Niche celebrates 15 years: Stories from our people.
September 4, 2024
News & Insights
As Niche celebrates our 15th anniversary, we reflect on the remarkable journey that has shaped the company into what it is today. To commemorate this milestone, we spoke with some long-standing team members who have been with Niche since its early days, witnessing and contributing to the company’s growth from a small team to a thriving, dynamic organisation. Their stories offer a glimpse into the personal and professional evolution that has taken place over the years and highlight the core values that continue to guide Niche’s success.
Simon Tweed, Manager – Natural Capital Strategy
“Reflecting on the past decade fills me with immense gratitude and pride. I am deeply thankful for the opportunities to learn, grow, and lead within this incredible organization over the past decade and more.”
Simon Tweed, Manager – Natural Capital Strategy
“I started my first stint at Niche in 2009 when Niche was a few dedicated close-knit individuals working from home, seeking to do things differently and make a difference. 10 years and few Malleefowl, BDARs and offset strategies later, the core of Niche is 100 dedicated close-knit individuals seeking to do things differently and make a difference. I am very thankful for the opportunities to learn, grow, and lead within this incredible organization.
Over the last 15 years a lot of things have changed, including adding extra members to our family. It was great to have some paid time off to take a break from work to look after the new addition in both a primary carer role.
I am deeply thankful for the opportunities to learn, grow, and lead within this incredible organization over the past decade and more. Together, we’ve navigated challenges, seized opportunities, and achieved remarkable milestones.
As I look ahead, I’m excited to continue guiding our Natural Capital team towards even greater success, leveraging our collective expertise to make a positive impact in our field”, says Simon.
Morgan Disspain, Manager – Service Delivery and Quality
“Niche has given me the flexibility to pursue a dream research project in the Northern Territory and grow into a leadership role, while supporting me through some major personal challenges.”
Morgan Disspain, Manager – Service Delivery and Quality
“My time at Niche has been full of growth and transformation. When I first joined in 2018, our heritage team was small, with just one manager, and we primarily focused on NSW. Over the years, as our teams in NSW and QLD merged, and later expanded to Victoria, I had the opportunity to step into a leadership role, becoming Manager of this fantastic, larger team. Now, as Heritage Manager – Service Delivery and Quality, I’m excited to leverage my strengths to mentor and support our growing heritage team.
Life outside of work has been even more eventful. From dealing with bushfires threatening my home, followed by floods, to navigating the challenges of COVID-19, Niche has been my constant source of stability and support. The flexibility has also enabled me to pursue a dream research project in the Northern Territory, giving me the space to grow professionally and continue to master my craft.
Without a doubt what I love about Niche is the people I work with. It’s the strong personal connections within the team that make each day so fulfilling. Even though we’re spread across different regions, the effort to nurture these relationships—through flexible working arrangements and cherished in-person gatherings—has created a supportive and close-knit environment that makes Niche a truly special place to work”, said Morgan.
Sian Griffiths, Practice Leader – Ecology
“My journey at Niche has been incredibly rewarding. While the company has expanded significantly, our core values—trust, care, excellence, and integrity—have remained steadfast. These values are evident in every interaction we have, whether with each other or our clients.”
Sian Griffiths, Practice Leader – Ecology
“My journey at Niche has been incredibly rewarding. I started in 2010 as a senior ecologist when we were just a small team of five working from home. Over the past 14 years, I’ve grown into a leadership role, now serving as a practice leader in ecology. While the company has expanded significantly, our core values—trust, care, excellence, and integrity—have remained steadfast. These values are evident in every interaction we have, whether with each other or our clients.
What I love most about Niche is the people. The team here is not only professional but genuinely caring, making every project and interaction more enjoyable.
One of the highlights of my time here has been working on larger projects like HumeLink. These complex projects require a team of Niche staff to work together to achieve project outcomes, and I find it very rewarding working in a larger team, all learning from each other and supporting each other.
Outside of work, my life has also evolved, particularly with becoming a mother 15 years ago and now raising a tween and two teens. The flexibility Niche has provided, from maternity leave to part-time work and remote options, has made balancing my career and family life much smoother,” said Sian.
Amanda Griffith, Manager – Natural Capital Supply
“Niche offered me the perfect balance of engaging in a challenging and fulfilling role while also prioritising time with my family. I began as a senior ecologist in a small team and now co-manage the Natural Capital and Offsets Team.”
Amanda Griffith, Manager – Natural Capital Supply
“I started working at Niche 12 years ago, after a 5-year break from the industry to focus on raising my young children. I started back casually, then moved to part-time as my kids grew older and more independent. Niche offered me the perfect balance of engaging in a challenging and fulfilling role while also prioritising time with my family. I began as a senior ecologist in a small team and now co-manage the Natural Capital and Offsets Team.
Some of my biggest achievements have been managing biodiversity assessments associated with large, complex infrastructure development projects. Effecting change to avoid impacts to biodiversity is deeply satisfying as is working with landholders to establish biodiversity conservation sites. Co-developing the mentoring program at Niche to support our fantastic team on their ecology practice and consulting journeys was a highlight for me.
What I love most about working at Niche is the people. I get to work with excellent colleagues and leaders who truly embody the organisation’s values. Special mention to our founders Matt Richardson and Jamie Reeves for creating this environment and leading by example every day,” said Amanda.
Deretta Brown, Business Analyst – Finance and Operations
“Through all the changes and challenges, Niche has been a place where I’ve been able to grow, learn, and contribute in meaningful ways. The combination of a supportive work environment and the opportunity to be part of something bigger has made my time at Niche truly fulfilling.”
Deretta Brown, Business Analyst – Finance and Operations
“I joined Niche more than 13 years ago when the company was just starting out. At that time, I was working only a few hours a day, a few days a week, gradually increasing my hours and responsibilities as Niche grew. Over the years, my role has evolved significantly. I transitioned from handling all the accounts, invoicing, payroll, and project administration to becoming a key member of the Project Management Office (PMO). Today, I focus on training colleagues in our systems and helping to establish new processes that support our consultants in their project work.
Reflecting on my time at Niche, one of my greatest achievements has been contributing to the company’s growth while simultaneously advancing my career. It’s been incredibly rewarding to grow alongside such a talented group of people, and being part of this journey remains a significant highlight for me.
Outside of work, the past 15 years have brought many changes to my personal life. My children, who were just starting school when I began at Niche, have now grown up, beginning their own careers. During this time, I’ve also renovated and extended my home, adopted three dogs, and even travelled overseas for the first time in 25 years.
What I love most about Niche is that it is the best place to work at. The founding partners are fantastic to work with, and there is a strong sense of respect and camaraderie among everyone in the company. I also deeply appreciate the flexibility that allows me to work from home most days of the week, which has been invaluable in balancing my professional and personal life.
Through all the changes and challenges, Niche has been a place where I’ve been able to grow, learn, and contribute in meaningful ways. The combination of a supportive work environment and the opportunity to be part of something bigger has made my time at Niche truly fulfilling,” said Deretta.
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