distinguished Individual Award recipient. In addition to his role at Mosaic Insights, Neil is a member of the International National Park City movement, a member of the World Commission on Protected Areas (IUCN) and former CEO of World Urban Parks.
Dr Matt Francey
Group CEO
Matt is a prominent figure in urban water and natural resource management. As the CEO of Alluvium Group and a Director of EcoFutures, Alluvium International, Mosaic Insights and Natural Capital & Climate. Matt brings extensive experience from a government, scientific and community perspective to leading the Alluvium Group.<br> <br>Under Matt's leadership, the Alluvium Group has become a thought leader in the industry. His innovative approach to policy development and management has significantly advanced environmental practices. Matt's commitment to integrating scientific research with practical solutions, including the development of Alluviums internal research program and NfP foundation has enabled the Alluvium Group to deliver impactful projects that address critical environmental challenges.<br> <br>Matt's vision for the Alluvium Group focuses on collaboration and innovation. He believes in harnessing the collective expertise of scientists, economists, engineers, and natural resource managers to develop solutions that benefit both the environment and the community. This collaborative ethos is reflected in the Alluvium Group's diverse team and their multidisciplinary approach to project delivery.<br> <br>As a leading thinker in the field, Matt continues to drive the Alluvium Group's principles and vision. His dedication to excellence and his ability to inspire and lead his team have made the Alluvium Group a trusted partner for clients and the wider industry seeking innovative and effective environmental solutions.
Dr Cathy Oke
Director
Dr Cathy Oke has over 20 years professional and academic experience in urban sustainability and city leadership. She is a strong advocate for local and regional governments driving action on global environmental issues, and leading research for greater impact from informed decision making. Cathy is currently <em>Melbourne Enterprise Senior Fellow in Informed Cities in the </em><a href="https://research.unimelb.edu.au/connected-cities"><em>Connected Cities Lab</em></a> within the Faculty of Architecture Building and Planning at the University of Melbourne, and in this role she is a senior advisor on research and innovation for the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy. Cathy’s previous role was as Knowledge Broker at the <a href="https://nespurban.edu.au/">Clean Air and Urban Landscapes</a> (CAUL) research hub, of the National Environmental Science Program. As a Councillor at the City of Melbourne (2008 – 2020), Cathy was in the Environment portfolio for 12 years and Transport portfolio for 10 years, and as a member of the ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability) Global Executive Committee since 2009 and First Vice President (2018-2021), she has active in advocating on behalf of local and sub national governments at six United Nations Conference of the Parties (CoPs)– for climate and biodiversity. Cathy has a Bachelor of Science (marine biology, zoology) Hons (genetics) degree, and a PhD in Molecular Science.
Management
Jan Orton
General Manager – Mosaic Insights
Jan is the General Manager of Mosaic Insights, she is a well-respected and recognised champion, leader and strategist for liveability, sustainability and natural resource management.<br><br>Over her 30 year career in local government and consulting, Jan has worked alongside communities, elected representatives, state and federal government agencies, researchers and private interests on urban greening including open space and recreation, urban forestry, canopy analysis, and adaptation and resilience; water and catchments, public domain design and management, market research, evaluation, community led resilience planning. institutional capacity and evaluation, policy and strategy, and developing the evidence base for science-led decision making.<br><br>Jan has led change in numerous areas of sustainability and land management and been recognised through many awards. In 2008 Jan was named the public sector manager of the year by the Institute of Public Administration Australia for her leadership and impact in applying research around integrated urban water management to the local government sector. <br><br>Jan has extensive experience in engaging communities and other stakeholders in public land / public interest plans. Jan has expanded the craft of collaborative planning across recreation, rivers, open space, infrastructure and services. Her strengths lay in using available evidence from a wide range of sources, sectors and experiences bringing together diverse groups, interests and disciplines to address what are often complex NRM and urban management issues. <br><br>Jan has held senior management positions in local government and in consulting, she has managed and led large and diverse teams across environment and sustainability, parks and recreation, waste and recycling, works and infrastructure. <br><br>Jan has completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors course which has expended her knowledge and application of best practice governance and reinforced the importance of stakeholders’ involvement in good decision making.
