Nigel Sharp

Nigel Sharp is an Australian investment manager, business executive and environmentalist known for his work in Australia for new business models of regenerative agriculture, nature positive urbanism and threatened species conservation.

He holds leadership positions across several businesses and NGOs, including CircleAG, Dragonfly Enviro Capital, Odonata Foundation, the Soil Carbon Industry Group, and the Bionutrient Food Association.

Early years

Nigel Sharp was born on July 28, 1961, in Hamilton, Victoria, Australia. Growing up on his family’s farm in Branxholme, Victoria, he later credited much of his interest and passion for conservation through helping his father plant and protect creek lines on their farm and in surrounding areas, to combat rising soil salinity levels, which was a major issue at the time.

Career

Sharp began his career as a qualified property valuer, and gained experience running a listed company trust. He worked in senior positions across the property funds management and property development industries, including both rural and urban property projects.

He started his involvement in conservation in 2000 when he helped rescue the predator-free ecosystem at Mt Rothwell Sanctuary Little River, Victoria and introduced a breeding program for species such as the Eastern Quoll, Eastern barred bandicoot and Southern Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby.

In 2010, he and business partner Harry Youngman purchased Tiverton Farm, a 1,000-hectare (2,500-acre) working sheep property in Western Victoria, for the purpose of eradicating non-native species and reintroducing Eastern Barred Bandicoot and Eastern Quoll, while maintaining a viable agricultural business.

In 2016 Sharp founded the Odonata Foundation, specialising in the business of biodiversity. Odonata designs and manages financially sustainable conservation projects, educating the public and empowering businesses to embrace biodiversity.