In 1988, Madeline Townsend joined Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA) as a voluntourist from England. Drawn to the aims and values of the organisation, she then made the permanent move to Australia to be part of the small but growing group. During her 20-year career with CVA, she has been not only a volunteer but worked with the organisation as a team leader, a program manager, and is now in charge of recruiting volunteers from Australia, New Zealand and around the world to come and enjoy the organisation’s conservation programs. She now holds the title of Director, CVA Enterprises.
Said Townsend, “Almost 20 years on, Conservation Volunteers continues to amaze and inspire me. We achieve great things for the environment every day and volunteers continue to learn, understand and apply their skills and physical efforts on programs across Australia and (since 2006) in New Zealand, too. We work with some of Australia and New Zealand's leading businesses, and enjoy good relations with governments and the community. Our programs range from urban activities to some of the most remote places, and focus on practical environmental assistance - wildlife surveys, tree planting, weed control, track building and heritage restoration.”
