Together with Hugh, Nan developed and managed Terania Rainforest Nursery for 20 years in the Northern Rivers area of N.S.W., producing rainforest plants for horticulture and for reforestation. She pioneered some of the methods now commonly used for propagation of rainforest plants, such as storage of seedlings instead of seed.

Nan worked for 15 years as a consultant in Landmark Ecological Services, providing advice particularly in relation to rainforests.

Nan has been involved in forest activism for four decades, helping to ensure the survival of rainforests and old growth forests.

For this project Nan and Hugh visited hundreds of rainforest locations in eastern Australia to find and photograph the plants.