Our People
Our team consists of dedicated archaeologists and heritage professionals. Here, we dig a little deeper into our diverse bunch of experts, all driven by a profound passion for cultural heritage management.
Meet
Stuart Huys
I'm one of the founding directors at Cultural Heritage Management Australia (CHMA). With over 30 years of experience as a consultant archaeologist, I've had the privilege of working on more than 1,600 archaeological projects throughout Australia. In my role as the principal archaeologist and senior project manager, I'm deeply committed to ensuring that we meet our clients' needs and adhere to statutory requirements.
My journey in this field has been enriched by collaborations with Aboriginal organisations, industry partners, and government entities, where I've had the opportunity to contribute my expertise to protect some of Australia’s most significant heritage sites.
One of the highlights of my career has been the development of Cultural Heritage Management Plans for renowned National Park areas. Some of the notable places include the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area, Fraser Island World Heritage Area, Wilsons Promontory National Park, Mitchell River National Park, Namadgi National Park, and the Western Tasmanian Aboriginal cultural landscape. I also assisted as a principal consultant in shaping the Indigenous cultural heritage assessment process in the ACT.
Beyond my consulting work, I've enjoyed sharing my knowledge as a lecturer in Archaeology at the Australian National University. I'm also an Accredited Trainer, conducting courses across Australia that focus on promoting cultural heritage awareness and effective management practices.
Meet
Zoe Smith
I've been with CHMA for 20 years and am a senior partner. I’ve provided professional heritage consultancy on various large infrastructure projects spanning Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania. Today, my focus has shifted towards project management.
My passion is working directly for communities and assisting them to conserve and manage their heritage for future generations. I have a solid understanding of how to leverage the best outcomes for communities and proponents using legislation and cultural heritage methodologies to create collaborative and workable heritage management solutions.
For a decade, I stepped away from the field to work with the House of Representatives Committee Office. During this time, I held the roles of senior research officer and inquiry secretary, contributing to numerous inquiries and reports (for a full list, feel free to reach out to CHMA).
As for my qualifications, I hold a Bachelor of Arts (Hons I) and Bachelor of Science from ANU, a Master of Cultural Heritage from Deakin University, and a Graduate Diploma in Heritage, Museums, and Conservation from UCAN. Most recently, I successfully completed the AICD's company directors’ course, earning the designation of GAICD.
Meet
Dr Sophie Collins
My exploration in the field of stone artefact analysis and archaeology has been quite the adventure. With a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) and a PhD from ANU, I've established myself as one of Australia's leading experts in stone artefacts, having completed extensive research from my first-class honours to a Post-Doctoral Fellowship focused on Aboriginal stone artefacts.
I specialise in the identification of Aboriginal glass artefacts in European Contact environments, adding another layer to my archaeological knowledge. With more than 22 years of postgraduate experience, I've worked on a diverse array of archaeological sites worldwide. These sites span the spectrum, from Aboriginal and historic sites to contact sites, in various landscapes including coastal, arid, tropical, and urban settings.
My experience isn't limited to research alone. I've directed numerous excavations, ranging from teaching undergraduate field schools at the Australian National University to leading teams at Local, State, and National Heritage Registered Sites, holding the title of a registered Director of Excavation under the NSW Excavation Director Requirements.
A significant part of my journey led me to serve as the Senior Archaeological Consultant in the ACT Heritage Unit. This role provided me with an in-depth understanding of the legal and legislative requirements for heritage preservation and Aboriginal community consultation in the ACT and across Australia. I've also built extensive experience in collaborating with various stakeholders, including government bodies, developers, Heritage Departments, and Aboriginal community groups.
Meet
Vivienne Courto
I graduated from the Australian National University in the early 1990s with a BA (Hons), majoring in prehistoric archaeology, with sub-majors in bio-anthropology (the classic ‘stones-and-bones’ combo) and mediaeval studies. Building on my Honours thesis study of nineteenth-century German ethnographer Dr Erhard Eylmann, I was awarded a post-graduate research fellowship at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS), where I undertook museum and archival research in Australia and Europe to produce a translation Eylmann’s hand-written Australian field-notes.
