Name: Nigel Miller
What people call me:
I have had several nicknames that different friendship groups affectionately call me. Most of them however are not appropriate in this forum!!!
Where were you brought up as a child?
The Eastern suburbs of Melbourne. I didn’t love living in a big city, which was instrumental in my decision to study Forest Science at Melbourne University. My parents had a small farm about an hour east of Melbourne where we would spend most weekends. I was a cheap source of labour for my parents.
Who has been the most influential person in your life?
My two daughters. My eldest was a wonderful surprise in our lives, and the younger came along 5 years later. They are both a never-ending source of motivation and pride, with the eldest getting close to starting University.
Where do you live now and why?
Moved to Canberra 5 years ago for my wife’s career. We bought a house in Deakin which we are now renovating in our spare time! However, I spend a bit of time on the road visiting clients on their properties scattered across rural and regional Australia. Recently I’ve been getting my fix of “big trees” getting a new aggregation planation carbon farming project off the ground in Tasmania. Or should that be “in the ground”?
What is your passion and how did you get started on it?
Rowing and coaching rowing. I started rowing at school in Melbourne. As I’m only a little fella I only made the third crew. I now row in a single scull and coach the Senior Second VIII at Canberra Girls Grammar School.
How did you get into this line of work?
A mate from Canberra said, “I know this bloke Josh who is looking for someone”. I didn’t know much about carbon farming, but no one else did so it worked out ok!
Seriously though, after providing free labour on my parent’s farm I studied Forest Science/Commerce at Melbourne University and worked in the plantation forest sector for 10 years, including a period on Kangaroo Island with Great Southern. The day job was great but living and working on this island was special. It honed my skills working through complex programs spread over a large geographical area and working with multiple landholders. After a decade in plantation forestry it was a natural step into carbon farming and Climate Friendly.
If you weren’t answering these questions right now what would you rather be doing?
It’s a beautiful day in Canberra, so a cheeky mountain bike ride at Mt Stromlo would be quite cathartic.
