Jo Thierfelder

Jo likes to think of herself as having green blood given the significant roles horticulture, viticulture, farming and permaculture have played in her family history. Seeds were sown early during a childhood spent surrounded by plants in her father’s successful family business, Waldeck Nurseries. They then flourished when she discovered permaculture in her early 30s. This epiphany led her to complete a PDC and Certificate III in Permaculture followed by plenty of homegrown practice. Growing food, cooking, eating, sharing and living sustainably are Jo’s passions and all-consuming past-times.

Professionally speaking, Jo has a Bachelor degree in Journalism and Public Relations. She has spent her career working in communications, developing an expertise in the property, environmental and sustainability sectors. She held senior management roles in leading Australian project management, construction, and planning and urban design firms before deciding to strike out on her own in 2009. For nearly a decade, she ran her own communications consultancy working in communications, marketing, PR, stakeholder engagement and project management for a range of clients, from corporate giants to small business and everything in between. This experience has enabled Jo to turn her hand to any task at hand and fuelled her enthusiasm for challenging and diverse roles.

Jo’s other important role is being a mum to two clever young boys and wife to Jeff (Project Manager, Architecture and Planning); her partner in dreams, schemes and adventures. Seven years spent living in the Perth Hills solidified their love of the outdoors, semi-rural lifestyle, which led them to jump at the golden opportunity to join the Witchcliffe Ecovillage team and live in Margaret River in early 2019.

With a combination of solid technical skills, significant property and business experience, and a love of all things green and sustainable, Jo is thrilled to be leading the marketing and communications efforts on the Witchcliffe Ecovillage.