Virtus Heritage

Our Team

Virtus Heritage is an interdisciplinary team of qualified, experienced and well-respected Archaeology and Cultural Heritage consultants who bring decades of specialist expertise and local knowledge to our projects. We pride ourselves on the solid reputation we’ve built with government agencies, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders and private sector organisations.
Meet our team and learn how their professional experience, technical skill and research can add value to your next project.

Dr Mary-Jean Sutton

Director

BA Hons. (Archaeology), University of Sydney;
PhD Archaeology, University of Queensland

Mary-Jean has 25+ years of professional experience in Aboriginal and historical heritage management and archaeology. She is widely published in academic journals and has authored over 400 consultancy projects for Aboriginal and historical heritage, including complex Aboriginal and Historical Heritage Assessments as part of the Environmental Assessment process for Major State Significant Projects in the renewables, infrastructure, Defence and residential development sectors and with government agencies.

She has been successfully awarded grants for various research and collaborative community heritage projects. She has acted as a specialist heritage advisor, preparing expert advice and reviews of cultural heritage legislation and policy for academic, commercial and research organisations. Mary-Jean is an approved provider for Section 10 reporting under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984. Mary-Jean is also experienced in preparing relevant permits and consents, historical and Aboriginal archaeologist testing and salvage investigations, due diligence, thematic histories, cultural mapping, historical archaeological investigations, and desktop reviews, peer review and expert witness testimony, management plans, inductions and training packages and consultation. She is a recognised Professional Historian, a Full member of the Australian Association of Consulting Archaeologists, Chair of the Specialist Environmental Advisory Committee – Heritage for Certification of Environmental Practitioners Scheme and has a CEnvP-Heritage, a member of the Specialist Heritage Committee for the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand and a fellow of the Australian Anthropological Society.

Kelly Kent

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping, TAFE NSW

With over 15 years of experience in Administrative Management, Kelly joined the Virtus Heritage team in 2019. Kelly is the Financial Controller, as well as overseeing systems for Quality Assurance within Virtus Heritage and for Aboriginal Consultation, HR and all financial systems.

Kelly has also facilitated and delivered training workshops to Aboriginal communities working with the team for cultural mapping projects and oral history interviews. More broadly, Kelly has worked closely with members of Local Aboriginal Land Councils and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities across the greater NSW area and undertaken ethnohistorical research across numerous Aboriginal cultural heritage projects across NSW and Queensland. Kelly is also a Champion for our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). Kelly has a First Nations background and leads with compassion and an understanding of critical community issues.

Martin Wright

Senior Archaeologist

BA Hons. (Archaeology), University of Sydney;
B. Bus. (Economics), Queensland University of Technology

Having worked as a Consultant Archaeologist since 2017, Martin has experience in applying NSW heritage legislation in field assessments, reporting, site card preparation, and Aboriginal consultation, and has worked in collaboration with Indigenous groups, stakeholders, and clients throughout NSW. Martin has developed specialist expertise in archaeomalacology (the analysis of shellfish in archaeological contexts), and his field experience spans Indigenous and prehistoric sites in Australia, Asia, and Europe.

Martin has also undertaken extensive research into shell-midden sites in Australia and Sri Lanka, and his work as a researcher for the University of Sydney focused on indigenous lithic material analysis from sites across New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria. Martin has extensive experience working with Virtus Heritage, delivering and leading Aboriginal cultural heritage assessments, investigations and management plans for coastal archaeological sites, particularly shell middens. Martin’s expertise in coastal archaeology has assisted in the development of Aboriginal cultural heritage management plans, consents, and management advice for complex coastal cultural heritage projects. Martin is a First Nations Archaeologist with a strong commitment to integrity and honesty in community engagement.

Julian Travaglia

Principal Archaeologist/Stone Artefact Analysis

BA Hons. (Archaeology), University of Queensland

Julian has worked as an archaeologist since 2006 and been involved in a variety of projects that span both Aboriginal and historical archaeology. Julian has extensive experience managing projects, producing Aboriginal due diligence and archaeological assessments including extensive research, Aboriginal community consultation, and conducting and supervising Aboriginal and historical archaeological surveys, excavations (manual and mechanical) and monitoring programs.

