Nature drives nurturing new career
From an eco-savvy teen to a life-changing mum, Misty Neilson’s career in environmental science was decades in the making.
Completing her Bachelor of Science (Ecology and Conservation Biology) with CQUniversity has seen the determined North Burnett innovator inspire and connect her community with citizen science.
Now CQUniversity is recognising Ms Neilson with its annual Alumni Awards, naming her 2024 Alumnus of the Year for Early Career Achievement.
An ecologist with Burnett Catchment Care Association, co-founder of Thriive Consultancy, and chair of Forever Wild (Global), Ms Neilson said her science dream first began in high school – and risked ending there too.
“When I was in high school there was no environmental science or ecology, there was biology… and girls were not discouraged from pursuing science in senior, but we were definitely discouraged from doing it as a career,” she said.
Instead, she focused on family and growing a business, before finally pursuing her dream career at 35.
“The ecology degree came up at CQU, and it was offered externally, I had three kids and I worked, and it was the only way I was ever going to be able to do a degree – I couldn’t die without doing it,” she said.
“My youngest child had just started school… and I couldn’t honestly look (my children) in the eye and tell them to work their arse off for something they were passionate about, if I wasn’t prepared to do it myself.”
Ms Neilson graduated in 2021, and during her studies began new roles in environmental science, co-founded her consultancy, and supported CQU research and citizen science projects.
“The people that have presented new opportunities (have been my highlight), I met Professor Emma Jackson from CQU and spent a number of years helping her with her seagrass research which was just awesome,” she said.
The Three Moons resident has also led citizen science projects in the Burnett region, to investigate local koala and greater glider populations.
The groundbreaking work to map habitat, and DNA test scats to understand genetic diversity and health, has attracted government interest and investment.
“No amount of success is ever in isolation, you can never accept full responsibility for anything you succeed at or are proud of, it’s always a group effort,” Ms Neilson said.
The Alumni Award recognises Ms Neilson for professional diversification and significant contributions to sustainability and community leadership in ecology and environmental science, in local and global communities.
Learn more about CQUniversity's 2024 Alumni Award recipients here.
