Our Team //

Leadership Team

Our leadership team at Active Tree Services brings extensive experience, dedication, and innovation. Committed to excellence, they guide our company to sustainable growth while prioritising safety, quality, and environmental stewardship. With their strategic vision and hands-on approach, our leaders deliver superior tree care solutions across diverse landscapes.

RICHARD NEDOV

CHAIR AND MANAGING DIRECTOR

JIM ROBERTS

CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER

IAN LINDSAY

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

MICHELLE FINNIGAN

GROUP PEOPLE MANAGER

Our Team //

Board

Our Board of Directors at Active Tree Services provides strategic guidance and oversight, ensuring our company operates effectively and ethically. With diverse expertise and a commitment to excellence, they steer our organization towards achieving its goals while upholding our values of safety, quality, and environmental responsibility.

RICHARD WILLCOCKS

DIRECTOR & CEO ACTIVE CONTRACTING

ANDY MARINKOVIC

DIRECTOR

MARGARET HASELTINE

DIRECTOR

Our Team //

Founder

In 1975 Mark started a small business, which has since grown into Active Tree Services, an industry leading organisation.

Mark has been instrumental in bringing together tree contracting organisations through leadership of industry bodies and the sponsorship of Arboriculture Australia and Utility Arborist Association of Australia. He has played a key role in raising the level of professionalism and safety through the development of an industry code of practice and standards.

In 2004 Mark was awarded the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the year for the services industry in NSW. In 2011 he invented the Bushi, a remote controlled boom saw and in 2012 Mark was selected by Australian Arbor Age as the first Living Legend of the Australian tree industry.

Who We Are //

Team Member Stories

Active people are bound through a common purpose and lived values that make Active a great place to work.  We work in small teams, our crews, often in remote and beautiful locations and almost always outdoors.

Active supports diversity in our workplace. 

View All Stories
23 Mar

Jeremy Casey

Team Member Stories //

Jeremy Casey

For NSW Powerlines manager Jeremy Casey, a good day at work isn’t just about getting it done. It’s about doing the right thing, looking after your team, and delivering what you say you will to the best of your ability.

For over a decade Jeremy has brought this commitment to his role at Active Tree Services and it’s a philosophy that’s seen him rise through the ranks to manage one of Active’s largest contracts.

It is also part of the reason Jeremy was recently named the recipient of this year’s Active’s Tree Top award.

Jeremy initially joined Active as a chipper operator back in 2009. With a child on the way, he was keen to find a job close to home in the Bathurst region and work in the great outdoors.

Since then, he’s fulfilled almost every role in the business, working as a cutter, EWP operator, leading hand and supervisor before becoming an operations manager on the Transgrid contract in 2022.

Jeremy explains he was in that role a couple of years before taking on the task of looking after all of Active’s work for NSW Powerlines.

“A position looking after the NSW Powerlines contract opened up a year and a bit ago and I was asked to step into the role,” he says.

The NSW Powerlines contract is among Active’s largest, encompassing tree cutting around high voltage powerlines for energy providers Transgrid, Essential Energy, Evoenergy, and Ausgrid in a geographical area that spans almost the entire southern half of New South Wales.

Based in Bathurst, Jeremy’s main role involves supporting and assisting a large team of field crews working anywhere from the Central West to Sydney and through Canberra to the Victorian border.

“That’s the way I see this job,” he says.

“We have a really good team of operations managers, and my role is to assist them in any way they need.”

Supporting that team is what he most enjoys about the job, but it’s a role that also comes with its challenges too.

“Probably the biggest challenge is knowing the buck stops with you,” he reflects.

“You have to be the problem solver and the one with solutions, and I don’t ever want to be the guy that fails.”

This can-do philosophy was among the reasons Jeremy received Active Tree Services’ most prestigious accolade this year.

Announced at the annual conference, the Tree Top Award recognises outstanding performers who espouse the core values of the business.

Candidates are put forward by their peers, and Jeremy was selected from a strong field of over 100 nominees.

Conceding it was a surprise and an honour, Jeremy says he had no idea he had even been nominated until he heard his name called out.

“I felt quite proud to be recognised,” Jeremy says.

“It was just nice to know the amount of work that goes into this job doesn’t go unnoticed.”

After more than a decade with Active, Jeremy notes many of the reasons he was first drawn to the company still remain.

“I do love the industry and the environment we get to work in, and I like the way Active is family-owned and they’re just there for you – not just in the workplace,” he says.

“And I think Active honours its goal to be the good guys. There’s a lot of honesty, we help each other out and we deliver what we say we’ll deliver.”

    01 Oct

    Manaf Mir

    Team Member Stories //

    Manaf Mir

    As the trucks, trailers, and EWPs come and go beyond his office window, Manaf Mir is in his element.

    He’s reviewing data, making recommendations and using his expertise as a systems and data analyst to help shape the current and future operations of Aerial Access – Active Tree Services’ sister company and Australia’s foremost distributor of elevated work platforms.

    Manaf could never have imagined this would be his future when he stepped off a plane from Pakistan more than six years ago.

    Manaf explains he came to Australia to undertake a masters degree, having previously studied business and marketing.

