With a Bachelor of Education and extensive experience in administration, operations and stakeholder engagement, Amanda provides high-level administrative and organisational support to EGRU and the JCU Trailblazer program.  She manages research and training administration, coordinates event planning and logistics, and facilitates effective communication between researchers, and our industry and government partners.

Through her combination of education, administration and research-sector experience, Amanda plays an important role in supporting the effective operation of EGRU and the Trailblazer, and engagement with internal and external stakeholders.

Kaylene is a geologist with more than 35 years’ experience in mineral exploration, mineralogy, and geometallurgy across the resources sector. A Fellow of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG), she is a former President of the Institute and served on its Board for over 18 years. She also served as the inaugural Chair of the Global Geoscience Professionalism Group, promoting professionalism across the international geoscience community.

Kaylene is a strong advocate for geoscience education and professional development, establishing the AIG National Geoscience Bursary Program, chairing the AIG Education Committee, serving on the AIG Professional Development Committee, and developing training initiatives for geoscientists. Through her roles with EGRU and the JCU Trailblazer Program, she builds strong connections between academia and industry, fosters collaborative research initiatives, develops outreach and knowledge-sharing events, and leads an internationally recognised professional development program for geoscience professionals.