OUR TEAM

Breanna joins Trace Archaeology with more than 10 years of experience in Aboriginal cultural heritage and research. She has completed a Bachelor in Anthropology at The University of Western Australia in 2011 before travelling to Brisbane in 2013 where she continued her anthropological studies, later graduating with honours from the University of Queensland in 2015.

‍

Breanna has worked closely with Traditional Custodians across Western Australia and southeast Queensland in a range of areas including ethnographic research, cultural heritage management, social and genealogical research and natural resource management. Breanna has gained a broad experience working in a number of different roles within government sectors, academic institutions and not-for profit organisations.

‍

In 2015, Breanna completed a joint project with The University of Queensland and south east Queensland Traditional Custodians, exploring Indigenous water values and opportunities to better Aboriginal involvement in resource management. She was responsible for designing, conducting and publishing the research, in which she undertook extensive stakeholder engagement and consultation. She went on to spend six years with the Queensland government in departments responsible for assisting communities with genealogical research, and cultural heritage management and administration. Breanna is driven by her passion for working with Aboriginal communities and particular interest in heritage protection and preservation.

‍

Breanna grew up with a large extended family in Albany, WA. She is very proud of her heritage as a Menang, Noongar woman and after nearly ten years in Queensland, Breanna is excited to be back in WA to take up an opportunity to work on country again. She looks forward to teaching her young children about their heritage and sharing all the best camping spots the west coast has to offer.

Wendy is an Archaeologist who completed a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Extended Major) in Archaeology and Anthropology, firstly through the James Cook University in Townsville, then graduated at the University of Queensland.

‍

Wendy has applied her knowledge as a Field Archaeologist and a Heritage Consultant, in Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia. She is originally from Western Australia and recently returned to take the opportunity to advance her career and passion in the areas of preserving Australian Aboriginal Cultural Heritage.

‍

Whilst working as a Field Archaeologist for nearly 2 years at the inception, and ongoing development of the Western Sydney Airport in New South Wales, Wendy lead teams, conducted surface collections, professionally recorded and photographed site information, set up and dismantled survey areas.  Wendy also identified, analysed, labelled, and stored archaeological material (primarily stone tools and associated material).

‍

As a Heritage Consultant, Wendy assisted in the assessment and recording of Sandstone Rock Art Shelters and prepared Cultural Heritage Management Plans relating to possible impact and future mitigation recommendations, relating to the effects and control of subsidence due to Longwall Mining.

‍

Wendy thrives in a field environment and is equally professional in her communication and written skills. Previous management and customer service skills have enabled Wendy to understand the importance of client engagement in a range of culturally diverse environments.

‍

Wendy continues to upgrade and compliment her knowledge and skills within all aspects of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage and is currently undertaking further studies.

Jessica Binet has a Bachelor of Archaeology from Macquarie University in Sydney, and is currently completing a Master of Research in Anthropology and Archaeology. Her master’s thesis is centred on representations and classifications of Indigenous and First Nations people, particularly within ethnoarchaeology, anthropology, and archaeology. It is primarily a decolonial project and aims to bring to light the various ways that academia, museum settings, and cultural heritage industries perpetuate negative historical tropes.

‍

Jessica has been privileged with the opportunity to excavate both at home and abroad. During her studies she participated in an excavation in the south of Israel, on an Iron Age settlement site. She has also helped to uncover the past of Parramatta in Sydney, excavating in an area containing both Historical and Aboriginal archaeology. These experiences shaped her skills in archaeological methodologies from the very beginning of researching projects to their excavation and consequential interpretation. Her love of fieldwork and travel has now brought her to Western Australia.

‍

Working in many roles in the cultural heritage and museum sectors, Jessica’s passion for sharing knowledge about history was consolidated with her work at Macquarie University’s Museum of Ancient Cultures. Here, she aided in the research and creation of museum exhibitions and participated in museum cataloguing and collections management. Her time spent at the Museum made her acutely aware of the connections we make with our material culture and the stories these objects have the potential to tell.

‍

In her time at university, Jessica received several awards for academic achievement, including multiple for her application and understanding of anthropological theory. This is due to her keen interest in understanding how our society functions, particularly in its use and perception of history. She values hard work and enjoys sharing her knowledge with others. As such, Jessica has been accepted to present at the Origins7 conference in Paris and will also be published later this year in a Palgrave Macmillan volume.

‍

Her interest in archaeology and anthropology is rooted in storying, and the way our representations of the past are intimate reflections of our thoughts, hopes, and concerns for the future. She therefore regards her role in the preservation of Australia’s cultural heritage as incredibly important because of the many stories that could be lost, but are instead, saved. Jessica is proud to be a part of Trace Archaeology, and is excited for the role she is privileged to play in the preservation of Australia’s cultural heritage.

Graduating with honours in Archaeology and Anthropology from the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) in 2021, Nathan is excited to share his knowledge and skill set with Western Australia.

‍

His honours project focused on the investigation and comparisons of post-colonial contact on Indigenous food and associated culture around food. A component of his project involved the identification and analysis of faunal remains, which he is now extremely proficient in.

