Jim Underwood
Connecting Country Coordinator

After a 17-year career of conservation research into the resilience of coral reefs, in 2021 Jim moved his work focus back onto the land to apply his understanding of connectivity and ecosystem health with the Gondwana Link team. Jim spent much of his early life growing up Mt Gibson Station and managed its transition from a pastoral operation to a wildlife sanctuary, and he is stoked to be able to love and care for the land again.

Jim has so far authored 27 peer reviewed papers (with 1,325 citations) and has presented at more than 30 regional, national and international conferences. His best contribution working for the Australian Institute of Marine Science, however, involved development of collaborations with state, federal and Indigenous management agencies to co-design marine sanctuaries to bolster coral reef health in a rapidly warming ocean. Through these collaborations, the two-way learning with Indigenous peoples inspired a deep respect for the ecological and social truth that healthy people and healthy country are inextricably linked. Therefore, Jim is now committed to supporting traditional ways of looking after Country through partnerships with Indigenous people.

In his role as Connecting Country Coordinator at Gondwana Link, Jim is looking to build capacity and enable healing of Menang and Goreng people on their Country. He is currently involved with supporting Nowanup Noongar Boodja towards self-sufficiency, collaborating with government and research institutions to put Elder-led fire back into the landscape, and creating a Healthy Country Plan for their property and surrounding areas. He is also supporting Yarramoup Aboriginal Corporation and Wirlomin Noongar Language and Stories Association, along with other Noongar families, to realise their cultural aspirations by gaining access to their own land so they can do what they need to do for their people.