Insights from the outback: what it means to lead with care
Connecting Leadership, Heritage and Biodiversity
During National Biodiversity Month, Associate Director and Victorian Manager Leo Martin reflects on his experience at Arid Recovery - and what it taught him about leadership, stewardship, and the inseparable ties between culture and nature.
Figure 1 Dr Leo Martin at the entrance to Arid Recovery.
Figure 2. Sunset over the arid lanscape
Learning Leadership on Country
This National Biodiversity Month, Extent Heritage is highlighting the deep connections between cultural heritage and biodiversity. For Leo Martin, Associate Director and Victorian Manager, that connection came into sharp focus during a leadership program at Arid Recovery, a conservation reserve in South Australia dedicated to restoring arid lands.
Established in 1997, Arid Recovery was founded through a partnership between industry, government, the University of Adelaide, and the local community. It is now a 123-square-kilometre sanctuary where rabbits, cats, and foxes have been excluded, threatened species reintroduced, and ecological research flourishes.
For Leo, the setting offered more than just a backdrop. It created the conditions for profound reflection on what it means to lead in heritage practice.
A Program Built on Reflection
The program was delivered by the Global Leadership Foundation, an organisation dedicated to strengthening emotional health worldwide. Its focus was unusual: not technical skills or management tools, but self-awareness, balance, and emotional intelligence.
“The fact that it was held in such a remote and beautiful space encouraged reflection,” Leo explains. “It strengthened the bond between those on the program and gave us the space to think deeply about ourselves.”
Leadership as a Holistic Practice
One of the most powerful lessons was that leadership cannot be reduced to a single quality.
“Being emotionally healthy involves using different parts of yourself,” Leo reflects. “It’s not just an intellectual, or an emotional, or a physical exercise. It’s all three.”
He also came to see leadership as inseparable from self-awareness. “It’s not enough just to know the content or have good ideas. There’s something about trusting your instincts and valuing yourself. The confidence that comes through those things translates well in all environments.”
For Extent’s Victorian Branch Manager, this reinforced that while good management involves supporting colleagues and meeting deadlines, true leadership requires something more: the ability to look beyond immediate pressures and anchor decisions in values and long-term vision.
Translating Insights into Practice
The lessons from Arid Recovery were not abstract. They continue to shape how Leo approaches projects and clients.
“As practitioners, it’s very easy to focus on one aspect of a site without acknowledging the broader context. I try to always be aware that the places where we work may have important ecological values. Whether or not they are formally identified, it’s always good practice to minimise our impact and reduce disturbance where possible.”
Leadership, he adds, also means guiding clients with honesty and clarity. “Obviously, we want to win work, but we shouldn’t ever promise more than we can reasonably deliver. Doing so risks damaging relationships of trust with both clients and staff.”
Figure 3. Walking the predator-proof fence at Arid Recovery.
Figure 4 Monitoring native wildlife at night.
When Heritage and Biodiversity Are Inseparable
Immersion in the reserve underscored how fragile biodiversity can be — and how deeply it is entwined with cultural heritage.
“It helped me recognise just how much biodiversity there was in a relatively small space and also how fragile it is. The constant need to protect the reserve from cats and other feral animals is a daily battle and a reminder of how much we have altered and continued to impact the landscape, even in remote locations.”
The lesson for heritage practice is clear: “Culture, land, and ecosystems are not just connected, but inseparable. Human history is, in many ways, the story of how we have been shaped by and shaped our physical and ecological environment.”
Carrying Leadership Values Forward
The program also prompted deeper personal reflection.
“I learnt that the challenges I face are also being faced by other people in senior roles, and that self-knowledge is at the heart of good leadership.”
Working alongside scientists, Traditional Owners, and conservationists affirmed his belief that knowledge reveals landscape. The values he carries forward are simple but profound: curiosity and compassion.
“I also don’t see this as a one-off exercise. I’d like to continue to work with the Global Leadership Foundation to strengthen my emotional health and learn more about how I can grow as a leader and support the growth of others.”
Leadership as Stewardship
For Leo Martin, leadership in heritage ultimately means stewardship.
“Leadership means being aware of yourself and your environment and using that awareness to support and motivate others. Heritage and biodiversity are intertwined because it’s not possible to separate the physical or ecological evolution of Country from that of the people who have occupied it.”
This National Biodiversity Month, his reflections are a reminder that protecting heritage also means protecting the landscapes, ecosystems, and communities it belongs to.
“We are very fortunate to work in an industry where we can explore the rich cultural history of Australia. Acknowledging that the preservation of our environment is important both because it is connected to and sustains culture.”