Steven Walker
Steven’s spent most of his life serving the community — from his time in the Air Force, to working as a Firey, to teaching refugee groups and other communities-in-need via the TAFE Outreach program. He’s also been an active volunteer in community gardens for over 20 years.
Steven’s spent most of his life serving the community — from his time in the Air Force, to working as a Firey, to teaching refugee groups and other communities-in-need via the TAFE Outreach program. He’s also been an active volunteer in community gardens for over 20 years.
As an educator, Steven loves how gardens provide endless opportunities to learn new things beyond the basics. That’s why his sessions cover everything from science, health, food, art and even maths (just don’t tell the kids).
Steven’s a big believer in permaculture, and reckons there’s nothing better than munching on fruit, veggies or herbs freshly plucked from your own garden.
He’s also a self-confessed ‘composting and worm farm nerd’ and loves turning waste into something beautiful and full of living energy.
Steven has studied Horticultural Therapies, Permaculture Design, Organic Gardening Using Biodynamic Methods, and has a Cert IV in Training and Assessment. He’s also fully certified in First Aid, Mental Health First Aid, Emergency Management, and Working with Children.
Leonie McNamara
Leonie’s been teaching gardening for over 12 years and is passionate about sensory learning — which is all about the benefits of learning while you interact with nature. She’s also a keen student of indigenous history, and tries to bring key land management techniques into her classes.
Leonie’s been teaching gardening for over 12 years and is passionate about sensory learning — which is all about the benefits of learning while you interact with nature. She’s also a keen student of Indigenous history, and tries to bring key land management techniques into her classes.
Leonie doesn’t have a favourite plant per se, but she loves the various shapes, colours and textures of leaves. In fact, she reckons they’re like little solar panels that breathe and feed. She also loves how gardens provide shelter and food for so many species.
Along her work with Urban Grow, she’s the Founder of Growing School Communities and has shared her knowledge at TAFE Outreach, RBG Community Greening Educator, and the Seed Harvest Spoon Education Foundation.
Leonie has a Bachelor of Arts (Sociolinguistics), Post Graduate Diploma of Counselling, Cert III Conservation and Land Management, Cert IV in Training and Assessment, and is Working With Children certified.
Antonina Fieni
As a teacher, gardener and nature lover, Antonina is passionate about permaculture, bush tucker, composting, growing her own food and taking part in conservation projects like bush regeneration. She also loves habitat gardens — ask her how to build a bird box or lizard lounge.
As a teacher, gardener and nature lover, Antonina is passionate about permaculture, bush tucker, composting, growing her own food and taking part in conservation projects like bush regeneration. She also loves habitat gardens — ask her how to build a bird box or lizard lounge.
Her favourite gardens are the ones packed full of fragrant herbs such as basil, rosemary, curry leaves, or lavender. She also loves Aussie flowering natives like banksias, grevilleas, correas and emu bush.
Her 30-plus-year career in education has given her the opportunity to work with a wide-range of kids and adults in schools, community groups and organisations like Conservation Volunteers Australia, Floating Landcare, Willow Warriors, and Edible Kids Gardens. She also volunteers as a wildlife rescuer with Sydney Wildlife.
Antonina has a Bachelor of Education, Post Graduate Diploma in Environment, and is Working With Children certified.
Shann Sunjic
Shann developed a passion for education while working as a teacher within the Regio Emilia pre-school group. Since then, she’s been helping people of all ages and abilities learn about nature and growing food sustainably.
Shann developed a passion for education while working as a teacher within the Regio Emilia pre-school group. Since then, she’s been helping people of all ages and abilities learn about nature and growing food sustainably.
Like most of the team at Urban Grow, she loves growing edible gardens. So much so in fact, she set-up her own business called Beautiful Edible Gardens in 2012 where she designs edible gardens for people living in the city. She sees edible gardens in urban spaces as being essential for the future of food security.
Along with her work designing sustainable food gardens, Shann has facilitated hundreds of gardening workshops.
Shann has a Diploma of Children Services, completed training in Permaculture Design, and is Working With Children certified.
Kim Davies
Kim’s passionate about sharing the joy and wonder of nature. Whether it’s growing food, worm farming, composting, or conserving habitats, she believes working outdoors gives you a sense of something bigger than yourself.
Kim’s passionate about sharing the joy and wonder of nature. Whether it’s growing food, worm farming, composting, or conserving habitats, she believes working outdoors gives you a sense of something bigger than yourself.
Her favourite gardens are the ones that look a little wild, while also providing food and shelter. She also loves gardens that use native plants that are local to the area.
Kim is constantly curious about learning new techniques, and aspires to have the same connection to nature that many indigenous cultures have.
Along with her work at Urban Grow, Kim has run workshops for people of all ages since 2013. She’s also spent time working for Seed Harvest Spoon as an Outdoor Education Facilitator.
Kim has a degree in Visual Arts (Honours) (First Class), and completed a Cert III Conservation and Land Management, a Cert IV Arts Administration, and a Certificate II Garden Assisting in Schools. She’s also Working With Children certified.