Grazie Cinzia: Thank You and Farewell from Healthy Rivers to Reef
We say goodbye to our Project Officer, Cinzia, who has been an integral part of the Healthy Rivers to Reef team for the past two and a half years.
During her time with us, Cinzia has supported the delivery of key projects and community engagement activities. Most notably, she took on the delivery of Project Blueprint, where she led engagement with tourism operators, researchers, Reef visitors, and Traditional Owners to help make it one of our most successful projects to date. As she prepares to embark on her new chapter, we asked her a few questions about her time with Healthy Rivers to Reef.
What did you enjoy most about your role?
The most rewarding aspect of my role has come from the people I’ve had the privilege to work with. Our small team of extraordinary women has been the heart of my experience – always supportive, always striving, and always united by shared values and goals. They’ve been more than colleagues; they’ve become a second family.
The Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership itself has been a place of connection, bringing so many voices to the table. This has given me the opportunity to work alongside people from different backgrounds, sectors, and perspectives. It’s in these differences that the Partnership’s strength lies: aligning our efforts, working together, and advocating for healthy waterways and reefs.
What are you most proud of?
Project Blueprint will always hold a special place in my heart. When I first joined, the project was entering a new phase, and watching it grow over the years has felt like growing alongside it myself. Its core values mirrored my own, both professionally and personally, which made it the right place for me.
A big part of my pride also comes from working with Traditional Owners. Their knowledge and perspective have taught me so much about the importance of listening to the environment and building a meaningful connection with it. Through them, I’ve come to understand that everything in nature exists in balance, and that our role is to observe, listen, and respond to its needs accordingly.
This project has also shown me the power of genuine relationships and collaboration – bringing together scientists, Traditional Owners, and tourism operators, each with different perspectives but united by the same passion and commitment to protecting the reef ecosystem.
A big part of my pride also comes from working with Traditional Owners. Their knowledge and perspective have taught me so much about the importance of listening to the environment and building a meaningful connection with it.
~ Cinzia Cattaneo, Healthy Rivers to Reef Project Officer
What has been your most memorable moment?
One of the most unforgettable moments in Australia was seeing my first baby turtle. Turtles are my spiritual animal, my totem, and I’ll never forget watching a tiny loggerhead emerge from its nest and make its way to the ocean.
Working on Project Blueprint also gave me the chance to experience Traditional Owner practices, like smoking ceremonies. I’d never done anything like this before my time in Australia, and each ceremony on Ngaro Country truly touched me. It’s such a grounding experience, connecting me to nature, the people, and myself – almost like a moment of self-reflection that I’ll always treasure.
What’s next for you?
The next chapter of my life takes me back to my home country, Italy, to spend time with family and friends I haven’t seen in a while. Family means so much to me, and I’m really looking forward to enjoying every moment with them. I’m also excited to travel with my partner – we want to explore the world and see what adventures are out there. We’re young, and we know that if we don’t do it now, we might regret it later!
We’re really looking forward to this new chapter, wherever life takes us. Australia will always be home, and we’ll be back one day – but for now… Hooroo!
