Our Team
Upscale Carbon (UC) is a carbon business that seeks to help landholders implement regenerative and environmental restoration projects for positive agricultural, financial and social outcomes.
The UC team consists of eleven employees, two key partnerships and an experienced group of Directors making up the board.
The experience of the Team members consists of four main elements:
- Accounting and Finance
- Administration
- Environmental
- Governance
Shane Charles (Chief Executive Officer)
Mr. Charles is an experienced Non-Executive Director and has based most of his career from his home in Toowoomba in regional Queensland. He is passionate about the ability and capability of regional Australia and has been at the forefront of many advocacy efforts to ensure regional Australia thrives and prospers.
Mr. Charles current roles include amongst others, President of the Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland, CEO of Upscale Carbon, and Managing Director of Charles Legal Group. He has a strong interest in corporate governance and to that sits on the Darling Downs and South West Queensland regional committee for the Australia Institute of Company Directors.
Previous significant roles include periods of service as Chairman of Stanwell Corporation Limited, Deputy Chairman and Commissioner of the GasFields Commission of Queensland, Chairman of Sunrise Way Rehabilitation Limited, Chairman of Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise Pty Ltd, Chairman of the Endeavour Foundation and a Non Executive Director of Energy Resources of Australia Limited.
Ronald Thompson (Operational Director)
Ronald Thompson is the Operational Director for both Upscale Funds Management and Upscale Carbon. With a background working with Australia’s largest carbon developer as well as an extensive career in land access management with large blue chip corporates, his ‘on the ground’ and general agricultural/operational knowledge is key to the implementation of all environmental projects.
Ronald, having an agricultural background became interested in regenerative farming and for 30 years implemented practices on his own properties with much success and practical learnings which he brings to the team. In addition to this, his ability to speak and gain trust with landholders has been crucial to the
ultimate success of the Upscale Group.
Sarah Tune (Principal Ecologist)
Sarah Tune is a Certified Environmental Practitioner and Accounting for Nature Accredited Expert, with over 17 years’ experience undertaking environmental assessments throughout Queensland.
Having previously worked for the Queensland Government, a large blue-chip corporation and an international environmental consultancy firm, Sarah has gained experience working on projects of all scales to undertake various ecological assessments against Commonwealth, State and Local legislative requirements.
Sarah has a bachelor’s degree in Applied Science and a post-graduate diploma in Rangeland Management from the University of Queensland. She has strong technical capabilities in undertaking desktop assessments, field surveys, sampling and analysis, spatial data interpretation, mapping and reporting.
John McLaughlin (Carbon Project Manager)
John McLaughlin is a skilled Grazing Practitioner with many years of experience working with Beef Producers in Queensland.
Having previously worked for Gulf Savannah NRM (Far North QLD) and CSIRO, John has a unique set of skills that integrate industry research with practical on-ground implementation. John led the Grazing Program for his local NRM organisation in the Queensland Gulf and is particularly knowledgeable in regard to Beef Production in the QLD Rangelands.
John has a Bachelor of Science Degree, a Masters of Natural Resource Management and Post-Graduate Qualifications in Agricultural Science – all from the University of Queensland. He has strong technical capabilities in undertaking land condition assessments, monitoring and assessing tropical pastures, developing sustainable Grazing Land Management plans, and improving animal production outcomes for graziers.
Colleen Spalding (GIS Specialist)
Colleen Spalding is a Senior GIS and Data Analytics professional with over 16 years of experience across a variety of sectors and large-scale infrastructure projects, where she has applied GIS skills and applications, project management and natural resource information management principles to environmental, mining, linear infrastructure, water resources, air quality monitoring, wastewater, and asset management projects.
With extensive practice working as part of an imbedded partner team on projects such as the Woolgoolga to Ballina (W2B) upgrade of the Pacific Highway, Colleen understands the importance of working collaboratively with multiple stakeholders when leading GIS teams whose role it is to provide technical advice, develop and implement standards, provide innovative solutions and to deliver spatial project data to clients.
Colleen has a bachelor’s degree in Applied Science and is currently undertaking further studies in in Information Technology to accompany her Geospatial skillset.
Scott Thompson (GIS Cadet)
Scott Thompson is a GIS Cadet with five years’ experience in data analysis and reporting.
Scott has a strong connection to rural and agricultural life, with a background growing up and working on the family properties in southern Queensland.
Having previously worked in the car rental industry both in Australia and the UK, Scott has gained experience in mastering technical programs and streamlining processes, as well as many aspects of corporate business management.
Rob Martyn (General Manager of Koala Farmland Fund)
Rob Martyn has been involved in the Agricultural Industry for over 20 years. After growing up on a dairy farm, he attended Dalby Agricultural College.
Rob joined SunPork, one of Australia’s largest integrated food companies. Over 18 years, he worked in a variety of roles ultimately as Operations Manager of a $100M business. Rob achieved significant success in improving production capacity, animal husbandry, water security, safety and biosecurity, and energy efficiency in a new bio-gas facility.
Renee Mulholland (Financial Controller)
Renee Mulholland has a strong business, accounting and finance background developed from over 14 years within the industry. Renee holds a bachelor’s degree in Business, majoring in Accounting and Financial Management, and is currently studying towards her CPA.
Renee’s attention to detail, modelling development and financial reporting skills are valuable assets to the business. Her experience as a business advisor in public practice and small business management has given her the ability to lead all financial, analytical and conformance requirements for the Upscale Group.
Teleitha Eves (Office Administrator)
Teleitha Eves is an experienced administration officer with a strong background in administration management and customer service, having worked in both fields for over 15 years.
She is responsible for the management of our company’s many rental properties and the day to day running of our office. She has a positive can-do attitude and is a versatile team contributor. Teleitha is also an advocate for continual learning and is currently studying her Bachelor of Commerce with the University of South Australia.
Gary Brennand (Farm Manager)
Gary Brennand is a highly experienced property manager, having managed medium and large scale properties in north west Qld, South West Qld and Central NSW.
After moving to Central NSW to manage a Stud Merino sheep station, Gary started Springvale Farm Trees in central NSW. Here, he developed skills in propagating native trees from seed and raising them to planting stage. After moving back to Queensland, Gary joined Country Asset Management where he now manage koala offsets and cattle across multiple properties.