Julian specialises in the detailed recording and analysis of Aboriginal stone tools for significant infrastructure, mining and development projects, and producing the corresponding salvage reports. Julian also has experience in historical heritage research and searches, historical heritage survey, and reporting requirements for historical heritage assessments. Julian regularly assists in ground-penetrating radar surveys and data collection including projects on unmarked Aboriginal graves in Cape York and Fingal, Queensland and war graves in Papua New Guinea.

Tas Devine

MARKETING COORDINATOR/ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTOR

Since starting as an Administrative Assistant at Virtus Heritage, her adaptability and strong passion for helping people have seen a seamless transition into the role of Marketing Coordinator. Tas oversees marketing projects to ensure that the important work of our team can be shared with the broader community.

Tas is the key developer of our newsletter, website administrator and develops design outputs for community reports. Her time is also spent providing support to our Director, Dr Mary-Jean Sutton, and working closely with Kelly on strategic business development and planning. Tas also provides support to Nicky and the team, scheduling and organising events and ensuring travel bookings are seamlessly organised to facilitate fieldwork.

Lilith Malcolm

Lilith Malcolm

GRADUATE ARCHAEOLOGIST

BA (Archaeology), University of Sydney

Lilith provides support to our Senior Archaeologists on various Aboriginal and historic cultural heritage projects. She is skilled in various aspects of post-excavation tasks, including artefact processing, cataloguing and data entry into an artefact database, preparing and formatting archaeological excavation reports, and managing the photography of artefacts. Since joining Virtus Heritage, Lilith has assisted with community consultation, research, fieldwork, and reporting on Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment (ACHA) projects across NSW.

Garth Thompson

GRADUATE ARCHAEOLOGIST

BA (Archaeology and Anthropology), University of Sydney;
Masters of Archaeological and Evolutionary Science, Australian National University

Garth has experience working with communities in NSW and Victoria on research-based community projects, public sector projects, and infrastructure-based projects.

These projects have involved a variety of deliverables, including due diligence and Statement of Heritage Impact reporting, the presentation of archaeological and cultural heritage training workshops, the construction of biological profiles from human skeletal remains, and the use of geometric morphometric techniques to analyse human evolutionary morphology. Garth aligns with the Virtus Heritage values, advocating for archaeology as a medium to build relationships and promote reconciliation.

Clare Anderson

PRINCIPAL ARCHAEOLOGIST/HERITAGE CONSULTANT

BA Hons. (Prehistoric and Historic Archaeology), University of Sydney

Clare is a Principal Archaeologist/Heritage Consultant with over 15 years of experience in identifying and assessing impacts on Aboriginal cultural heritage in NSW. Clare has managed and successfully delivered projects of all scales across various sectors, from due diligence assessments of small subdivisions in the Sydney Growth Areas to Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessments, Management Plans and Salvage Programs for State Significant Development and Infrastructure Projects with referrals under the EPBC Act.

Clare has a highly developed understanding of the legislative and regulatory framework in which construction projects are undertaken, alongside her capabilities in project management and providing strategic planning guidance and advice. Clare is committed to the delivery of complex Aboriginal cultural heritage projects with pragmatic outcomes. Clare embodies integrity and professionalism and is well respected in her field for her ability to interpret and communicate complex advice to clients as well as her strong advocacy for community heritage and transparent and honest stakeholder and community engagement.

Caroline Ephraums

RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN AND ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR

BSc (Marine) University of New England, B.Ed. (Primary);
Queensland University of Technology

Caroline has three years of experience in the Aboriginal consultation and administrative coordination at Virtus Heritage. Caroline is responsible for working with Kelly and Mary-Jean to develop our fourth Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and is the lead on consultation with the RAP committee for its delivery.

Her capability in facilitating consultation stems from her extensive educational background in Far North QLD, where she worked with Indigenous teachers to build positive relationships with Indigenous students and their communities. Caroline’s warmth and compassion shine through her project work with communities and school children. Caroline assists with catering and organising events and her environmental expertise assists the archaeologists with technical reports and site work.

Nicky Scott

OFFICE MANAGER

Certificate III in Accounts Administration

Having worked in administrative roles since 2012, Nicky joined our team in 2022 as Office Manager. Nicky provides support to our busy team of archaeologists as they engage with various projects and stakeholders. Nicky is the Mental Health Champion for our team. Nicky supports Kelly with the coordination of the administrative team and the technical team more broadly.

Nicky is the key contact for invoicing, accounts payable and receivable. She supports the facilitation of Aboriginal community workshops, educational events and training days and is passionate about heritage and history.