‍

Nathan has developed practical and laboratory experience within the archaeological field. His experience includes, but is not limited to, assisting on the Great Papuan Plateau project: the investigation and analysis of the first entry of humanity to the Australian continent, the recording and analysis of rock shelter artwork from Cape York, analysis of Indigenous sites from Whitsundays Islands and the Simpson Desert, and working as a research assistant at the USQ archaeology department. During his time as a research assistant, Nathan developed well rounded report writing skills and excellence in communication with both customers and stakeholders. These skills were further excised when working for Ipswich City Council to determine the zoning and heritage requirements for further development within Ipswich City. This required Nathan to develop a detailed understanding of the Queensland Heritage Act 1992. He has also spent a portion of his research assistant role identifying and analysing stone tools.

‍

Nathans interest in archaeology and heritage management has led him to implementing innovative methods, such as his excellence in identification of sites via drone and aerial footage, and the development of post COVID-19 recovery programs for regional councils.

‍

Nathan has an undying passion for protecting Australian heritage, with the goal of inspiring and empowering people to appreciate and learn from our shared history.

Vanessa graduated with honours in Archaeology and Anthropology from the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) in 2021. She also holds a Bachelor of Science (Physics) and studied Mechanical Engineering for several years.

‍

Her honours project focused on the application of the Australian Burra Charter to human-made objects on the planet Mars to define the limits of heritage in outer space. This project involved significant research into the history of the Burra Charter and its impact on Australian heritage legislation and practice. One of the unique findings of this research was Vanessa's concept of terming areas where heritage is concentrated as "significance wells", inspired by the physics concepts of gravitational and quantum wells.

‍

Vanessa has cultivated a broad range of experiences within the fields of archaeology and anthropology throughout her studies. She has specialised during this time in the identification of stone flakes and tools, GIS, and contemporary archaeological theory and practice.

‍

Vanessa is passionate about increasing public awareness on the importance of archaeology and anthropology and their place in a constantly technologically evolving world. She has delivered presentations and written several articles directed towards the public, scientists, and the Australian space industry about the history and future of these fields. These include giving a presentation at the Toowoomba Cobb & Co. Museum on the development of a museum exhibition, a presentation for the CSIRO as an Introduction to Anthropology for physicists and engineers, and several articles written for the space industry and research news website SpaceAustralia.com on the latest developments in the field of space archaeology.

‍

Vanessa believes that the best way for the field of archaeology to move forward in Australia is to be led by Traditional Owners and their knowledge of country. She is constantly keen to expand her knowledge and undertake new learning opportunities within all aspects of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage.

‍

Vanessa is looking to one day pursue further studies and to transfer her knowledge of Australian theory and practice to the emerging fields of outer space archaeology and anthropology.

Barry completed his Master of Archaeological and Evolutionary Science (Advanced) in 2020 at the Australian National University. His Masters thesis involved the analysis of macro botanical remains from a number of sites from across Arnhem Land. Barry also has a Bachelor of Science, double majoring in biology and biological anthropology.

‍

During his studies, Barry has had the opportunity to participate in several international excavations. Barry participated in the Catanauan Archaeology and Heritage Project, where he was involved in the excavation of a Metal Period burial site in Catanauan on Luzon Island, Philippines. Barry was also involved in two excavation seasons of the Ribchester Revisited project during which he worked on the excavation of a Roman calvary fort in Ribchester, England. In his second year participating in the Ribchester Revisited project, he assisted in conducting the sampling and processing of soil samples to explore the archaeobotany of the site over its occupation and use.

‍

In 2018 Barry participated in the excavation of Castel Wölpe in Nienburg, Germany, where he organised the sampling and processing of soil samples for his research project investigating the macro botanical materials present to explore trade and the aspects of the diets of those who inhabited the castle. In 2018 Barry also had the opportunity to participate in an Internship with Historic England.

‍

Since graduating from his Masters, Barry has spent time working as a project archaeologist in NSW. While working in NSW Barry worked on a wide variety of projects across the state.

‍

Barry is initially from Western Australia and has returned to the State to embrace the next step in his career and is excited for the opportunities ahead.

‍

Barry has a wide range of interests which include archaeometallurgy, landscape archaeology and the archaeology of human-plant and human-animal interactions.

Braden completed his Master of Professional Archaeology at the University of Western Australia in 2017. His thesis dissertation concerned the location and documentation of the material remains of the 6-inch guns located in and around the site of the Second World War era coastal artillery battery at Bickley Point, Rottnest Island. He also served as a curatorial assistant at the Australian Army Museum of Western Australia from 2017 until 2022.

‍

Prior to his transition into archaeology, Braden had an extensive career in the field of education, having taught English at Curtin University of Technology, the University of Western Australia and at the State University of New York.

‍

Braden gained his Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in both History and English in 2003, a Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults in 2006 and a Graduate Diploma in Communications in 2012.

Abby has 5 years’ experience in business administration, previously in the healthcare sector. Her experience  managing diary and calendar systems and assisting to the needs of executives has developed and honed Abby’s skills. She has great eye for detail and organisation, leading to Abby being highly attentive and proactive in her role as Personal Assistant. As per her previous role in the medical industry, Abby understands the importance of client satisfaction and confidentiality. Also having worked in one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, producing significant volumes of medications, Abby values high quality, accurate documentation, and appropriate time management.

‍

Abby has gained and further developed professional skills throughout her employment history including written and verbal communication, organisation, and phone etiquette to enhance her position at Trace. Abby strives in new challenges and uses her own initiative to make progress within her role in the business and herself.

‍

In addition, Abby is eager to learn more about the business and expand her skills and industry knowledge.