6 June 2025
TAKESA FRANK: THE NEXT GENERATION IS TAKING PASSION FOR PROTECTING COUNTRY GLOBAL
In the quiet, forested hills of Yuin Country on the New South Wales South Coast, the Clyde River winds through ancient bushland containing culturally-significant lyrebirds mimicking the sounds of the world around them.
This very special place is home to Takesa Frank — a proud young Aboriginal woman standing tall for Country. Takesa is a very unique conservation voice - she is passionate about geography, mentoring youth, environmental activism and is one of the most compelling Indigenous nature-focused figures of her generation.
At just 23, Takesa connects deeply with this year’s NAIDOC Week theme: “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy.” Her story is one of deep connection to Country, courageous action in the face of environmental destruction and a commitment to mentoring and empowering others to protect the natural world.
Connection to Country ignites the passion to protect it
Takesa grew up in the nature of Shoalhaven, surrounded by the Brooman State Forest and pristine Clyde River—one of the cleanest rivers in New South Wales. Her childhood was shaped by the rhythms of the bush: playing outside with her siblings, collecting rainwater and relying on solar power. “From a really young age, we learnt the value of nature,” she says. “It wasn’t just something we appreciated—it was how we lived.”
That early connection to Country became the foundation for her environmental activism. But it was the devastating 2019–20 bushfires that transformed her passion into purpose. The fires came within one kilometre of her family’s home. For two weeks, she and her family fought to protect not just their house, but the surrounding bushland and a nearby blueberry farm. “It wasn’t just about saving property,” she recalls. “It was about protecting the forest that had always protected us.”
Just months later, logging resumed in the same forests that had barely recovered from the fires.
“We were sitting on the balcony watching the trees fall,” she says. “First to fire, then to chainsaws. One was a natural disaster. The other was a choice.”
proud Aboriginal woman and environmental leader
Vision of a future where people and nature thrive together
Takesa’s vision is clear: a future where people and nature thrive together, where young people—especially young Aboriginal people—have a seat at the table. A future where decisions about Country are made with care, by culturally-appropriate representatives supercharged by youthful energy and skillsets, while being supported by millenia of Knowledge.
“Young mob are the future,” she says. “We’re the ones who will live with the consequences of today’s decisions. We need to be in the room when those decisions are made.”
That belief led her to run as the youngest Greens candidate for Shoalhaven City Council in 2021. It also fuels her work with the NSW Forest Alliance and the Bob Brown Foundation, where she’s been a leading voice in the campaign to end native forest logging in New South Wales.
In 2023, Takesa took her activism to new heights—literally. She climbed 20 metres into the canopy of Shallow Crossing State Forest near the Clyde River and spent six hours in a tree sit, halting logging operations and drawing national attention to the destruction of native forests for low-value products like firewood and woodchips.
It was a bold move for someone who describes herself as “not usually a radical”. But it was also deeply personal. “I’d tried everything—petitions, meetings, letters. Nothing was changing. I needed to do something that would be seen.”
While suspended in the canopy, a goanna—Girawa, the local totem—climbed onto her ropes and sat with her for hours. “It felt like nature was standing in solidarity with me,” she says. “It was a moment I’ll never forget.”
Legacy through mentorship and community
Takesa’s impact goes far beyond protests and petitions. She’s passionate about mentoring the next generation of environmental leaders, especially young Aboriginal people. Through her work with a local mental health charity, she runs six-month programs that teach young people how to create change in their communities.
“Mentoring is so important,” she says. “When I started, I didn’t know everything. I still don’t. But you don’t need to know everything to start making a difference.”
Her own journey began with a small but powerful project in high school: removing single-use plastic water bottles from the school canteen. “It felt huge at the time,” she laughs. “But it taught me that small actions can ripple out and create big change.”
That ripple effect continues today. In 2023, Takesa was named Young Environmentalist of the Year by the Bob Brown Foundation. The award recognised not just her activism, but her leadership, her community-building and her unwavering commitment to protect Country.
“I don’t see it as an individual award,” she says. “It’s for everyone who’s been part of this journey—my community, my family, the people who’ve stood beside me in the forest and in the fight.”
When asked who has inspired her most so far along her journey, Takesa doesn’t hesitate to name Aunty Nellie Mooney, a respected Elder in the Milton-Ulladulla area. Aunty Nellie, now in her late 80s, founded the region’s first Aboriginal Homework Centre more than 50 years ago. Takesa attended the centre from Year 7 through to Year 12.
“She was there every single week,” Takesa recalls. “Not just helping with homework, but sharing stories, listening and showing up. That kind of consistency and care—it stays with you.”
Though Aunty Nellie’s work focused on education, her influence on Takesa’s environmental journey is profound. “She taught me the power of passion and the importance of living by your values. Even though our causes are different, the heart behind them is the same.”
The power of education and Indigenous Knowledge
Takesa recently completed a Bachelor of Geography, majoring in human geography and minoring in Indigenous studies. Her academic background gives her a unique lens on the intersection of people, policy and place.
“Geography isn’t just maps,” she explains. “It’s about how people interact with the environment, and how policies impact communities on-the-ground. Studying it helped me understand the systems behind the issues I care about.”
She believes Indigenous Knowledge must be central to conservation efforts. “For too long, Aboriginal voices have been sidelined. But we’ve been caring for Country for tens of thousands of years. That knowledge is powerful—and it’s needed now more than ever.”
A seat at the table—and a voice on the world stage
Marking an exciting new chapter in her conservation leadership journey, Takesa will be a spokesperson for WWF Asia & Pacific at the upcoming COP 30 climate summit in Brazil. It’s an opportunity she describes as “a dream come true.”
“To go from a small off-grid home in the bush to a global stage where climate decisions are made—it is such an honour,” she says. “I’d be there not just for me, but for my community, for young people and for Country.”
She’s also clear about the challenges young people face in these spaces. “It’s hard to get a seat at the table. There’s a fear you’re not taken seriously because you don’t have a degree or decades of experience. And for Aboriginal young people, there’s the added pressure of not wanting to speak over your Elders.”
But she believes in the power of intergenerational collaboration. “We need to respect our Elders—and they need to respect what young people bring. We have new ideas, new tools, and a deep love for Country. Our voices matter.”
The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy
As we celebrate NAIDOC Week 2025, Takesa Frank reminds us what the theme truly means. Her strength lies in her roots—her connection to Country, her resilience in the face of injustice and her courage to act. Her vision is one of unity, regeneration and justice. And her legacy is already taking shape—in the forests she lives amongst and so deeply cares for, the young people she mentors and the conversations she’s sparked across the country.
At WWF-Australia, we believe that people like Takesa are the future of conservation. They are the next generation of leaders, healers and protectors. And they are showing us that when we act with heart, with purpose and with community, we can create a world where people and nature thrive together.