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Who We Are

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The Australian River Restoration Centre (ARRC) is a charity that restores rivers and empowers others to do the same. We are motivated by the fundamental belief that rivers and people need each other to thrive.

The combined impacts of land-use change, uncontrolled livestock, urban expansion, invasive pests and a changing climate have severely degraded the quality of our rivers and waterways. This threatens our most precious resource – water.

‍Our mission is to restore and enhance the health and resilience of our waterways, so that they are sustainable for present and future generations.  

For the past 18 years, the ARRC has:

Improved water quality by reducing sediment and pollutant run-off, strengthening access to safe and clean drinking water.

Restored river corridors and repaired habitat for native wildlife through revegetation, erosion control and stock management.

Strengthened climate resilience through carbon sequestration, temperature regulation, and flood mitigation.

Our approach

Our approach is relational and people-centred, reflecting our belief in the power of people working together with each other and nature.

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By developing long-term partnerships with First Nations people, scientists, waterway managers, Government departments and agencies, landholders, on-ground partners, local community members, students and volunteers, we aim to create a collective movement towards restoring and protecting the health of Australia's rivers.

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We strive to integrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge and experience into all our activities, acknowledging that we have much to learn, and respecting that our land and waters were never ceded.  

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As a registered charity recognised under the ACNC, we rely on our partnerships and caring individuals like you to help fund this important work. There are several ways to support the ARRC.

Support Us

You can also read more about the ARRC’s operational arrangements here.

Our Values

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Optimism

We believe that when people are given the opportunity, they want to make a difference by caring for the world around them.

Icon of a hand holding a heart with rays above it representing empathy.

Empathy

We believe empathy and kindness are the foundations for shared problem solving, creativity and joy.

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Connection

We believe that when people are connected to each other and to nature they are happier, more resilient and full of hope.

Meet the Team

Dr. Siwan Lovett

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Favourite waterway:
Upper Murrumbidgee River, NSW & ACT

Inspiring, skilled and effective, Siwan is a respected leader in Australia’s natural resources community. As the founder of the Australian River Restoration Centre (ARRC), she is known for her expertise in communications, public speaking, leadership, and practical riparian rehabilitation. Siwan is passionate about empowering others to value themselves and their knowledge, fostering confident, collaborative management of our river landscapes in partnership with nature.

Matt Morrison

Chief Operating Officer

Favourite waterway:
Cumberland River, VIC

Matt brings future-thinking to craft and execute strategy, develop strong governance, and build effective systems for productivity and customer delight. He is passionate about equipping people to bring their best as they restore our rivers.

Shane Laverty

Rivers of Carbon Program Manager

Favourite waterway:
Lachlan & Abercrombie Rivers, NSW

Shane has over 25 years of experience in erosion control and earthmoving, as well as establishing monitoring systems to evaluate their effectiveness. He has been invited as a keynote speaker to numerous events, presenting on erosion control, landslips, farm water management, and dam construction. Now the Program Manager of ARRC’s on-ground work, Shane is expanding ARRC’s impact and geographical reach. Shane takes great pleasure in seeing the difference he can make over many years, improving the overall health of our landscapes.

Alex James

Rivers of Carbon Project Coordinator

Favourite waterway:
Snowy River near Charlotte Pass, NSW

Alex James is an enthusiastic advocate for farmers and communities embracing the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss. She is a project officer for ARRC's on-ground program, Rivers of Carbon, and a community engagement specialist. She enjoys bringing the science of river restoration and biodiversity conservation to individuals and groups through webinars, field days and river restoration plans.

Pat Gudhka

Creative Director

Favourite waterway:
Murray River near Mildura, NSW

Pat is a creative force within the team, blending strategy, innovation, and technical execution to ensure our communication efforts are both compelling and effective. Pat works at the intersection of science and storytelling, helping us define clear audiences and choose the right channels to reach them. He’s passionate about crafting the digital ‘why’, ‘what’, and ‘how’ behind every project, delivering value to anyone in natural resource management looking to share knowledge and inspire change.

Masha Artamonova

Marketing & Fundraising Manager

Favourite waterway:
Never Never Creek, NSW

Masha is passionate about using communications to build relationships, support communities, and elevate organisations that have a positive impact on our world. She leads ARRC’s media and marketing functions with a strong focus on audiences and tailored digital experiences, transforming technical information into compelling narratives. She spends most of her free time in the ocean, a daily reminder on the importance of caring for our waterways and natural environment.

Jimmy Hooper

Marketing Coordinator

Favourite Waterway:
Ovens River, Victoria

Jimmy loves the challenge of sharing informative content to as many people as possible in the most engaging and creative way he can. Jimmy has a knack for connecting with diverse audiences through timely, relevant, and at times humorous content. His passion for rivers stems from his Grandfather's work restoring Victoria's catchments. He focuses the ARRC's marketing on hope, inclusiveness and achievable actions with content that inspires and educates.

Rebecca Groat

Rivers of Carbon Project Officer

Favourite Waterway:
Gayini Nimmie-Caira Wetlands

Growing up on an irrigation farm in rural NSW, Becky has a deep passion for agriculture and improving our native environment. She believes that restoring our rivers and broader environment relies on collaboration and close partnerships with local communities and stakeholders. She has experience in river restoration, science communications, and stakeholder engagement, seamlessly bringing teams across jurisdictions together to achieve effective outcomes.

Tom Clarke

Rivers of Carbon Project Officer

Favourite Waterway:
Upper Murrumbidgee River, NSW & ACT

Tom is an experienced program and project manager with a passion for good governance and healthy waterways. His interests include kayaking (especially on the Upper Murrumbidgee) and hands-on riparian restoration activity.