Dr Mary-Jean Sutton

Director

BA Hons. (Archaeology), University of Sydney;
PhD Archaeology, University of Queensland

Mary-Jean has 25+ years of professional experience in Aboriginal and historical heritage management and archaeology. She is widely published in academic journals and has authored over 400 consultancy projects for Aboriginal and historical heritage, including complex Aboriginal and Historical Heritage Assessments as part of the Environmental Assessment process for Major State Significant Projects in the renewables, infrastructure, Defence and residential development sectors and with government agencies.

She has been successfully awarded grants for various research and collaborative community heritage projects. She has acted as a specialist heritage advisor, preparing expert advice and reviews of cultural heritage legislation and policy for academic, commercial and research organisations. Mary-Jean is an approved provider for Section 10 reporting under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984. Mary-Jean is also experienced in preparing relevant permits and consents, historical and Aboriginal archaeologist testing and salvage investigations, due diligence, thematic histories, cultural mapping, historical archaeological investigations, and desktop reviews, peer review and expert witness testimony, management plans, inductions and training packages and consultation. She is a recognised Professional Historian, a Full member of the Australian Association of Consulting Archaeologists, Chair of the Specialist Environmental Advisory Committee – Heritage for Certification of Environmental Practitioners Scheme and has a CEnvP-Heritage, a member of the Specialist Heritage Committee for the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand and a fellow of the Australian Anthropological Society.

Kelly Kent

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping, TAFE NSW

With over 15 years of experience in Administrative Management, Kelly joined the Virtus Heritage team in 2019. Kelly is the Financial Controller, as well as overseeing systems for Quality Assurance within Virtus Heritage and for Aboriginal Consultation, HR and all financial systems.

Kelly has also facilitated and delivered training workshops to Aboriginal communities working with the team for cultural mapping projects and oral history interviews. More broadly, Kelly has worked closely with members of Local Aboriginal Land Councils and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities across the greater NSW area and undertaken ethnohistorical research across numerous Aboriginal cultural heritage projects across NSW and Queensland. Kelly is also a Champion for our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). Kelly has a First Nations background and leads with compassion and an understanding of critical community issues.

Martin Wright

Senior Archaeologist

BA Hons. (Archaeology), University of Sydney;
B. Bus. (Economics), Queensland University of Technology

Having worked as a Consultant Archaeologist since 2017, Martin has experience in applying NSW heritage legislation in field assessments, reporting, site card preparation, and Aboriginal consultation, and has worked in collaboration with Indigenous groups, stakeholders, and clients throughout NSW. Martin has developed specialist expertise in archaeomalacology (the analysis of shellfish in archaeological contexts), and his field experience spans Indigenous and prehistoric sites in Australia, Asia, and Europe.

Martin has also undertaken extensive research into shell-midden sites in Australia and Sri Lanka, and his work as a researcher for the University of Sydney focused on indigenous lithic material analysis from sites across New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria. Martin has extensive experience working with Virtus Heritage, delivering and leading Aboriginal cultural heritage assessments, investigations and management plans for coastal archaeological sites, particularly shell middens. Martin’s expertise in coastal archaeology has assisted in the development of Aboriginal cultural heritage management plans, consents, and management advice for complex coastal cultural heritage projects. Martin is a First Nations Archaeologist with a strong commitment to integrity and honesty in community engagement.

Julian Travaglia

Principal Archaeologist/Stone Artefact Analysis

BA Hons. (Archaeology), University of Queensland

Julian has worked as an archaeologist since 2006 and been involved in a variety of projects that span both Aboriginal and historical archaeology. Julian has extensive experience managing projects, producing Aboriginal due diligence and archaeological assessments including extensive research, Aboriginal community consultation, and conducting and supervising Aboriginal and historical archaeological surveys, excavations (manual and mechanical) and monitoring programs.

Julian specialises in the detailed recording and analysis of Aboriginal stone tools for significant infrastructure, mining and development projects, and producing the corresponding salvage reports. Julian also has experience in historical heritage research and searches, historical heritage survey, and reporting requirements for historical heritage assessments. Julian regularly assists in ground-penetrating radar surveys and data collection including projects on unmarked Aboriginal graves in Cape York and Fingal, Queensland and war graves in Papua New Guinea.