Our team
Matthew Bolton
<p class="CVBodyText">Matt is a AILA Registered Landscape Architect and senior environmental planning, design and construction consultant with over 20 years’ experience in management of environmentally and culturally significant urban, rural, waterway, coastal and bushland landscapes.</p><p class="CVBodyText">He has proven experience in leading multi-disciplinary teams in wetland and waterway design, bushland and waterway restoration and establishment of sustainable recreational and major open space infrastructure in complex high profile public open space areas.</p>
Dr Dom Blackham
Dom is a geographer with specialist expertise in resilient and liveable catchments and cities. He has a particular interest in bringing together open space, urban water, green infrastructure and restoration planning for environmental and social outcomes.<br><br>Over his 20-year career in consulting and research, Dom has delivered complex projects and helped clients solve intractable problems. His collaborative approach, advanced project management capability, workshop facilitation skills, and deep technical knowledge allow him to develop strategies, plans and on-ground actions that meet multiple and often competing, objectives. Dom is a regular presenter and panellist at industry conferences.<br><br>Dom has pioneered the application of genuinely integrated, evidence-based approaches to understanding how open space networks, urban forests and urban water can influence sustainable, liveable cities.
Sophie Moore
Sophie has a background in urban plant ecology and conservation. She is a graduate of Macquarie University’s Master of Research program, where she investigated the change in diversity and function of trees within Australian cities. Her specialty is in investigating the diversity of features that Australian councils build into their plant selection, and how urban forests across the public and private domains can encompass more diversity of function in their tree canopy and beyond.<br><br>Before joining Mosaic Insights (part of the Alluvium group of companies), she was involved in research for the Which Plant Where project, contributing to best-practice planting guides, climate resilience and functional analysis of street trees, and collateral for the project’s Interactive Plant Features Tool. With Mosaic Insights she has supported the development of the Draft Greener Neighbourhoods Roadmap for the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment and has worked with the team on urban forest strategy and planning for city councils across NSW and Victoria.<br><br>Sophie is a PhD candidate with Mosaic Insights and Western Sydney University investigating the natural canopy dynamics of urban trees across metropolitan Sydney. She finds the complex and novel nature of urban ecosystems a fascinating and creative research and industry space, and sees advocacy for healthy equitable urban forests as crucial for the city’s human and other than human populations.
Dr Anne Cleary
Dr. Anne Cleary is an experienced climate and health researcher skilled in researching the relationship between exposure to climate hazards and physical, social and mental health impacts. <br><br>Anne is a member of the Mental Health and Climate Change Research Network. She has extensive experience designing and implementing monitoring and evaluation frameworks to assess the environmental and social outcomes of environmental initiatives. <br><br>Anne is experienced in designing robust, yet resource aware, evaluation methods that are ethical and conscience of participant burden. She is skilled in using co-design and place-based approaches with diverse stakeholders to produce fit-for-purpose nature based solutions that deliver co-benefits across environmental, health and social outcomes. Anne is also skilled in transdisciplinary, mixed methods research with experience analysing, synthesis and reporting on both quantitative and qualitative data. <br><br>Anne completed a PhD on the mental health and wellbeing benefits of urban green space at Griffith University’s School of Medicine and holds an adjunct position at the University of Queensland’s Institute for Social Science Research. Her career has spanned diverse sectors and locations with experience in academia, not-for-profit and industry: working as a research fellow at the Institute for Social Science Research at The University of Queensland, Brunel University London, World Health Organisation (European Centre for Environment and Health) in Germany, and Healthy Land and Water in southeast Queensland. Anne is passionate about shaping landscapes and systems that promote human connection with nature for the benefit of people and the planet.
Jayne Mooney
Jayne is a social planning practitioner with a particular interest in the connection of people and place, and using a collaborative, human-centred approach to creating inclusive, sustainable environments. Having worked in private consultancy for 10 years, Jayne brings a diverse skillset encompassing urban and social planning, social impact assessment, placemaking, and engagement and communications. Jayne is a highly competent and organised project manager able to coordinate and work with multi-disciplinary teams, manage project budgets and reporting, and review and coordinate project inputs. Jayne has a certificate in engagement and is experienced designing and delivering stakeholder engagement plans, developing communication materials, and communicating complex and technical information to stakeholders and the community. Jayne values the importance of thorough analysis and an evidence-based approach to inform design and planning, and guide policy and decision-making to deliver the best outcomes for the community and environment.
Jake Allen
Jake Allen is a spatial data scientist and cartographer, known for blending technical expertise with creative vision to develop impactful, user-focused data products. With a passion for storytelling through maps and visualisation, Jake transforms complex datasets into intuitive, accessible tools that empower stakeholders to make informed decisions.<br>At Mosaic Insights, Jake has delivered a suite of innovative data products spanning dashboards, ArcGIS StoryMaps, scientific charts, interactive mapping applications, and clean, elegant cartographic outputs. His projects bridge cutting-edge analytics with clear, engaging communication, tailored to meet the unique needs of each client.<br><br>Jake has a particular interest in using spatial analysis to assess urban forests across Australia—how they are evolving, their vulnerabilities, and how this knowledge can guide strategic interventions. By integrating high-resolution satellite imagery, drone technology, machine learning, and advanced spatial techniques, Jake brings fresh insights to the pressing challenges of urban sustainability and resilience.<br><br>Jake’s strength lies in his ability to unite technical skills with storytelling and visualisation, creating data products that are both rigorous and accessible.
