We are a team of certified, trusted and reliable Arborists and Ecologists
Choosing the right consultant for the job should be a researched process. Successful environmental management should be left to professionals, with experience in managing complex, sensitive and detailed projects.
To provide environmental management advice, your consultant must hold specific qualifications. All consultants at Sustainable Tree Management are certified Level 5 (AQF5) or above and are trained to understand the individual needs of your project.
Luke Sturgess – Founder, Managing Director and Principal Arborist
As Founder, Managing Director and Principal Arborist, Luke has led STM to become a preeminent environmental consultancy company within Victoria. STM’s client base spans industry segments including State and Local Government Departments, Utilities, Planning, and Tier 1 Construction Contractors and Domestic Householders. Luke’s ability and experience in successfully managing large, complex, and environmentally sensitive projects has underpinned STM’S growth and reputation. Before launching STM, Luke gained considerable experience in Statutory Planning and Parks and Recreation, including the role of Senior Arborist with a major Local Government Authority. He has an Advanced Diploma in Business Management, Diploma of Arboriculture (AQF5), and is a sought-after expert witness at Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) and other statutory authorities.
Luke has over 19 years experience in the arboricultural and other environmental fields, His passion for the environment started at an early age growing up in the leafy eastern suburbs of Victoria. A move to the Mornington Peninsula increased his ecological interests as well as his familiarity of area’s unique characteristics.
Brendan Pike – Senior Consulting Arborist
Brendan brings a unique set of skills to an expanding and dynamic environmental industry. Brendan’s career spans 6 years in IT programming and development, plus 20 years as a sought-after team leader in the tree management and conservation industry. His passion for the outdoors combined with his ability to build software and data solutions is an industry game changer. Since joining STM in 2019, initially as a consulting arborist, Brendan has worked successfully on many large- scale projects for clients including major construction companies, government owned utilities, private energy corporations and planning developers. Brendan was recently promoted to the role of Senior Consulting Arborist and has gained an industry wide reputation for his collaborative solutions and customer driven approach. Brendan holds a Dip Arboriculture (AQF5), Cert 3 Horticulture and a Cert 4 in Computer Science.
Rosey Bennett – Ecologist
Rosey exudes an amazing passion for wildlife and ecological preservation. After an early career in property and asset management, Rosey has emerged as an industry leader in all facets of sustainable tree, vegetation, and bushfire management solutions. After completing a Bachelor of Science (Ecology Major with Distinction), Rosey has relished the challenge to work in the growing and dynamic environment offered by Sustainable Tree Management. Rosey is a natural problem solver, with the ability to mediate win/win solutions with clients with often competing Town Planning demands and environmental expectations. Rosey is an Accredited Native Vegetation Assessor (DELWP), a volunteer AWARE Wildlife Rescue, and gained a Certificate of Completion in Wildlife and Community Conservation for her work in Chitwan Nepal.
Mark Sturgess – Commercial Advisor
Following an extensive executive management career including general management appointments in the private energy and government sectors, Mark, now, through his consulting business S.E.Advisory, provides advisory services to industry in areas including business strategy and planning, commercial modelling, risk and safety management, and leadership development. At STM, Mark develops commercially competitive strategies and processes to underpin successful growth and market development. Mark has a Bachelor of Business Management, is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management, a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a business coach and mentor to industry executives and emerging leaders.