Tas Devine

MARKETING COORDINATOR/ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTOR

Since starting as an Administrative Assistant at Virtus Heritage, her adaptability and strong passion for helping people have seen a seamless transition into the role of Marketing Coordinator. Tas oversees marketing projects to ensure that the important work of our team can be shared with the broader community.

Tas is the key developer of our newsletter, website administrator and develops design outputs for community reports. Her time is also spent providing support to our Director, Dr Mary-Jean Sutton, and working closely with Kelly on strategic business development and planning. Tas also provides support to Nicky and the team, scheduling and organising events and ensuring travel bookings are seamlessly organised to facilitate fieldwork.

Lilith Malcolm

Lilith Malcolm

GRADUATE ARCHAEOLOGIST

BA (Archaeology), University of Sydney

Lilith provides support to our Senior Archaeologists on various Aboriginal and historic cultural heritage projects. She is skilled in various aspects of post-excavation tasks, including artefact processing, cataloguing and data entry into an artefact database, preparing and formatting archaeological excavation reports, and managing the photography of artefacts. Since joining Virtus Heritage, Lilith has assisted with community consultation, research, fieldwork, and reporting on Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment (ACHA) projects across NSW.
Lilith Malcolm

Garth Thompson

GRADUATE ARCHAEOLOGIST

BA (Archaeology and Anthropology), University of Sydney;
Masters of Archaeological and Evolutionary Science, Australian National University

Garth has experience working with communities in NSW and Victoria on research-based community projects, public sector projects, and infrastructure-based projects.

These projects have involved a variety of deliverables, including due diligence and Statement of Heritage Impact reporting, the presentation of archaeological and cultural heritage training workshops, the construction of biological profiles from human skeletal remains, and the use of geometric morphometric techniques to analyse human evolutionary morphology. Garth aligns with the Virtus Heritage values, advocating for archaeology as a medium to build relationships and promote reconciliation.

Clare Anderson

PRINCIPAL ARCHAEOLOGIST/HERITAGE CONSULTANT

BA Hons. (Prehistoric and Historic Archaeology), University of Sydney

Clare is a Principal Archaeologist/Heritage Consultant with over 15 years of experience in identifying and assessing impacts on Aboriginal cultural heritage in NSW. Clare has managed and successfully delivered projects of all scales across various sectors, from due diligence assessments of small subdivisions in the Sydney Growth Areas to Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessments, Management Plans and Salvage Programs for State Significant Development and Infrastructure Projects with referrals under the EPBC Act.

Clare has a highly developed understanding of the legislative and regulatory framework in which construction projects are undertaken, alongside her capabilities in project management and providing strategic planning guidance and advice. Clare is committed to the delivery of complex Aboriginal cultural heritage projects with pragmatic outcomes. Clare embodies integrity and professionalism and is well respected in her field for her ability to interpret and communicate complex advice to clients as well as her strong advocacy for community heritage and transparent and honest stakeholder and community engagement.

Caroline Ephraums

RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN AND ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR

BSc (Marine) University of New England, B.Ed. (Primary);
Queensland University of Technology

Caroline has three years of experience in the Aboriginal consultation and administrative coordination at Virtus Heritage. Caroline is responsible for working with Kelly and Mary-Jean to develop our fourth Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and is the lead on consultation with the RAP committee for its delivery.

Her capability in facilitating consultation stems from her extensive educational background in Far North QLD, where she worked with Indigenous teachers to build positive relationships with Indigenous students and their communities. Caroline’s warmth and compassion shine through her project work with communities and school children. Caroline assists with catering and organising events and her environmental expertise assists the archaeologists with technical reports and site work.

Nicky Scott

OFFICE MANAGER

Certificate III in Accounts Administration

Having worked in administrative roles since 2012, Nicky joined our team in 2022 as Office Manager. Nicky provides support to our busy team of archaeologists as they engage with various projects and stakeholders. Nicky is the Mental Health Champion for our team. Nicky supports Kelly with the coordination of the administrative team and the technical team more broadly.

Nicky is the key contact for invoicing, accounts payable and receivable. She supports the facilitation of Aboriginal community workshops, educational events and training days and is passionate about heritage and history.

Contact Us

If you’d like to work with us or need guidance on how our archaeology and cultural heritage services can support a project you have in mind, let’s start a conversation.

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Follow our team as they explore fascinating places, from soil to sea, across Australia and beyond.