Jess Walker
Jess is a dedicated social scientist with a strong focus on creating sustainable, resilient, and healthy communities by integrating nature into urban environments. She has five years of experience applying social research methods to assess social impacts, community needs, and social infrastructure. Her work spans multiple sectors, including resources, renewable energy, infrastructure, education, local councils, and housing.<br><br>In her current role as a social science consultant at Mosaic Insights she has led and supported numerous projects involving community consultation, social research, impact assessment, and monitoring and evaluation. Jess excels in stakeholder engagement, survey design and analysis, and reporting for diverse clients, including government agencies and councils.<br><br>Key projects she has been involved with include Stakeholder Sentiment Tracking for the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Evaluation of the GRASS Program for the Qld Dept. Environment, Tourism, Science & Innovation, Project Guardian Market Research for the Reef Authority, Social Monitoring and evaluation of behaviour change programs for the Great Barrier Reef Foundation Noosa Urban Greening Action Plan for Noosa Shire Council, Invasive Species Impact Assessment for the ACT Government, and Reconnecting River Country Social Evaluation.<br><br>Jess also has academic research experience. In her final year of university, she completed a research project titled “Transitioning towards circular cities: A systematic review of concepts, cases, and tools relating to urban forestry and urban farming”. The project focused on the role of circular economy, urban forestry, and urban farming in addressing the Sustainable Development Goals. She is interested in further research on these topics.
Dr Jabbar Khaledi
Jabbar Khaledi is an expert in hydro-climatology, earth observation, and environmental data analysis, with deep experience in analysing spatio-temporal data across climate, water, terrain, vegetation, and extreme events such as floods, bushfires, and droughts. He completed a PhD at the University of Melbourne (2018–2022) in hydro-climatology and water resources management, publishing peer-reviewed research on how catchment- and regional-scale water availability is influenced by climate change and variability modes (e.g., ENSO, IOD, SAM, IPO), droughts, and bushfires. Jabbar’s expertise lies in interpreting time series, remote sensing, and spatial datasets to understand complex climate–land–water interactions, and in developing environmental metrics, indices, and predictive models using machine learning and statistical techniques to monitor conditions and track changes over time.<br><br>Jabbar creates advanced models, tools, python packages, and automated workflows that support decision-making and provide practical solutions to environmental challenges across both catchments and urban areas. His technical skillset includes Python and its scientific libraries, ESRI GIS tools, REST API services, WCS clients, and cloud-based platforms such as Google Earth Engine (GEE), ESA, NASA MAAP, and ODC-DEA.<br><br>With a strong background in collaborative consulting, stakeholder engagement, and clear communication, Jabbar consistently delivers valuable insights and actionable outcomes tailored to client needs.
Amala Mathew
Amala has a background in urban planning and architecture, she has a specific interest in creating sustainable and greener urban spaces through a transdisciplinary approach.<br><br>In her work with Mosaic Insights, she has assisted in the development of several urban greening strategies, climate resilience and adaptation projects. She brings her strong design skills to convey information in an engaging way. With a background in data synthesis, strategic planning, and technical reporting, Amala has supported a diverse range of projects aimed at enhancing the liveability, environmental health, and climate resilience of urban spaces.<br><br>Amala has worked with various local governments, councils, and development agencies, contributing to projects like tree and bushland strategies, urban forest planning, water-sensitive urban design, and climate adaptation strategies. Through her project roles, Amala has demonstrated expertise in designing and implementing green infrastructure solutions that contribute to cooling, all while improving the quality of public spaces.
Craig Danvers
Craig is a landscape and multimedia designer who brings a creative lens to technical work, with over 20 years’ experience in digital media, visual storytelling and design. At Mosaic Insights, he plays a key role in translating complex concepts into clear, engaging visual narratives. His capabilities span multimedia design, animation, video editing, publishing, interactive installations and visualisation — blending creativity with intent to enhance communication and influence.<br><br>Working across environmental strategy, landscape master planning and climate resilience, Craig collaborates with multidisciplinary teams of scientists, planners and policy specialists. He brings fresh energy and creative thinking to each project, crafting tailored content that connects with both technical and community audiences. From concept to delivery, his work helps foster a deeper connection to place and brings ideas to life through compelling visuals.<br><br>Craig is passionate about design as a tool for clarity, engagement and change. His creative approach brings clarity and impact to technical projects, helping teams communicate with purpose and connect more meaningfully with their audiences.
