Amanda Dudgeon works full-time for the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, based in northern NSW, Australia. She is the International Ranger Federation’s Regional Representative for Oceania.
Filmed during a 94,000km solo expedition through Oceania, Amanda Dudgeon’s documentary ‘Guardians of Hope’ offers a rare and powerful glimpse into the lives, challenges, and resilience of rangers who devote themselves to protecting the natural world. In 2022-2023, Amanda travelled through eight countries - Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Timor Leste – on a 12-month trek to raise awareness of the vital conservation work rangers do. "From remote islands to rainforest interiors, these unsung guardians reveal what it truly means to protect not just land and natural heritage - but hope itself," Amanda said. “Rangers across Oceania are on the frontlines—leading incident and fire response, enforcing conservation laws, caring for wildlife, educating communities, and combining traditional knowledge with modern methods,” said Amanda. “We’re building inclusive, community-led conservation that transforms how we protect the environment.” Amanda interviewed over 150 rangers, gathering insights into the professionals responsible for protecting nature in an uncertain future. She visited over 20 islands in Oceania, travelling by four wheel drive, by boat and plane, as well as by helicopter and quad bike, and meeting with ranger teams and visiting the remarkable vestiges of pristine nature and wilderness they protect. During her Oceania expedition, Amanda also walked over 1600km in honour of over 1,000 rangers who have died on duty across the world in the last decade. The International Ranger Federation records about two to three fatalities every week, globally.