Fred Nucifora certainly has a passion and buzz for the environment. As the new General Manager of major projects at the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Fred’s dedication to sustainability extends beyond coral reefs—he’s also a passionate beekeeper. His quarter-acre block is an oasis where he and his wife have created a self-sustaining haven, complete with an apiary (or bee home). And while you might not immediately connect bees with the Reef, Fred sees a clear relationship between the two.

“Bees are a great metaphor for the environment,” Fred said. 

“Like coral reefs, they rely on balance, cooperation, and interconnectedness. They’re both essential to the health of their ecosystems.”

Fred’s love for nature began in Innisfail, Far North Queensland, where he grew up on a sugar cane and cattle grazing farm. His childhood was spent swimming in waterfalls, skiing on the Johnstone River, and working alongside his father on the farm, all of which sparked his lifelong curiosity about the environment and the delicate balance of ecosystems.

Fred’s professional journey has been anything but traditional. While he initially dreamed of aviation and even flew over the opening of the Great Barrier Reef Aquarium in 1987, his aspirations of becoming a pilot didn’t take off. After dabbling in civil engineering at university, he quickly realised it wasn’t his passion and shifted his focus to education, where he majored in bio-physical geography and marine sciences. Fred then spent a decade as a teacher, focusing on experiential learning.

In 2001, Fred’s career took a pivotal turn when he joined the Reef Authority as a senior education officer. Since then, he’s been dedicated to the preservation of the Reef, helping create programs like Reef Guardian Schools, which encourages students to actively monitor and protect the environment. His focus has always been on fostering collaboration—whether in the classroom or across communities—to protect one of the world’s most precious ecosystems.

“I’ve always been a people person.”

“For me, policy should come from partnerships. Whether I’m working on major projects or reef conservation, collaboration is key,” Fred said.

As Fred steps into his new role overseeing large-scale projects, his impact on the future of the Reef is set to grow even more. His story shows that whether it's tending to bees in your backyard or protecting the Great Barrier Reef, small efforts can make a big difference. It’s all about balance—between people, the land, and the sea.