Niche boosts board with appointment of three Non-Executive Directors

Niche boosts board with the appointment of three Non-Executive Directors

Niche Environment and Heritage has renewed and strengthened its board by appointing three new Non-Executive Directors. The new board members join Niche’s founders Jamie Reeves (Managing Director) and Matthew Richardson (Executive Director) at an exciting time of growth for the specialist consulting firm.

As the former board chair, Matthew Richardson reflected on the board renewal program he led over the last two years and stated, “I’m delighted to welcome our new board members. Their collective experience will guide our business as we pursue our strategic growth objectives, and ensure our corporate governance continues to be robust, ethical and in the best interests of all our stakeholders.”

“Richard, Tanya and Vanessa bring to Niche an incredible wealth of practical and strategic business expertise, a balanced breadth of perspectives, in-depth industry insights and diversity in thinking from their respective careers.”

“As a board, our shared responsibility is to grow Niche in a strategic and sustainable manner and our immediate focus is on ensuring that we have the best structure, resources, systems and process in place to optimise our success.”

“I’m excited about the future we are building for our business, and committed to delivering ethical, trustworthy and high-quality services to our clients, opportunities for our team, and superior outcomes for our environment, heritage and communities.”

Meet Niche’s non-executive board members

Richard Wankmuller – Non-Executive Director and Board Chair

Richard is the former CEO of ARTC Inland Rail – Australia’s largest infrastructure project – and has over 40 years of experience in the private and public sector infrastructure market, including leading some of the world’s largest engineering and construction companies, as CEO of two large Australian owned engineering and consulting companies, and prior to that as President and Executive Director of two of the largest USA owned infrastructure development companies.

Richard said he is very excited about Niche’s skills and capabilities and feels the company provides vital services to help the Australian infrastructure market.

“The key to successful development in today’s world is the ability to inform and educate impacted communities and other stakeholders and to ensure projects are progressed in sustainable yet cost effective ways.”

“Niche has proven success in these areas, and I am confident that we should be able to continue to attract some of the best people in our industry as we help the country prosper through facilitating infrastructure projects that make a real difference.”

Vanessa Sullivan, Non-Executive Director

Vanessa is an experienced Non-Executive Director with water, renewable energy and sustainability industry experience at both board and executive levels. Her executive experience includes developing strategy, implementing projects, and executing transactions to build business value in transitioning markets such as low emissions energy and hydrogen.
Vanessa was drawn to join the Niche board by the passionate, committed attitudes of founders Jamie and Matthew, and by the work that the business does.

“The work Niche is doing in terms of achieving strong environmental and cultural heritage outcomes is a really important part of achieving strong whole-of-ESG outcomes, which I am passionate about. Both Jamie and Matthew immediately struck me as committed to their team and committed to doing the right thing,” explains Vanessa.

“Niche is on an exciting journey of growth and contributing to the business as it grows and to be part of respectful, environmentally strong development outcomes is really important.”

“I am involved in the energy transition at a number of different levels, and the challenge is achieving emission reductions as well as strong environmental, cultural heritage, and community outcomes. For me, it’s about being part of more of the pieces of the puzzle that will solve carbon reduction.”

Alongside her role as Non-Executive Director for Niche, Vanessa sits on several boards including AGL Limited, Eco Markets Australia and Essential Energy. Vanessa is also the expert energy and water industry member of the QLD State Government’s Hydrogen Taskforce and on the advisory board of Centacare, a not-for-profit disability and domestic violence service provider.

Tanya Cox, Non-Executive Director

Tanya is a property expert with a passion for sustainability. She has more than 15 years’ experience as a non-executive director of both ASX-listed and unlisted companies, including Cromwell Property Group and the Green Building Council of Australia. Tanya is former chair of the World Green Building Council, a past director of Low Carbon Australia and a past member of the NSW Climate Change Council.

“For developers, understanding and reducing embedded carbon emissions, reducing waste while increasing reuse, and minimising biodiversity impact are all on the agenda, so it is a great time to be working in our field,” said Tanya.

Inspiring women in leadership is very important to Tanya, and she has spent many years mentoring and promoting women in business, including leading the NSW government’s Women in Business program.

“I strongly believe that men and women should both be treated with respect, should have the same opportunities and encouragement,” she explained.

“I also think that women non-executive directors change the conversation in the board room and leadership comes from the top!”