Sandie Czarka

Sandie is a dedicated land management expert with a longstanding commitment to mitigating the impacts of invasive species on conservation, cultural values & agriculture industries. With over 20 years of experience, Sandie has played a pivotal role in protecting Victoria’s most valued natural landscapes, water catchments, and threatened species. Her work spans from on-the-ground actions to high-level policy implementation, addressing challenges related to established invasive species including deer, through strategic partnerships and innovative solutions.

Throughout her career, Sandie has engaged deeply with invasive species management, contributing to Victoria’s largest introduced herbivore management program across keystone biodiversity sites, building capabilities and networks. Her expertise extends to navigating complex socio-environmental dimensions, where she excels in breaking down barriers to effective solutions. Sandie actively participates in communities of practice for invasive species leaders, collaborates with government bodies on policy reforms, and shares her insights at forums such as the National Deer Management Conference. Her global perspective is enriched by hosting international teams from New Zealand’s Department of Conservation, exploring strategies for peri-urban deer control programs.

Sandie’s experience is complemented by her educational background, including a Master of Environment with a focus on interdisciplinary solutions and a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture, both from the University of Melbourne. Additionally, she completed a dairy farm traineeship at Wangaratta TAFE and worked in Victoria and South Australia in agriculture settings early on in her career.