Connecting Country staff

Lori Arthur (lori@connectingcountry.org.au)
Director and Landcare Facilitator

Lori joined Connecting Country in early 2023.  She comes to us after working in conservation and land management roles with local governments in Melbourne, collaborating with a range of environmental stakeholders and community groups.  She moved to Castlemaine with her family in late 2020 and is very excited to get involved with a grass roots conservation organisation doing great things in the local community.  She has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Environmental Horticulture) with University of Melbourne.  Her office days are Monday- Thursday.  When she’s not working, she’s kept pretty busy with family life, often riding, bushwalking or swimming in and around the local environs with her two young boys and her kelpie, Dusty.

Lori works Monday to Thursday, as the Landcare facilitator and overseeing Connecting Country’s projects, organisational management and administration.

Bonnie Humphreys (bonnie@connectingcountry.org.au) 
Landscape Restoration Specialist

Bonnie Humphreys joined the Connecting Country team in 2011. She lives with her partner and daughter on a small property in Barkers Creek.  Bonnie has a special interest in native flora and weed ecology, and an extensive knowledge of local plants. Her work is focused on supporting local landholders to implement landscape restoration through the provision of site assessments and advice and implementation of our funded on-ground works.  Bonnie also assists with coordinating community engagement and education events such as field days and workshops.

Bonnie works on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Hadley Cole (hadley@connectingcountry.org.au)
Project Officer  

From 2021-2025, Hadley was Connecting Country’s Landcare Facilitator and developed many community connections and partnerships across the region.  Following a 3 month travelling break in 2025, Hadley has returned to Connecting Country in a Project Officer role, delivering funded projects, fostering key relationships, such as our partnerships with  Traditional Owner Groups, and communications and engagement activities.

Hadley works Mondays and Thursdays.