Nicole Hasham is an award-winning environmental journalist and editor at The Conversation (Australia), specializing in the intersection of ecology, energy policy, and Indigenous rights. With a career spanning political reporting at The Sydney Morning Herald to deep investigations into Australia’s mining industry, her work combines rigorous analysis with narrative depth.
"Mining, by its nature, must damage the body it penetrates. The purported payback is tax revenue for governments and the materials we need to conduct our lives." – Bloodstone
Nicole Hasham has carved a distinguished career at the intersection of environmental journalism and narrative-driven investigative reporting. Beginning as a federal politics reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, she transitioned to environmental and energy journalism, earning recognition for her incisive analysis of Australia’s ecological challenges. Her tenure at The Conversation as Environment and Energy Editor has solidified her role as a leading voice in translating complex policy and scientific debates into accessible public discourse.
This essay, shortlisted for the 2024 Calibre Essay Prize, examines the 1974 destruction of Mount Tom Price, a sacred Indigenous site in Western Australia, for iron ore mining. Hasham intertwines historical archives with firsthand accounts from Traditional Owners and mining families, revealing the cultural and ecological toll of resource extraction. Her portrayal of the Pilbara region’s transformation—from ancient landscapes to industrial voids—highlights tensions between economic progress and environmental stewardship. The piece’s haunting conclusion, where a local souvenir shop worker laments the mountain’s loss, underscores Hasham’s ability to humanize systemic issues.
In this review, Hasham analyzes an anthology of Australian nature writing, drawing parallels between ecological interconnectedness and literary collaboration. She likens the anthology’s multivocal approach to a "mobbing flock" of birds—a metaphor for collective resistance against environmental threats. By contextualizing contemporary works within Australia’s colonial history, she critiques narratives that romanticize "untouched" wilderness while ignoring Indigenous stewardship. The review exemplifies her skill in bridging academic discourse and public engagement.
Hasham explores the ecological and cultural significance of Mount Kaputar’s pink slugs, a species endemic to an ancient Australian volcano. Blending field observations with Indigenous knowledge, she frames biodiversity loss as both a scientific and existential crisis. The article’s vivid descriptions of post-bushfire recovery—charred landscapes punctuated by fluorescent slugs—demonstrate her talent for finding hope in ecological fragility.
Hasham prioritizes stories that connect environmental issues to social justice, particularly Indigenous rights and intergenerational equity. Pitches should emphasize how ecological challenges—like mining or renewable energy projects—impact marginalized communities. For example, her coverage of Mount Tom Price linked mining’s environmental harm to the erosion of Indigenous cultural heritage. Successful pitches might explore similar tensions in current energy transitions, such as lithium mining for batteries affecting Aboriginal lands.
While Hasham engages with global climate frameworks, her work remains anchored in hyperlocal Australian contexts. She avoids abstract discussions of net-zero targets, instead spotlighting regional adaptations—like farmers adopting regenerative practices or coastal towns grappling with rising seas. Pitches should provide concrete examples of climate policies in action, preferably with voices from affected communities.
Her articles frequently juxtapose contemporary environmental debates with historical precedents, as seen in the Mount Tom Price piece’s use of 1970s mining archives. Pitches that uncover historical patterns in land use, policy failures, or ecological resilience will resonate. For instance, a story about modern wildfire management could draw parallels to Indigenous fire practices documented in colonial-era diaries.
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