Meet our Co-Founder: The Story Behind Dragonfly

Meet Elaway, the founder of Dragonfly. Leading a team of industry leaders in ecological restoration is no small feat, but Elaway has done so for over 20 years with an unmatched passion and optimism for her craft.

Established in 1998, Dragonfly began as a small environmental consulting business with a simple but powerful goal: to help people care for nature.

With that goal as the foundation, the company evolved and now provides end-to-end ecological services across wetlands, waterways, and urban areas. Today, Dragonfly is supported by a growing team of natural area specialists, all united by a shared commitment to care for and restore natural areas for now and future generations.

Elaway’s connection to ecology – beyond the textbook

“I grew up always being outside and in nature – through the ups and downs of growing up and becoming who I am, nature has always been a soul ace”, says Elaway, one of Dragonfly’s Founders.

For Elaway the journey began long before Dragonfly existed. Growing up with a connection to nature from a young age and inspired by David Attenborough’s storytelling, she developed a curiosity about ecology that became part of her identity.

This eventually led Elaway to study science, where she challenged traditional thinking during her time at university. During this time, she began to challenge the idea that nature functions like a machine.

“It’s not like the mechanics of a car and it can’t be fixed like one – it’s like we’re never going to know A equals B equals C.”

Elaway saw that nature was more complex than what was being taught. Observing ecosystems present in Australia, such as the Great Barrier Reef, where low fertility supports immense biodiversity, reinforced her belief that nature is deeply interconnected and needs a more holistic approach.

Following university, she immersed herself in diverse cultures and built relationships with others who had a deep connection to nature, including the Traditional Custodians of the Land. This helped her gain more knowledge and expertise that are now embedded in Dragonfly’s practices.

From idea to impact

The idea of building her own business had been with Elaway from a young age. Inspired by local business owners who were creating work that they were passionate about, she saw an opportunity to do the same with her passion.

“Having other jobs being spoken about to me, nothing was appealing except the idea of nature—and creating a structure for it that people can be a part of caring for it.”

She began with environmental consulting, taking on projects that involved planting, restoration, and collaboration with landowners and communities. Over time, this work grew into something more structured. Then after forming a partnership with Andre on early large-scale planting projects, the business quickly grew from a small team of family and friends into a dedicated ecological restoration company.

What made Dragonfly different and grow

As Dragonfly expanded, it became known for its specialisation in wetlands and waterways. Within the industry, there was a gap in how these areas were being treated in development.

“They used to be an afterthought, an end-of-pipe solution—just stick a wetland there and it magically cleans everything. And that’s not the truth.”

The company’s specialisation in wetlands and waterways helped advocate for the prioritisation of these areas. With many years in the industry, Dragonfly has watched the wetlands and waterways move from being a thought at the end of development to a top priority at the start of the process. This, alongside their commitment to long-term care, helped them stand out within the industry.

Bushland regeneration work brought further stability and longstanding projects to the company, allowing the team to grow and take on larger, more complex projects. In areas like Kellyville, where Dragonfly has spent over 15 years planning, restoring, and maintaining landscapes, you can see the company’s long-term commitment that goes beyond project completion.

Moving Forward

Recognising the company’s beginnings, growth, and its future goals, Dragonfly aims to continue caring for natural and restored areas for present and future generations. The organisation is not only focused on completing projects but also making a lasting impact through on-ground excellence.