Greetings earthlings! Thank you for taking an interest in getting to know me.

Firstly, allow me to introduce myself in my grandmother’s traditional language, Kalaw Kawaw Ya. Nguzu Nel Rosemary Mawbu Tabuai. Buway, Ayth Kodal. Awgadh Koedal , Koedal. Zugub, Thonarr Thithuy. Gub, Sager.

I guess I should explain what this means. So my name is Rosemary Tabuai, and my traditional name is Mawbu, a refined silky seaweed like plant, that grows beneath the surface of swamp water. Though this may not sound so glamorous, to me it represents resilience, as it is an organism that grows in the harshest conditions. Once dried out, it is also used to create mats and baskets, so its super strong, much like me! Hehe. I come from the Crocodile clan of Saibai Island, in the top western region of the Torres Strait. For those who may not know where Torres Strait Islands are, it is located between the tip of Far North Queensland, and Papua New Guinea.  Saibai Island clans are also identified by a star and wind, so for me it is the Easterly wind, and my constellation is thonar thithuy. Not exactly sure what English name for the star, but it is visible during early hours of morning.

Though I went to primary and secondary school in Cairns, Queensland, I moved to Sydney and studied Bachelor of Arts majoring in Environmental Humanities at UNSW. My major was interdisciplinary, integrating materials from diverse fields such as geography, social theory, science and technology studies. After completing my studies, I worked for NSW Environmental Protection Authority, within their Regulatory Reform and Advice Branch. After wanting to gain some industry experience, I landed a role as an environmental consultant for a large professional services firm, where I completed approval applications and environmental impact assessments.

I’ve recently joined the 4Pillars family as a Senior Consultant, and so far, have completed tasks such as NSW EPA mandated annual report and a voluntary compliance audit. My role will focus on supporting several long-term clients in the environmental management of their sites and assisting in the development of our new EnviroNow Basic subscription service.

In my spare time I enjoy writing slam poetry, spending time with family, and going to the beach.