Member Spotlight: Queensland Indigenous Women Rangers Network (QIWRN).

In this impactful interview, we’re excited to spotlight Larissa Hale, founder of the Queensland Indigenous Women Rangers Network (QIWRN), which we proudly onboarded this year as part of our Cohort 3. In our conversation, we explore her remarkable journey as the Managing Director of Yuku Baja Muliku Landowner & Reserves Ltd and founder of the Queensland Indigenous Women Rangers Network (QIWRN). From winning the prestigious Earthshot Prize to managing vast tracts of land and sea, Larissa is deeply committed to preserving both the environment and culture for future generations.

With a deep-rooted connection and commitment to her community, Larissa's work spans environmental conservation, youth mentorship, and empowering Indigenous women to become leaders in land and sea management. She sheds light on the challenges facing the Yuku Baja Muliku community amidst the climate crisis and shares how her team’s innovative use of technology, like drone mapping and GIS, is shaping a brighter future for both nature and community.

Larissa also highlights the importance of bridging traditional knowledge with modern science, emphasising the critical role Indigenous leadership plays in tackling climate change. Through her leadership, the QIWRN is not only creating opportunities for Indigenous women but is also redefining the role of women in environmental stewardship. This interview is a celebration of Larissa’s tireless efforts and a call to recognise the invaluable contributions Indigenous women make to global conservation efforts.

1. Can you tell us about yourself, and your background? You’ve achieved tremendous success, including winning the Earthshot Prize. Can you share what inspired you to found the Queensland Indigenous Women Rangers Network (QIWRN).

I’m married with three children. I was born and raised in Far North Queensland, Australia, and spent most of my childhood in Cape York. I am the Managing Director of Yuku Baja Muliku Landowner & Reserves Ltd and the Queensland Indigenous Women Rangers Network. I’m also a firefighter and an artist. I work with my team on turtle rescue and rehabilitation, and I run a Junior Ranger Program. Additionally, I work with Traditional Owners for Great Barrier Reef management.

A long time ago, I made a promise to my grandfather to never give up on Archer Point,  so a major part of what I fight for is to be able to look after our land, our people, and our future. Pride in our country is deeply connected to caring for both the land and our community. Family, community, and country hold a special place in my heart. Together, they provided me with an idyllic childhood, which I now strive to recreate for my children and the community through programs like the YBM Junior Ranger Program. This initiative brings both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people together, breaking down barriers to care for our environment and our communities.

I am a passionate advocate for women looking after country. In 2018, I started the Queensland Indigenous Women’s Rangers Network, working with Indigenous women rangers from the Lake Eyre Basin to the Torres Strait Islands. This has been an incredible opportunity to explore career pathways and create opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women  who are as dedicated as I am about looking after their country and their culture.  

I am passionate about the environment, my culture, art and the ongoing growth of Indigenous land and sea management, fishing, camping, gardening, and catching up with friends and family

2. With the climate crisis accelerating, what are some of the most pressing environmental challenges that the Yuku Baja Muliku community is currently facing, and how are your rangers addressing these?

The YBM Ranger team manages 22,500 hectares of land and adjacent sea country as part of the Yuku Baja Muliku Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreement with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. Our rangers' roles vary daily, from facilitating workshops and attending meetings with government and partners, to working with youth and Women Rangers, fighting wildfires, or rescuing saltwater turtles. Our responsibilities also include weed and feral animal management, monitoring water quality, and conducting seagrass, mangrove, and salt marsh surveys, among many other tasks.

Our team works with scientists from various universities and conducts comprehensive monitoring projects (biocultural) across our country. I have co-authored a paper with developers of the Climate Vulnerability Index (CVI), aimed at investigating the application of the CVI concept to assess the impacts of climate change on some of our key values. This project was the first attempt in Australia to trial the CVI process with First Nations people. By working alongside climate change scientists, we were able to develop a process that  is Traditional Owner-centric and places our values, risk assessment, and risk mitigation and management within an established climate change assessment framework (the CVI framework). 

3. How has your work with Indigenous women rangers impacted land and sea country management in Queensland, and what are some of the key successes you're most proud of?

Our network is making a meaningful impact by providing a platform for Indigenous women and girls to gain visibility and recognition while safeguarding our land, air, and water for future generations. This includes creating opportunities for networking, promoting health and well-being, and supporting community-led projects. We also offer training, mentorship, and support to help Indigenous women and girls achieve their goals.

The Indigenous Women Rangers Network is dedicated to creating opportunities and exploring career pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who are committed to caring for their country and preserving their culture. We have managed to  support these women by working with government and funding bodies to ensure that networking and training events are integrated into their ranger work plans,  encouraging women to participate.

4. Queensland Indigenous Women's Rangers Network places a strong emphasis on empowering women through culturally appropriate training. How do these programs support and enhance the leadership capabilities of Indigenous women rangers?

