Sustainable Jungle is powered by people who care deeply about creating a better future for people and the natural environment. Founded by Joy McConnochie and Lyall Mabin in 2017, and joined shortly after by Amber McDaniel (who has lead much of our content development and brand relationships), our core team brings together both professional expertise and lived experience in sustainability.
Over the years, we’ve also been fortunate to work with an incredible group of writers, editors, and contributors who share our passion for positive change. Their backgrounds span environmental science, permaculture, upcycling, organic gardening, conservation, sustainable fashion, ethical business, green parenting, wellness, regenerative agriculture, and more. Many are active in grassroots movements, work in green industries, or live low-impact lifestyles themselves. From any article, you can click on the author’s name to read more about their background and expertise.
This diversity of knowledge and experience ensures that our content isn’t just based on research, it’s grounded in real-world practice. Everything we publish is fact-checked, updated regularly, and written with honesty and nuance, so you can trust Sustainable Jungle as a reliable resource for learning about sustainable living. For more details, see our editorial guidelines.
Learn more about our leadership team below, or contact us if you have any questions about our publication or the people behind it.
Joy McConnochie, Co-founder
Joy has been passionate about the environment since childhood in South Africa, where she was surrounded by the wonders of nature. Enraged by the devastating impact of palm oil, she co-founded Sustainable Jungle with her husband Lyall in 2017. She later launched the Sustainable Jungle Podcast, interviewing changemakers from around the world. Alongside SJ, Joy has built a corporate career in auditing, management consulting, and most recently climate investing across Asia Pacific. Today, her focus is using her compliance and reporting skills to lead SJ’s Brand Ratings, helping to define what meaningful sustainability looks like in real life and business. When she’s not working on SJ, you can find her swimming in the ocean, running the trails, gardening, or trying to teach her young son about the importance of nature — before inevitably relenting and playing superheroes. For professional opportunities, Joy can be found on LinkedIn.
Lyall Mabin, Co-founder
Lyall studied film at AFDA before completing a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) at the University of Auckland. A “recovering lawyer,” Lyall now channels his skills into building media platforms that make sustainability the norm. Originally from South Africa and now based in Australia, he brings expertise in law, strategy, and storytelling. When not working with the SJ team, he can be found playing Spiderman with his young son, reading, or running the trails.
Amber McDaniel, Head of Content
Amber obtained Bachelor of Arts degrees in English, Creative Writing, and Psychology from The University of Oxford and Arcadia University. An avid crafter, gardener, quail farmer, and eco-adventurer, she’s lived in a camper van, a tiny house, and aspires to one day become an off-grid micro-farmer. Amber has backpacked across 30 countries and is passionate about weaving sustainability into everyday living. She has managed Sustainable Jungle’s content, many of our brand relationships and has hosted most of our YouTube videos. Say hi to her on Instagram where she shares her creations.
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