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About Us

Environmental Systems Solutions (ESS) has spent many years working with a diverse range of organisations throughout Australia and the Pacific. Our core focus is to help our clients take control of their cultural and environmental information so that it can be used most effectively. Through our products and services, we help our partners achieve important educational, communication, business management and business development outcomes. We maintain ongoing relationships with various federal and state government departments, educational institutes and natural resource management agencies. We also utilise our network of partners to facilitate effective engagement and information sharing between all parties.

ESS has a long history of helping indigenous groups establish their own cultural and environmental information management systems. These systems encompass tools and methodologies for data collection, management, analysis and presentation. Importantly these systems consider cultural protocols to ensure that traditional knowledge and values can be recorded and then shared appropriately with external stakeholders.

ESS has developed proven consultation methodologies, knowledge management software and community based monitoring tools that have been refined over the past 20 years.

Our Team


Glen MacLaren
 has broad experience engaging with organisations and people from diverse backgrounds to identify their information management requirements. As a director of ESS, Glen provides informed, sound and easy to understand advice to improve the way data is collected, managed and utilised within an organisation. Glen has spent more than 20 years working with government agencies, educational institutions and Aboriginal groups throughout Australia, the Pacific and North America.

Steve Wealands is a specialist in software application development and spatial data management (e.g. GIS, databases) for environmental and cultural heritage management. He has been providing solutions using spatial and web technologies for over 15 years, with a particular emphasis on applications in water resources and environmental management. Steve has a combination of diverse skills to address the diverse issues found in the environmental sector, particularly those pertaining to data management, analysis, presentation and training.

Troy Mallie is of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent with links to the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people of the Cape Tribulation area of Far North Queensland, as well as to Kubin Village on Moa Island in the Torres Strait Islands. He has been working in the cultural heritage information area with Aboriginal communities for the past 15 years, including projects across Australia and in the Pacific. Troy has accreditations to conduct data collection and management training, with a decade of experience delivering training courses for community members, staff from Aboriginal organisations, and Working on Country (WOC) rangers.

Tom Bach holds a PhD in geography and environmental science, specialising in Indigenous involvement in contemporary natural and cultural resource management. He has extensive experience working with Indigenous land managers, particularly in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, where he has focused on developing methods for integrating Aboriginal knowledge and priorities into work plans and action. Tom’s work and research has also involved sharing knowledge between Indigenous groups in Australia, Asia, Africa and North America.

Sarah de Koning is based at University of Western Australia (UWA). She is trained as an Archaeologist and works as a cultural heritage management technician. Sarah works closely with researchers in the Centre for Rock Art Research + Management and has vast experience working with staff from various Indigenous organisations. Sarah has a strong interest in web design, web development, and social media strategy and have worked closely with academics and non-profits on projects that are both functional and engaging with multiple user types.

Mark Shallue combines his background in data management and analysis with an innovative and creative approach to web design and data product creation. He specialises in designing information products that enable clients to present their information in ways that are simple, effective and targeted to the needs of specific audiences. Mark's collaborative approach ensures that the needs of our clients remain as the driving force behind the design concepts that are produced.

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