From early days working as a field archaeologist in the ACT, NSW and Queensland, I pursued a varied career path, garnering 35 years’ experience as a writer, researcher, content developer, project manager and strategist across a range of sectors including cultural heritage management, media development, government and higher education.
Having held positions the National Museum of Australia, AIATSIS, the Department of the House of Representatives and the University of Tasmania, I have now returned to my first passion, archaeology, with a particular focus on historical and archival research.
Meet
Shay Hannah
My journey with CHMA began in 2021 as a graduate archaeologist. My background includes a range of archaeological experiences, from artefact analysis and excavation to historic cultural heritage management, archaeological surveying, and research. My current focus is on Aboriginal and historic archaeology in Tasmania
My academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Archaeology from Flinders University and a Masters of Archaeology and Heritage Management, also from Flinders University. During my master's studies, I delved into the intriguing realm of patient behaviours and space utilisation within Willow Court Asylum in New Norfolk, Tasmania.
Meet
Sharne Harrington
I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Anthropology with a minor in Spanish. During my undergraduate studies, I enriched my academic experience by studying abroad in Santiago, Chile, and Accra, Ghana. As well as extensive travel abroad, these international experiences provided me with a broader cultural perspective and a deeper understanding of diverse anthropological contexts. Immersing myself in different cultures fueled my curiosity about human history and the ways in which various societies have interacted and evolved over time.
Currently, I'm pursuing a Master’s degree in Archaeology, focusing my research on material culture in mission settings within contact and post-contact Australian archaeology. My work aims to uncover and analyse the material remnants of historical interactions between Indigenous Australians and European settlers, contributing to a more nuanced understanding of Australia's colonial past. I'm passionate about archaeology and cultural heritage management because I believe that understanding and preserving our shared history is crucial for fostering a more inclusive and informed society.
Meet
Alan Hay
Holding a Bachelor of Archaeology (Honours) and a Master of Archaeological ScienceI, I am an archaeologist with over ten years of professional experience in South Australia, New South Wales and Tasmania. Having led substantial projects in both remote areas and urban settings, I am proficient in budgeting, project management and the mentoring of junior staff.
My technical skills include significance assessment, survey, excavation, community consultation, conservation planning, oral history recording, historical and Aboriginal artefact analysis, photographic archival recording, GIS mapping and public interpretation. I am an approved excavation director for sites of state significance in New South Wales.
Meet
Dr Kelsey M Lowe
I have dedicated more than 20 years to the field of archaeology and cultural heritage management. My skills lie in geospatial technologies and geographic information systems (GIS).
Throughout my career, I've been fortunate to contribute to projects both nationally and internationally. In Australia, I've worked in New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, and Western Australia. Beyond Australian borders, I've taken part in projects across the globe, spanning Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, Papua New Guinea, Southeast Asia, North America, and South America. These projects have involved collaboration with local, government, and state agencies, with a particular focus on the United States and Australia.
My academic path includes a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Minnesota State University Moorhead, USA, followed by a Master of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Mississippi, USA, with a concentration in archaeology. I furthered my studies by earning a PhD in archaeology from the University of Queensland, Australia. Additionally, I minored in Soil Science from North Dakota State University, USA.
Meet
Toni Massey
I've spent the past 15 years working professionally in the fields of archaeology and heritage management. My work has taken me to various parts of Australia, including Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Northern Territory, South Australia, and Western Australia. I’ve also contributed to international projects in Indonesia and the island of Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands. I have extensive experience working in Aboriginal communities, and have always developed solid working relationships.
Within the realm of cultural heritage management, I have a particular passion for maritime archaeology, including underwater archaeological surveys, terrestrial surveys, site management (both underwater and on land), Indigenous community consultation, and community engagement. I'm also skilled in the application of photogrammetry, which I can utilise effectively in both underwater and terrestrial environments.
As for my academic background, I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Archaeology (Hons) from Flinders University, where I'm currently pursuing a PhD.
Meet
David McGahan
I am a highly qualified archaeologist and bio-anthropologist with 17 years’ experience on projects ranging from post-medieval urban sites in Dublin, Ireland; million-year-old open sites in Flores, Indonesia; and Indigenous cultural heritage in Australia.
My skill set includes project management, excavation, field survey, stone tool identification, faunal and human remains identification, photogrammetry/photo-scanning, conservation and community consultation.
