Director John Horan Director John Horan

Peter Hemphill

Peter founded Open Lines in 2010 after previous stints consulting and working for the Commonwealth Government. Peter is highly regarded for his work on large and complex EPBC strategic assessments around Australia.

He thinks that collaboration, a real understanding of issues, and clarity of communication are the keys to delivering successful projects.

His strengths include the ability to lead and manage the delivery of complex projects, helping clients use the right strategy, and delivering high quality written material that is well received by clients and regulators.

Projects that Peter has helped lead include:

  • Western Sydney Growth Centres strategic assessment

  • Molonglo Adpative Management Strategy

  • EPBC Act Guide to Undertaking Strategic Assessments

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Director John Horan Director John Horan

Heather Tolley

Heather Tolley is a Director of Open Lines, and leads many of our environmental impact assessments under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

She sees the big picture, bringing strategic understanding of our clients’ needs, legislative and policy requirements, and good environmental outcomes to each project.

For our customers this means robust, practical, regulatory outcomes delivered on time and on budget for large and complex projects in sectors ranging from urban development to mining and infrastructure.

Projects that Heather has helped lead include:

  • Abbot Point Cumulative Impact Assessment

  • Impact assessments under the EPBC Act

  • EPBC Act significant impact guidelines for migratory shorebirds

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Consultant John Horan Consultant John Horan

Mitch Ross

Mitch joined Open Lines in 2021 following experience working as an environmental consultant, where he prepared environmental impact assessments, ecological reports, and environmental approvals for a variety of projects across Australia.

In addition to his strong technical knowledge of Commonwealth and State approvals, Mitch is a critical thinker with a high attention to detail and strong organisation.

Mitch is always open to a new challenge and is skilled at developing new strategies for clients. He strives to deliver great environmental outcomes using his knowledge and skillset.

Major projects that Mitch has contributed to include:

• Western Sydney EPBC Act Strategic Assessment (NSW Department of Planning and Environment)

• Northern and Western Geelong Growth Areas EPBC Act Strategic Assessment (City of Greater Geelong)

• Natural Resource Management Plan (Northern Tablelands Local Land Services)

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Consultant John Horan Consultant John Horan

Heidi Birkby

Heidi is an environmental consultant, who joined Open Lines in July 2021 as a recent graduate. Since joining Open Lines, Heidi has gained experience in environmental impact assessments; preparing written material for EPBC assessments; and developed skills in GIS and spatial analysis.

Heidi has an analytical mind, providing a high level of practicality and organisation to the projects she works on. A key strength is the ability to efficiently navigate complex problems.

Major projects that Heidi has contributed to include:

• Western Sydney EPBC Act Strategic Assessment (NSW Department of Planning and Environment)

• Northern and Western Geelong Growth Areas EPBC Act Strategic Assessment (City of Greater Geelong)

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Consultant Admin Open Lines Consultant Admin Open Lines

Aladdin Halbert-Howard

Aladdin is an environmental consultant at Open Lines, committed to sustainable development and adept at navigating the complexities of strategic assessments. Since joining in May 2024, Aladdin has contributed to environmental impact assessments, prepared written material for EPBC referrals, and strengthened his knowledge of GIS. He also plays a key role in Open Lines' expansion into nature-based reporting.

Aladdin is a versatile professional with a background in ecology, conservation biology, and plant biology. He brings strong project management and research skills, along with a passion for driving positive outcomes for Australia's biodiversity and natural capital.

Major projects that Aladdin has contributed to include:

• Northern and Western Geelong Growth Areas EPBC Act Strategic Assessment (City of Greater Geelong)

• Central Coast EPBC Act Strategic Assessment (NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure)

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