Michael O'Neill
Director, Policy & Government Relations, The Nature Conservancy Australia
Michael O'Neill Director, Policy & Government Relations, The Nature Conservancy Australia © Michael O'Neill / TNC
Areas of Expertise
Biodiversity & water policy, environmental planning, sustainable development, government relations
Biography
Michael O'Neill is a Certified Environmental Practitioner with over 20 years of experience in the environmental, water, planning, policy, and built environment sectors. Currently, he serves as the Policy and Government Relations Director where he ls responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive engagement strategy for both Federal and State Governments, fostering key relationships to influence policy formulation and secure public funding for critical conservation initiatives.
With a deep commitment to environmental stewardship, Michael has a proven track record in managing policy and master planning projects, promoting sustainability in environmental and water management and championing the circular economy.
Before joining TNC, Michael was Senior Manager for Strategic Projects in Water and Catchments at the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action. In this role, he played a crucial part in shaping urban water policy and planning, overseeing key initiatives such as the five-yearly Urban Water Strategies, the annual desalinated water order process, understanding emerging water demands from the energy transition, and supporting water authorities in transitioning to a circular economy.
Michael's consulting experience includes his tenure as a Senior Consultant at Arup, where he contributed to groundbreaking water and sustainability projects. Notable achievements include his involvement in the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) sewer mining project, precinct structure planning for greenfield developments, reimagining the Main Outfall Sewer corridor for Melbourne Water, providing policy advice to the ACCC on Murray-Darling Basin water market reforms, and preparing detailed guidance during the establishment of the Victorian Environmental Water Holder.
Michael holds a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Management (Sustainable Development), a Master of Arts in Writing and has undertaken additional studies in Sustainability Leadership through Cambridge University. Based in Melbourne, he is passionate about conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends and is dedicated to advancing TNC's mission to create a lasting impact on Australia's natural landscapes.