    “I worked in digital marketing and quickly realised it wasn’t for me,” Manaf says.

    “So, I decided to go back to uni, and came here to study for a Masters in Business Analytics.”

    That qualification landed Manaf a role as a systems analyst at a construction product manufacturer before he was headhunted for Aerial Access in July last year.

    “I was contacted by a recruiter and that was the first time I heard about Active,” Manaf says.

    “And I soon learned they’re about far more than cutting trees.”

    Manaf works in Aerial Access’ fleet department in a role that sees him reviewing an array of data and systems relating to everything from financial reporting to fleet management.

    “I analyse the company’s data to help management make informed and better decisions,” Manaf explains. 

    “I also look at systems and development, filling a gap between stakeholders and developers when it comes to the Fleet Management System.”

    He notes the job allows him to identify patterns including inefficiencies and potential problems.

    “For example, we were having an issue with some machines, and it happened again and again.

    “We checked the data, which allowed us to identify it only occurred in one brand, so we raised the issue with the manufacturer and now that problem has been mitigated.”

    Manaf is based at Active’s Bayswater depot, which also serves as a major workshop for the assembly, servicing and maintenance of equipment that Aerial supplies to clients in the electrical, power line maintenance, local government, and vegetation management industries.

    “My office is above the workshop, and I love seeing all the trucks coming and going,” he says.

    “Every day there’s new machinery that we’re servicing or providing to other contractors and companies.”

    Manaf notes his role allows him to create an impact and make a difference within the business, which he finds incredibly rewarding.

    He also appreciates the people-first ethos of the Active Tree Services and Aerial Access brands.   

    “I love the culture, the people and the diversity here,” Manaf says.

    “Everyone is supportive, approachable and collaborative, and they take really good care of their employees.”

    That’s not to say moving to the other side of the world and starting a whole new chapter of life has always been easy.

    Manaf explains arriving in Australia was a bit of a culture shock and completing his second year of uni during Victoria’s notoriously tough Covid lockdowns was particularly hard.

    “That was pretty isolating,” he recalls.

    But he’s since settled in, embracing hobbies that include electronic dance music, cinema, cooking, and snooker.

    “I was 21 when I moved here in 2019, and I was all alone,” he says.

    “Since then, I’ve finished my degree and found a great job and I’m really proud of those achievements.”

    As for the future, Manaf is keen to continue with Aerial Access and hopes to reside in Australia permanently.

    “My plan is to grow within the company, and the goal is to become a data engineer,” he says.

    “I love it here in Australia, the people are friendly, they don’t judge and there’s a sense of freedom.”

      10 Jul

      Natalie Miller

      Team Member Stories //

      Natalie Miller

      Whether its relocating rare pygmy possums, rehoming blue tongue lizards, or simply collecting data about trees, there are days when Natalie Miller simply can’t believe her luck.

      A qualified environmental scientist, she’s fallen into a dream job that combines a love of animals with a passion for the environment, and it just happens to be in the tree industry.

      “I didn’t plan to move into the world of trees,” Natalie says.

      “But I found my way to Active and fell in love with it. It turns out ecology and arboriculture go hand in hand.”

      Natalie joined Active Green Services (AGS) in 2023, working as an environmental consultant in a national team that specialises in sustainability, urban greening, bushfire mitigation, tree management, and habitat.

      At the time she was fresh out of university, seeking to utilise her skills in wildlife and conservation biology.

      “Ecology is a really competitive field and it’s hard to get hired without experience, straight out of uni,” Natalie says.

      “But I found the job for a graduate consultant at Active on Seek, and it’s just so cool that arboriculture and ecology are so intertwined.”

      Based in Victoria, Natalie’s job involves everything from checking trees for wildlife and relocating animals to identifying trees and writing reports for AGS clients that include electricity providers, road and rail networks, government departments, infrastructure developers, and more.

      “Every day is different,” Natalie says.

      “I love the variety and the fact no two days are the same.” 

      And there have been some major highlights along the way, including six months working as a fauna spotter on the EnergyConnect transmission project in Mildura.

      Natalie’s job involved working ahead of the cutting crews, checking trees for wildlife.   

      “It’s an area where there are a lot of pygmy possums. They’re the smallest possum in the world and they’re also endangered,” she says.

      “I was lucky enough to find and relocate five of them which was incredibly rewarding.”

      There’s also been some reptilian relocations, including bearded dragons, blue tongue lizards and lots of excitable geckos in all sorts of unexpected places.

      “You’d be surprised, there’s a lot of wildlife in the city,” Natalie says.

      “And when we relocate them, we try to keep them within the area they know.”

      As for snakes, despite working in bushland, Natalie encountered her first only recently in a highly unlikely place.

      “It was actually swimming in the Yarra, which was pretty cool to see,” she says.

      In addition to putting her environmental science skills to good use, Natalie is embracing the arboriculture side of her role and is currently studying for her Diploma in Arboriculture.

      “At the moment I’m in the field collecting tree data as part of the North East Link project, which involves measuring and identifying each tree,” she says.

