The Natural Edge Project (TNEP) is a non-profit sustainability think-tank partnership driven by a team of early career Australians. The secretariat team receives mentoring and support from a range of experts and leading organisations in Australia and internationally.
The mission of The Natural Edge Project is to contribute to and succinctly communicate leading research, case studies, tools and strategies for achieving a sustainable future across government, business and civil society.
Visit the TNEP website: www.naturaledgeproject.net
TNEP Secretariat
Karlson 'Charlie' Hargroves is a co-founder and coordinator of The Natural Edge Project (TNEP) Charlie practiced in the Australian Capital Territory as a Civil and Structural Engineer, before moving into sustainability-related areas to co-found TNEP and co-author and co-edit the publication The Natural Advantage of Nations. Engineers Australia, through the support of Martin Dwyer and Steve Williamson, have become the in-kind administrative host for TNEP and have provided invaluable support and mentoring to the project team.
Charlie and his TNEP colleagues have contributed to a variety of private and government sustainability initiatives in Australia and internationally. Charlie has been an active member of Young Engineers Australia as a past President of Canberra Division and member of the National Committee. He was selected as a member of the Commonwealth Engineers Council delegation to CHOGM 2002 and undertook a visiting scholar trip to the Engineering Department of the University of Khartoum, Sudan in January 2004 supervised by Dr Iman Maaly, representing the World Federation of Engineering Organizations and Engineers Australia.
Charlie recently undertook a 12 month stay in Boulder Colorado, for Charlie to take the position of visiting scholar at the University of Boulder Colorado, USA with Professor Bernard Amadei in 2004/05. As part of the visit Charlie was placed on work experience with Natural Capitalism Inc as the Chief Executive Officer, supervised by Hunter Lovins. Charlie is also a candidate for postgraduate research in sustainable policy development at Murdoch University with Professor Peter Newman
Michael Smith is a co-author and the co-editor of The Natural Advantage of Nations and is the research coordinator of the sustainability think-tank The Natural Edge Project.
Michael and the TNEP team have contributed widely to many sustainability initiatives, and he represents TNEP on the editorial board for CSIRO ECOS magazine and was the recipient of the individual ANU Environmental Achievement Award in 2001.
Michael has completed a double major Science degree in Chemistry and Mathematics from the University of Melbourne. Whilst undertaking this he received three summer research scholarships, two of which were pivotal in awakening an interest in Environmental Technologies.
In his honours year, Michael researched chemicals to replace those that destroy the ozone layer at the University of Sydney. Since then he has researched molecular dynamics and atmospheric chemistry with Professor Michael Collins. His current thesis is discussing the latest advances in the classic sustainability debates such as economic growth vs. sustainable development with co-supervisor Dr Stephen Dovers.
Michael has been a Post Graduate Representative on the ANU's Environmental Management and Planning Committee. There he has had an active role in being part researcher and part facilitator in the implementation of many practical and significant environmental initiatives. For instance, with other environmental officers at other Universities, he initiated the re-establishment of the Australian Campuses Towards Sustainability network and e-list that has now had 4 national conferences. Michael also helped to co-ordinate the National Union of Students Sustainable Universities campaign from 2001-2004.
Cheryl is currently a lecturer in the School of Environmental Engineering at Griffith University (Brisbane, Queensland), in a formal collaboration with The Natural Edge Project. As a lecturer, Cheryl's time is spent preparing and updating course material to develop students sustainability critical literacy skills within the engineering degree programs. Part of her role as lecturer is also to establish Griffith University's role as a Queensland node in the high school based National Sustainable Living Challenge (hosted by the University of New South Wales).
Through her TNEP work, supported in part by Griffith University and a number of grants, Cheryl is developing sustainability training material for engineering students and professionals. Cheryl is fluent in Japanese and is working on furthering the TNEP network in Asia. She values innovation, consultation and multi-stakeholder engagement processes as key tools in achieving successful outcomes for all.
Nick Palousis is a contributor to The Natural Advantage of Nations and a research officer for the sustainability think-tank The Natural Edge Project.
Nick is a graduate of Mechatronic Engineeringwith first class honours, and Mathematical and Computer Science Adeliade University.
Through formal collaboration Nick undertaking his PhD on assisting the manufacturing industry to make the profitable transition towards sustainable practice through the application of the "Sustainability Helix" at the University of South Australia as the 2006 Southcott Scholar.
Though the youngest of the TNEP sectretariat, Nick brings technical, operational and research expertise and a wealth of experience to TNEP initiatives. During undergraduate studies Nick was employed by the State Government to teach robotics to high school students, and initiated Bot.on, the State's first robotics teaching program for technically gifted children.
In 2002, Nick was one of 12 selected to represent Australia in the prestigious Ship for World Youth, an international exchange program coordinated by the Government of Japan and United Nations, aimed to foster international collaboration between young professionals of over 60 countries.
In 2003 Nick was the SA Chapter President of Young Engineers Australia and selected to represent Australia at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Abuja, Nigeria. Graduating in 2003 with First Class Honours in Mechatronic Engineering/Mathematical & Computer Science at the University of Adelaide, Nick joined TNEP full time in January 2004 whist studying a Masters degree in Whole System Design in Adelaide at the University of South Australia.