Aakash Malik
Aakash Malik is a proficient GIS and Remote Sensing Specialist with seven years of experience focusing on applying geospatial and data science technologies in projects related to environmental issues, urban growth, water access, water resilience, water quality and the restoration of water bodies at city and catchment scale. He has developed a range of advanced data products tailored for clients. His expertise encompasses the creation of dynamic dashboards, intricate maps, engaging Story Maps, and sophisticated visualizations showcasing his diverse skill set in data visualization and analytics. Bringing extensive expertise as part of his previous engagement with the World Resources Institute, Aakash has led impactful projects across diverse regions and sectors. A few important contributions include performing geospatial analysis and capacity building for Punjab's eco-city development, providing crucial insights into land surface temperature, water stress, and groundwater decline. Additionally, Aakash has collaborated with organizations such as DANIDA and DFAT to assess water quality parameters in African cities for basin restoration projects and developed spatial data repositories to shortlist priority sites for Delhi's water security initiatives. He also played a pivotal role in leveraging Google Earth Engine to analyze urban water resilience trends in a few African cities. At the same time, for the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) funded project, he co-developed the Nature-Based Solutions frameworks to address urban water challenges.
Dr Matthew Selinske
Matthew joined Mosaic Insights as a Senior Social Scientist in June 2023. He is a conservation social scientist with more than 15 years’ experience across multiple organisations including government, NGO, private sector, and universities. Matthew works on a range of projects including designing and evaluating stewardship programs, measuring the social values of waterways, using a social science informed approach for open space planning, and co-designed fisheries management with First Nation groups.<br><br>Previously, Matthew was a PhD student and Senior Research Fellow at RMIT University where his research focused on behaviour change and private land conservation. Prior to his research career Matthew worked in forest and prairie restoration projects in the US, and managed a protected area in West Africa, focused on primate conservation.<br>Matthew received his undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota in Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology and MSc from Imperial College London’s Interdisciplinary Conservation Program. Driven by a commitment to give back to his field, Matthew currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Society for Conservation Biology.<br><br>Matthew is passionate about making social science and behavioural research more accessible to all and applying it to promote resilience and liveability by connecting people to nature.
Shivani
Shivani is an architect and urban planner with specific interest in urban water, wastewater management, and climate resilience linked with a people-centric view. She has over four years of experience in action research, advocacy, and capacity building for various themes on urban water and wastewater management including water-sensitive urban design and planning (WSUDP), urban lake management, urban drainage and stormwater management, rainwater harvesting (RWH), blue-green infrastructure, decentralized wastewater systems (DWWTs) planning and City-wide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS), in India and the global south. Shivani focuses on bringing planning and design strategies that are complementing urban blue-green infrastructure.<br><br>Shivani worked as a Senior Research Associate under the Urban Water and Wastewater vertical at the Centre for Science and Environment (Think Tank), a not-for-profit public interest research and advocacy organisation based in New Delhi. During her tenure at CSE, she has worked closely with national and state governments; National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), the Department of Urban Development (DoUD), Uttar Pradesh, and the Housing and Urban Development Department (HUDD) Odisha, etc., and international agencies such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the International Water Association (IWA), the University of West England, Bristol, Water Resource Commission (WRC), and the University of Cape Town, Africa, and Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities (CRCWSC), Australia. She also has experience in developing publications and contributing to knowledge briefs on subjects; blue-green infrastructure as effective measures for urban flooding and groundwater management and WSUDP for evolving resilience.<br><br>Shivani has also gained experience in retail designing, landscape design, and institutional and residential urban design projects in India. She holds a master’s degree in Urban Regeneration (M.arch), from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India, and a bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Punjab Technical University, Chandigarh.<br><br>She has joined Alluvium Consulting India as an Urban Planner (Water and Environment).
Dan Pham
Dan is a Spatial Analyst with a background in geospatial science and engineering. His role brings together his interests in environmental management and urban planning, where he explores the complex relationships between people, place, and the environment through data.<br><br>He enjoys uncovering hidden trends in spatial data and using these insights to support evidence-based decision-making. <br>Prior to joining Mosaic Insights, he worked as a cartographer in state government, where he gained a strong appreciation for the power of visual communication and the importance of maps that tell a clear story.<br><br>In his master’s dissertation, he developed a workflow to classify serrated tussock coverage in the Western Grassland Reserve using high-resolution imagery.<br><br>Dan brings a thoughtful, data-driven approach to his work and is passionate about using spatial analysis to create more sustainable and resilient places.