The development and successful launch of our leadership program as part of QIWRN has been a significant step forward, yielding excellent outcomes for the women involved. The program has not only supported them in their day-to-day roles at work but also in their personal lives. By providing a safe, welcoming space where they feel comfortable and able to fully participate in the training program, we are making it possible these women to receive training for positions and opportunities that they would typically not be offered or/and have access to.

5. Queensland Indigenous Women's Rangers Network has achieved impressive milestones in training women in a variety of skills, such as drone mapping and GIS. How do these skills help the rangers make a difference on the ground?

Empowering women with technology redefines what a ranger can do and amplifies their impact on the landscape. Increased participation by women in environmental protection benefits both nature and communities. This collaboration with the Indigenous Women Rangers Network enables us to highlight the powerful role these strong women play.

Technologies like drone training, mapping, and GIS ensure our work is more efficient and less labor-intensive. This not only creates more sustainable roles but also allows rangers to remain in their positions for longer. The use of drones significantly reduces time and effort. For instance, mapping with drones is much faster and more accurate than walking the terrain or using motorbikes. A single mapped drone flight provides clear data and photos. For example,  when conducting controlled burns, drone pilots can fly over the area before, during, and after the burn to efficiently map the fire scar.

6. You’ve mentioned that increasing a woman’s ability to participate in environmental protection is a win-win for nature and community. Can you share some examples of how this empowerment has created positive change for both?

As women rangers, we are strong, dedicated, and deeply connected to our communities at every level. We are uniquely positioned to drive change, protect cultural values, care for the land, and invest in both our children and elders, creating a positive future. By working on country, women rangers demonstrate that we, as women, can do anything—and that it is our shared responsibility to look after country. Caring for country is not just men’s work. Women are seen as role models within their communities, caring for their children, families, and elders.

7. What role do you see the next generation of Indigenous women rangers playing in the fight against climate change, and how are you preparing them to take on leadership roles in the future?

Creating opportunities and exploring career pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women dedicated to protecting their land and culture is a key focus of the leadership program and a major goal of the Indigenous Women Rangers Network. We continue to support the growth of women rangers and ensure their voices are heard. We provide training whenever possible and actively seek additional opportunities, including funding and ranger exchanges, to help them further develop their skills and engage in peer-to-peer learning.

8. What are the growth objectives for the Queensland Indigenous Women Rangers Network over the next few years, and how do you envision expanding your work nationally and internationally?

Globally, the role of women in conservation is gaining momentum, with increasing initiatives supporting gender equity in environmental management and decision-making. In Australia, the role and contributions of Aboriginal women in natural and cultural resource management employed as rangers are also gaining recognition. To support these women in securing and sustaining ranger jobs, three key areas of support have been identified: training, leadership, and mentoring. By scaling up these three areas and providing the focused opportunities for women to access in these areas we anticipate seeing increased confidence, improved biocultural knowledge exchange, and a desire to continue in these vitally critical roles.

To facilitate gender equity in Aboriginal natural and cultural resource management, structural and sustained support of women’s empowerment and leadership, driven by local women with support of local communities, is required. One priority area for women rangers is training in innovative technology solutions. This includes the use of drones for on-Country mapping, AI for data pattern recognition, video camera traps for land monitoring, and BRUVS (Baited Remote Underwater Video Surveys) for underwater monitoring of sea country.

Scaling occurs across 3 key areas

• Workshops run in Queensland become learning and training opportunities for Women from other States and Territories in Australia - National lens applied to networking and gatherings

• The four pillars of the Indigenous Women Ranger Network become the scaling areas to support women under (Networking, mentoring, leadership and Training)

• Global Indigenous Women’s Leadership Network established

• To meet our goal of building a generation of Indigenous conservation leaders globally, we are seeking to continue to fundraise towards $10 million by 2026 to create a sustainable funding model to create long term impact. We really need to make sure that we find further funding to continue to grow the program and to launch internationally. 

9. In your view, how can the broader environmental and scientific community better support the integration of Indigenous knowledge into climate change strategies and policies?

As an Indigenous Women Ranger and manager, I work with my community to care for our country. The work is diverse, but we focus on community-led initiatives that incorporate our values. As Traditional Owners, it is our responsibility to look after both our land and sea country. This ongoing connection to country and culture, combined with working alongside scientists, integrating new technologies, and drawing on traditional knowledge, leads to more effective land and sea country management.

By working with Indigenous Peoples, we can all gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between traditional science and modern science, and their collective impact on country. By working hand-in-hand  and walking country together, it will lead to better outcomes for country.

10. What message do you want to share with people who may not yet fully understand the importance of Indigenous leadership in climate action?

We believe that to have healthy country we need healthy people. And, for people to thrive, we need a healthy country. As Traditional Owners, it is our responsibility to care for both our land and sea country. By maintaining our deep connection to country and culture, and by working with scientists, integrating new technologies, and applying our Traditional knowledge, we can ensure better management of our land and sea for future generations.