Shauna Black, Executive Officer, Kangaroo Island Business and Brand Alliance

The team at WSP, led by Jennifer McDonnell, was on the ground on Kangaroo Island within weeks of our bushfire disaster and proved versatile, hard-working and flexible in its approach to the Island’s needs – business and community.

Jen and her team brought a compassion and discipline to the process that was much appreciated as they set about working out how they could best help a community that was reeling from the enormity of the disaster. There was not one person untouched by the disaster here – a large island of just 4500 residents. Our resources and resilience were sorely stretched.

It sometimes felt we had been forgotten in the shadow of the Eastern Seaboard disaster, but Jen, Jodie and Stacie just rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in. Jen quickly formed strong working and personal relationships with key stakeholders on Kangaroo Island and did not shy from the tough decisions; adjusting the program of works in response to community and business feedback.

We fully commend the team at WSP for its generosity in helping our Island to recover.