How do the people you work with experience you?

Issued

7 March 2025

Regions

Would you be up for the challenge of empowering a team of hundreds of Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service staff, across almost half of the State to protect some of the most special places in the world?

Meet Executive Director Rianha, who heads up the impressive Northern Parks and Forests team of dedicated staff working tirelessly to protect and conserve the incredible natural and cultural values of over two-thirds of Queensland’s protected areas.

Northern Parks and Forests covers protected areas from Gladstone to the tip of Cape York, west to the Northern Territory and South Australia borders.

The land size equates to almost 12.5 million rugby league fields - over 85,000km² of protected areas.

There are more than 300 Rangers and support staff in the team.

This region boasts the largest national park in Queensland – Munga-Thirri National Park at one million hectares.

The Northern Parks and Forests team is consistently working towards true and enduring partnerships with First Nations peoples, with many jointly managed parks.

It's clear that Rianha is very proud of the work of her team and their tireless dedication.

‘I am in awe around our teams, how they go about their day-to-day jobs, how they actively partner with Traditional Owners, how they embrace technologies including spatial systems,’ Rianha said.

‘Hearing them being so clear in their ‘why’, and how inspired and motivated they are to come to work every day is incredible.

‘The coolest part of my role is meeting the teams on the ground and those that make it happen behind the scenes. These people are the ones with the most amazing stories and exciting experiences, insights and knowledge which they’re applying to protect and promote national parks and forests.’

Group of 17 Rangers and staff all smiles, posing for the photo.

Rianha was very proud of her team members at the NAIDOC march in Cairns.

Out of all the spectacular areas her team are protecting, the national parks in Cape York are some of Rianha’s favourites, including Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park (CYPAL).

‘The coastline is beautiful and you feel so isolated, then you turn to see the breathtaking greenery, too,’ she said.

‘Another reason is early in my career I was involved in initial assessments and research for Cape York tenure resolution outcomes.

'From my desk in Cairns and including some early trips up that way, I have been honoured to read and hear about the Traditional Owners’ connection to that Country.

‘I would cry while I read and worked through the Queensland Government’s actions in terms of land development, use and allocations. Now, I’m empowered to see how recognition of ownership, dual protection and management of cultural, historical values and connections are working today,’ Rianha said.

‘It’s happening all over Queensland as we continue to work in partnership with Traditional Owners.

‘I have been privileged to visit some of these places after spending many years looking at them on maps and last year was the first time I visited Kutini-Payamu National Park (CYPAL) and it is so much more than what I read and expected.’

Three people standing on flat rocky edge of river.

Selfie of Rianha with white sandy, tropical beach in background.

Three people standing on white sandy beach.

Selfie of Rianha as passenger smiling with Ranger in background driving.

Riahna on Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park (CYPAL) with HR Advisor Lutanna and Cultural Heritage Officer Kasey.

Rianha on one of her favourite protected areas - Chilli Beach, Kutini-Payamu National Park (CYPAL)

Rianha with some of her leadership team, Northern Regional Director Matt and Cape York Manager Nick, on Chilli Beach, Kutini-Payamu National Park (CYPAL)

Rianha on the road with Cultural Heritage Officer Kasey.

Four people sitting on a rocky ledge at edge of river

Rianha on Apudthama National Park (CYPAL) with some of her Cape York team - Senior Ranger Leonn, Ranger in Charge Jeff and Regional Director Matt.

Rianha has only been in the role just under a year but has made great strides in advocating for and supporting her team, taking the time to listen to their needs.

‘Coming to work every day and seeing people enjoy what they do, creating an environment where feedback and difficult conversations become the norm, balanced with celebrating wins, creates a great pathway to success,’ Rianha said.

‘Listening to how people experience you – as a personal or professional leader – has set me up for a successful, fun and continuous learning career to date.’

As a woman in leadership, Rianha believes in looking forward and doing everything we can today, to create a workplace where we are not just equally represented, but actually seen and listened to, with the diversity that we bring to the table, as equally rated as anyone else’s.

‘In QPWS, there a many leaders who do come to work every day and create a space for us, as women, to accelerate, but we also have a role to shine in that space and make a meaningful impact that our peers, partners and leaders can recognise and feel the want to leverage from what we bring to the workplace each and every day.’

Though you may recognise our Rangers and their uniform, there are plenty of roles behind the scenes of Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and behind our protected areas are teams of people with an array of skills and expertise and Rianha joins a team of many leaders we celebrate in Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS).

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How do the people you work with experience you?

‘Listening to how people experience you – as a personal or professional leader – has set me up for a successful, fun and continuous learning career to date.’

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