      “Figuring out the tree species can be a bit tricky, but I’m learning, and I love that.

      “There’s always room to learn and grow.”

      Natalie’s enthusiasm and professionalism was recently acknowledged courtesy of a Rising Star Award at the Arboriculture Australia Conference, held in Canberra in March.

      The award recognises individuals who are early in their careers and demonstrate exceptional promise within the arboriculture industry, and Natalie was nominated by her peers.

      Believing she was just attending the conference for experience, she notes the accolade came as an unexpected bonus.

      “It was my first conference and such a great way to be exposed to the industry while meeting new people,” she says.

      “I had no idea about the award, and I was really happy to receive it.”   

      Natalie reflects the award is just one of many memorable moments she has enjoyed as part of a job that takes her anywhere from parks to the bush to construction sites.

      “Going forward, I want to keep on learning and exposing myself to new things and opportunities,” she says.

      “I’ve always loved animals and have always wanted to work for the environment.

      “I’m really grateful to be doing that as part of Active Green Services and the arboriculture industry.”

        14 May

        Dale Jones

        Team Member Stories //

        Dale Jones

        Senior Diesel Mechanic Dale Jones was one of those kids with a hankering to know how things worked.

        From basic remote control cars to trail bikes, he’d pull anything apart, just so he could
        understand how it worked and then enjoy the satisfaction of putting it back together again.

        “I was that kid and I’m sure my Dad probably hated it,” Dale reflects.

        “I admit, these items didn’t always return to their original state. However, learning is something I’ve always enjoyed.”

        That fascination with machinery later turned into a valuable skill that now sees Dale sought after as a diesel mechanic with a specialist interest in heavy machinery.

        Having started out as an 18-year-old apprentice, he’s worked on everything from excavators to tilt trucks, elevated work platforms, and scissor lifts.

        It’s a career that has taken him from family run workshops servicing farm machinery to fleet maintenance specialists looking after clients including Melbourne City Council and major
        telecommunications providers. 

        Along the way, he’s put his problem-solving and mechanical skills to great use, diagnosing
        complex machinery problems, organising parts, conducting inspections, and getting creative with occasional design and fabrication work.

        It’s for this expertise that Dale was headhunted to join Active Tree Service’s Fleet department back in 2023.

        Dale explains, he was working at High Access Group as the lead and only diesel mechanic in their workshop when Active’s Chris Sanderson happened to reach out.

        Impressed with Dale’s understanding of Active’s style of equipment, Chris decided to pop by for
        a visit.

        “Sando came to the workshop to see my work and surprisingly I was given a job offer,” Dale recalls.

        Dale didn’t think much of it at the time however over the months that followed, Chris regularly touched base.

        “Seven months later, he rang and insisted I come and have a look at the Bayswater depot, and I happened to be heading that way to pick up my daughter, so I thought it would be unfair not to,”
        Dale says.

        The depot turned out to be six minutes from Dale’s house rather than a daily hour and 20-minute commute.

        Active also offered the opportunity for further career advancement. 

        It was these two factors that sealed the deal, with Dale stepping into the role of senior diesel mechanic at Active almost two years ago.

        The job involves conducting maintenance on Active’s fleet of machinery and servicing equipment for their sister company Aerial Access, while also mentoring younger team members.

        On any given day Dale might be working on trucks, EWPs, jarraffs, chippers, excavators, and an array of other equipment.

        “Having an extensive background in towers, I am often working on the Versalift EWPs, tower repairs and/or maintenance,” Dale says.

        “But I also still work on all the other machinery.”

        With a major background in specialist equipment, Dale’s expertise lies in diagnostic problem solving and it’s a skill he’s honed during a career that’s spanned more than 20 years as a diesel mechanic.

        “When it comes to troubleshooting, you develop this good nose for it,” he says.

        “You just get a vibe and a gut feeling that something specific needs to be checked.”

        He has also applied that problem solving in highly creative ways, particularly during his time at High Access Group.

        “The variety of machinery we worked on was off the scale, and some of it was very specialised,” Dale explains.

        “But there were also some weird and wonderful things as well, such as designing and fabricating light fittings for Melbourne City Council, including manufacturing Christmas decorations.”

        Since joining Active, Dale has also had some of his additional skills formally recognised.

        “I have a really big interest in auto-electrical work. I also have a good background in that and experience,” Dale says.

        “Active’s Leading hand nominated me to improve my skillset and become a qualified
        auto-electrician via Recognition of Prior Learning.

        “As part of that I was able to add auto-electrical to my CV.”

        Outside of work Dale is a devoted partner and dad to three girls, who loves nothing more than spending time with his family in the great outdoors.

        “I love 4WDs, trail bikes, camping and fishing,” he says.

        “With a busy family and work, there often isn’t the time, but last year we bought a caravan and went to Uluru and back, and that was sensational.”

        As for the future, Dale says his is with Active.

        He’d be keen to transition into a supervisor role or, better yet, would love to put his
        problem-solving skills to the ultimate test.

        “I would absolutely love to work in product development,” he says.

        “I have a big background working with so many different types of equipment and there’s nothing better than the challenge of finding a way to make something work.”