Teagan Shields (nee Goolmeer) is a proud Arabanna descendant, her family are displaced people as a result of stolen generation and have lived off Country for three generations. She grew up in Newcastle (Awabakal country) and has worked in the public sector across three states.

Teagan has worked in the community engagement and environmental sector for over 15 years including in NSW, QLD and WA as well as at an international level as an ambassador to the World Indigenous Network. She managed and developed the stakeholder engagement strategy for service reform and redesign coordinating the community engagement across WA, with regional and remote Aboriginal communities.

Teagan holds: a Bachelor of Education; Bachelor of Applied Science; and a Masters in Marine Science and Management. She believes the answer to the conservation issues facing Australia lies in the Aboriginal-led use of Traditional Knowledge. She is currently undertaking a PhD with the University of Melbourne; Investigating systemic changes to empower Indigenous Land and Sea Managers in biodiversity conservation.