Marissa tells her story...

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Marissa Giannake – Brisbane Wilderness Defender Campaigner

Marissa Giannake -Wilderness Defender Campaigner

What motivated you to originally apply for the job?

" The idea of making a difference everyday as part of an ethical organisation" - Marissa

TWS is an equal opportunities employer that places great importance on principles of non-violence and consensus decision-making.

We have weekly campaign meetings where our Wilderness Defender Campaigners and the general public can show their support by volunteering and getting directly involved with our campaigns.

What do you most enjoy about the job?

" I’m helping to protect beautiful places that I love. It’s challenging, there’s diversity, I get to work with great people, meet new people every day, travel, and I’m constantly learning and developing personal skills " - Marissa

We have regular Wilderness Defender Travel Trips all around Australia so you get to see Australia while you work. We also have permanent teams situated in most states to which you can transfer to after a qualifying period.

We work in fantastic locations and festivals where we can enjoy working outdoors, the nature and meeting great people.

What have been your major achievements?

" Gaining the confidence to be able to stand in the middle of a busy street and stop a stranger to talk to them about something that’s important, and then convince them to get involved " - Marissa

Fundraisers are responsible for generating a majority of the funds for The Wilderness Society and enable us to campaign and carrying out much needed conservation and habitat restoration work. Knowing that you are the biggest part of keeping TWS active is rewarding and gratifying. This is a challenging job, but it’s definitely worth it! Every day, you go home and you know you are contributing to something really worthwhile. Our fundraisers are the face of our amazing and successful organisation.

What skills have you obtained?

"How to communicate effectively, set goals and manage my time. I’ve also gained thorough knowledge of campaigns during my time here. Also, as a coordinator I’ve learned valuable coaching skills to help others become the best fundraisers the can be" - Marissa

If you have a good proactive attitude and are keen to learn, progression can be fast and we will help you all the way. If you are seeking a career in environmental campaigns this position is a great way to build up your knowledge of environmental issues, gain a proven record of campaign communication skills and valuable experience of working within an environmental NGO.

What challenges have you faced & how have you overcome them?
“APATHY, APATHY, APATHY; overcome with stoutness, courage, grief, inquisitiveness, love, and determination” - Marissa

What motivates you within this position?

"The knowledge that every day I am making more people aware of what’s going on environmentally and inspiring them to take action.  Also to awaken my fellow men/ladies to the fact that  they are part of a cohesive whole" - Marissa

 

Extra Comments
“We Defenders stare apathy in the face every day with amazing resilience and hope in our hearts.... What an INCREDIBLE thing”- Marissa