Most recently I have been employed as an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage (archaeological) technical advisor across Queensland - Western Downs, Central Highland, Channel Country, Tropics, and Cape York; plus the Northern Territory's Central (Simpson) Desert region. My roles include a strong focus on cultural heritage management via Cultural Heritage Investigation and Management Agreements (CHIMA), project planning and management, Cultural Heritage awareness training, and preparing analytical, CHIMA and contractual reports.
Through ‘hands-on’ exposure in the field and laboratory environments I have an intimate understanding of human (hominid) muscular-skeletal anatomy and physiology, and through that, seven (7) years’ experience teaching in the School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Ireland.
Meet
Sian McInnes
My academic progression led me from a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Wollongong to a specialisation in Forensic Archaeology with a Masters of Archaeological Science from the Australian National University. My expertise includes osteology, histology, and Isotopic analysis.
My hands-on archaeological experience began with volunteering on excavation sites in the United Kingdom, where I honed my skills. More recently, I worked on a Heritage-listed excavation in Bendigo, Victoria. This opportunity allowed me to further develop my knowledge in archaeological surveying, artefact analysis, GPS technology, and stratigraphy.
Currently, I'm serving as a technical advisor for the Barrungam Indigenous People in Chinchilla, Queensland. My role primarily revolves around cultural heritage preservation and consultation, where I'm dedicated to supporting their important initiatives.
Meet
Jamie Swift
Jamie is a forensic anthropologist and bioarchaeologist. She holds a BA (Criminology) from Bond University and an MA Forensic Anthropology (Hons. 1st) from the ANU. She is currently finishing up her PhD (DPhil) in Archaeological Science at the University of Oxford as a Clarendon Scholar, where she was also employed as a Junior Dean at St Peter's College before returning home to Australia. Since returning to home, she has been working in south east Queensland assisting communities to protect the heritage they value.
She has a previous 12 years experience working for the Australian Federal Police as a Federal Agent. She has also been seconded to the United Nations Police as an investigator in response to the civil unrest experienced in Timor-Leste in 2006-2007, and as a Policing Advisor to the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia (2011-2012).
Jaime is currently a consulting member to the Cranfield Recovery and Identification of Conflict Casualties Team, providing her assistance as a forensic anthropologist.
Jaime's PhD falls under the gamut of archaeological science, with a primary focus on human osteology, stable isotope analysis and radiocarbon dating. She is currently researching the transition to maize agriculture in central Chile (the southern periphery of agriculture in the Americas) and its impact on human health.
Meet
Tom Taverner
I've spent 12 years actively engaged in field archaeology as a professional across various regions, including the Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory.
During this time, I've taken on roles as a supervisor and consultant, where I've honed my skills in artefact analysis, meticulous recording, and comprehensive surveying. These skills are invaluable in cultural heritage management.
I have a Bachelor of Science (Botany) from the University of New England. Additionally, I've completed a Graduate Diploma in Arts (Archaeology) from the Australian National University.
Meet
Teleeha Thomas
I am a Tasmanian Aboriginal woman with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in history, and a Master of Arts in extended archaeology. I have extensive experience in both historical research and field archaeology, and have recently been working as an archaeological consultant in NSW and Victoria. I also have a keen interest in forensic archaeology and have completed two courses at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, as well as participating in a Mass Burial Excavation Exercise at the Australian Facility of Taphonomic Experimental Research (AFTER) in 2023. Having gained experience as a professional archaeologist on the mainland, I'm excited to be back in Tasmania working to protect our mob's cultural heritage.
Meet
MICHAEL WALSH
I have more than 12 years of professional experience in the surveying and spatial industry. My career has encompassed roles in local government as well as consulting. I possess comprehensive knowledge of the full spatial data lifecycle, spanning from design and field capture to the office environment. I provide in-depth technical advice on projects and ensure quality assurance across the life of a project.
In my role at CHMA, I specialise in providing services such as data analysis, data management, mobile GIS, and mapping.
My qualifications include a Bachelor of Geomatics (Hons), a Diploma of Project Management, and recognition as a Surveying and Spatial Sciences Geographic Information Systems Professional Asia Pacific.