Grant Smith has been working in the NRM and biodiversity conservation sectors for more than eight years. He has worked across a diverse range of roles in both public and private sectors and holds a Masters of Environment and a Bachelor of Science (Zoology) from the University of Melbourne.

Recently joining Clear Horizon as a Senior Consultant, Grant was previously a Native Vegetation Policy Officer within DSE’s Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Division, responsible for protecting and enhancing Victoria’s biodiversity. During this role, Grant developed strong skills in policy and legislative development, briefings, and high level stakeholder engagement through projects involving the coordination and implementation of Victoria’s Native Vegetation Management: a Framework for Action. Prior to this, Grant was employed with DPI as a Policy Co-ordinator Officer in the

Minerals and Petroleum Division. Further, Grant gained experience working for a number of private sector companies including Australian Ecosystems; a company focused on ecological restoration projects, and Visions of Blue; an environmental communications company focused on enhancing public awareness about the environment through the development of innovative environmental management strategies and initiatives.

Grant is a skilled project manager with particular focus on biodiversity conservation and sustainability. Grant is also considered a natural writer, creating top class reports for a variety of audiences. He also brings skills and experience in strategy development and is a qualified policy advisor.

Grant has a passion for evaluation of programs that focus on sustainability and natural resource management. In 2008 Grant developed the program logic and accompanying evaluation plan, as well as conducting the research, and writing the report for an evaluation of the ‘New Approach’ to native vegetation management. The ‘New Approach’, launched by DSE in 2006, included a suite of changes to enhance the application of native vegetation regulation through the planning system as well as the launch of a number of important tools including BushBroker. Grant has been trained in program logic and monitoring and evaluation.