Vanessa has worked with Queanbeyan City Council (recently merged and now known as Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council) for 9 years as the Waste Minimisation Coordinator. She works closely with the waste contractors providing services to the Queanbeyan community. With a degree in Health Education and background in community development, Vanessa encourages the community to be involved in waste and resource management. Vanessa was involved in a comprehensive community consultation to develop a new 10 year Waste and Resource Recovery strategy for Queanbeyan; the community's desire to increase recycling and reduce waste to landfill was very evident. Vanessa is also a member of the South East Resource Recovery Group (SERRG) and works closely with its member councils to improve resource recovery and waste management across the region.

Emmaline is the National Operations Manager for Organics at Resource Recovery Australia. Her career has spanned the agriculture, climate change, natural resource management and waste industries. Emmaline has a particular interest in the use of microbes for organic waste processing. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Agriculture) and a Master of Agribusiness, both from Melbourne University.