Accreditation Board members

Dr Leigh Sullivan CPSS
Chair

Leigh is a Fellow of Soil Science Australia and was Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) at the University of Canberra (2018-2021), and also at Federation University (2016-2018). He was the Chair of the Acid Sulfate Soil Commission of the International Union of Soil Science from 2002-2010 and 2014-2018, and Vice Chair from 2010-2014. Leigh has been Deputy Chair of the Physics, Chemistry and Environment Panel for the Australian Research Council’s College of Experts and has served on other advisory panels and research evaluation committees for the Australian Research Council.

Leigh has an international reputation for his research in acid sulfate soils and carbon biosequestration. He has secured international patents, and is, and has been, a stakeholder in, and Director of several R&D companies commercialising the outcomes of both his research and that of others. He has also contributed to the development of Commonwealth and state policy both as chair and member of advisory committees for numerous state and Commonwealth government environmental agencies. Leigh has authored numerous acid sulfate soil guidelines including being lead author on four current National Guidelines covering acid sulfate soil sampling, identification, laboratory methods and management of monosulfidic black oozes (MBOs). He has also undertaken and authored dozens of consultancy reports focused on soil assessment and management.

Dr Kylie Bradley CPSS-CSAM
Board Member

Kylie is a practicing soil scientist and has over 20 years experience in the private sector (consultant and client-side) using her craft to protect, assess and remediate degraded soil and groundwater. She has proven competencies in project management (certification pending), tender assessment and management, contractor management, development of sampling, analysis and quality programs, reporting, fieldwork techniques, health and safety, analytical techniques and field and laboratory QA/QC procedures. Kylie implements best practice design strategies for soil and groundwater related projects in rural and urban settings and has undertaken extensive works in accordance with Australian legislation and guidance in the earth sciences.

Kylie gained her CPSS certification in 2017 and her CSAM specialist competency in 2019. She believes that soil science matters and that earth and soil scientists should be recognised, their skills promoted and accredited, and their expertise engaged across all relevant public and private market sectors. Kylie is looking forward to assisting the CPSS Board in serving its members, promoting the CPSS program and associated competencies, and ensuring SSA’s accreditation programs are accessible to all members.

Dr Evan Thomas CPSS
Board Member

Dr Evan Thomas has worked in the field of soil science and environmental management for over forty years in both the public (State and Local Government) and private sectors in both NSW and QLD. Evan has worked as a research scientist, consultant and biometrician and is currently the Science Leader for Soil and Land Resources within the Department of Environment and Science. The focus of this team is the development and delivery of soil and land resource information to Queensland’s industries and communities. Evan’s interests are in applied research and application of soil science and systems modelling to informing improved environmental management.

Prof Richard Bell CPSS
Board Member

Richard Bell is Professor of Land Management at Murdoch University. He has held academic positions at Murdoch since 1990. During that time he was taught earth science, soil science and land management to over 2,500 undergraduate and postgraduate students of environmental science. In addition, he has supervised 55 completed PhD and Masters by Research students and currently supervises 9 PhD and Masters students. Most of his research has been on crop nutrition, soil management, salinity management and land rehabilitation. From this work with colleagues and students, he has published 172 peer reviewed articles, 13 books and over 90 peer reviewed articles in books or proceedings. He has lecturing and research experience in Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Fiji, India, Laos, Thailand, Turkey, Sarawak, Sri Lanka, West Timor and Vietnam. He has been a member of the SSA WA Branch Committee from 1996-02 and from 2010 onwards.

Helena Woolums
Board Member (non-voting)

Helena completed her BSc. Physical Geography with a focus on soils at the University of California, Santa Barbara and University of Melbourne in 2010 and was fortunate to begin her career at van de Graaff and Associates undertaking land capability assessments, land systems mapping and assessing contaminate soil chemistry. She then held several positions focussing on contaminated site management, soil chemistry and sustainability. Currently, she is the Environmental Discipline Manager for Tonkin + Taylor, supporting teams in waste management, environmental engineering, contaminated site management and sustainability. Helena is a fierce advocate for the reconnection of society to land. She believes that soil is the fundamental foundation of this connection and holds the key to good stewardship of healthy landscapes and communities.