Purposeful partnerships: Odonata + Saving our Species

It’s not difficult to see why Nigel got involved in the conservation space. His passion permeates everything he does. He’s an impact investor, conservationist, environmental business innovator, founder of Odonata Foundation and co-founder and CEO of Tiverton Agriculture Impact Fund (focussed on regenerative agriculture and natural capital) – to name a few.

This ‘conservation calling’ stems from Nigel’s youth growing up on the family farm in south-west Victoria, which he discusses in episode 1 of the Saving our Species Business of Biodiversity podcast. His father was a farmer, before working for the Soil Conservation Authority, and he would spend his childhood summers helping him with conservation projects to build their farm’s biodiversity.

He reflects, “As I planted trees along the creek lines and gullies, I knew I would, one day, pursue a career working and serving the land”.

Fast-forward to 2016 and after years of business success, including becoming an Associate Director for Knight Frank and then CEO of AAIM, Odonata was established in 2016 by Nigel to scale up the success of Mt Rothwell Conservation Centre. The centre is a 470 hectare predator-proof sanctuary dedicated to protecting and restoring some of Australia’s most endangered species populations.

https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/news/purposeful-partnerships-odonata-saving-our-species