Kerrie is the Director of the Marine Parks Management West and North Section in the Marine and Island Parks Branch of Parks Australia.

She oversees management of the Ghost Nets Program, and the North, North-west and South-west Marine Park Networks which include 35 Australian Marine Parks that lie in Commonwealth waters off the Northern Territory, Western Australia and South Australia.

Linda is an environmental management professional with more than 17 years’ experience working in government organisations, private industry and NGOs in various natural resource management and stakeholder engagement roles.

Linda currently works with the Western Australia Biodiversity Science Institute to develop a strategic approach to biodiversity offsets for the northern jarrah forest.

Linda has a PhD (environmental management), a Bachelor of Science (Marine Science) (hons), a Diploma of Management and is a lead auditor. She is also a board member of the international charity Positive Change for Marine Life.

Pierre is an environmental scientist with a background in marine science and management. He brings a comprehensive understanding of marine ecosystems, conservation strategies, community engagement, and sustainable management practices.

He currently works as a senior marine scientist for O2 Marine specialising in marine and coastal studies, the benthic environment, impact assessments and management plans.

Pierre is genuinely passionate about contributing to the responsible and effective management of Australia’s marine parks, advocating for their preservation and fostering harmonious relationships between marine ecosystems and the communities they serve.

Pierre’s experience includes on-the-ground management experience in the coastal environment through the WA Landcare Network and the development and implementation of resilience strategies for coral reefs.

Tim is a Senior Lecturer in Marine Biology at The University of Western Australia and is a research leader in the National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Marine and Coastal Hub.

Tim has published widely on using fisheries closures or no-take areas to investigate ecological processes, he has pioneered national scale data syntheses from baited cameras and works on socio-economic assessments of marine parks.

Tim is focused on supporting robust management planning and delivery for Australian Marine Parks and contributing to stakeholder engagement and communication efforts.

Melissa is an experienced researcher and marine educator who works to improve community involvement in Indigenous resource management, fisheries and urban governance decision making processes.

She currently leads the ACE (Adaptation Community Environment) Research Group, which focusses on doing applied research that builds links between research, community and achieves policy outcomes.

She is a member of the World Commission of Protected Areas, the Marine Biosecurity Taskforce (Australia) and the Scientific Expert Panel for the State of Victoria’s Marine and Coastal Council.

Previous roles have included co-leading the Indigenous Theme for the Social and Institutional National Climate Change Adaptation Research Network, Charing the REDMAP Community Advisory Committee and being a Director on the Board of Directors for the Wilderness Society in South Australia.

Melissa’s breadth of committee and board experience will be invaluable for the advisory committee.

Peter is a dedicated conservationist and has been advocating for state and federal marine protection in the South-west region for nearly 20 years. He was awarded South Australian of the Year for Environmental Protection in 2011 and was named Australian Environmentalist of the •Year by the Bob Brown Foundation in 2016.

Peter has a background in environmental law and expertise in marine and terrestrial protected areas. He is currently the Director of the Wilderness Society in South Australia and has previously held.roles on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Australian Executive Committee and Marine Parks Council of South Australia.

Peter has a passion for safeguarding national treasures and has focused on marine conservation and offshore oil and gas issues in the Great Australian Bight.

Terry has extensive commercial fisheries experience in the North West and South West regions. He currently sits on the Australian Fisheries Management Authority’s Tropical Tuna Management Advisory Committee, Southern Bluefin Tuna Management Advisory Committee and Squid Research Advisory Group, as well as the Western Australian Purse Seine Management Advisory Committee.

Terry is passionate about the conservation and sustainable management of our marine parks. He is committed to finding solutions that balance the needs of both the environment and the communities that rely on these resources.

Terry has a deep understanding of the local marine ecosystems, including the species that inhabit them, their migration patterns, and their vulnerabilities. He has a proven track record of effective communication and collaboration, working closely with various stakeholders, including government agencies, industry representatives, and environmental organisations.

In 2009, Terry received the Order of Australia Medal for contributions to the commercial fishing industry in Australia.

Sophie is a marine scientist with a strong interest in communications and community engagement.

She currently coordinates the marine monitoring program at Busselton Jetty, oversees the jetty’s environmental management planning and previously ran their marine education tours.

Sophie is a member of the Australian Marine Science Association and Malacological Society of Australasia and has previously volunteered with the Western Australian Museum Laboratories and State Department of Fisheries.

Professor Stephen van Leeuwen is a Wardandi Noongar man from the Harris Family in the South West Boojarah Noongar Native Title Settlement area. The Harris Family has strong cultural connections to the waters in the South-west Marine Region, including Geographe and South-west Corner Marine Parks.

Professor van Leeuwen is a botanical ecologist, research scientist, senior manager and a respected Indigenous leader. He builds collaborative relationships with Traditional Owners and other land managers to co-deliver novel and enduring outcomes for biodiversity conservation, bio-cultural land management, and the stewardship of Country.

Professor van Leeuwen is committed to ensuring Australia’s First Peoples have the opportunity to take an active role in the management of Country, including involvement in the co-design and delivery of management programs that support ongoing and enduring stewardship.

He is focused on ensuring the delivery of strong conservation and biodiversity outcomes that deliver mutual benefits which enhance the social wellbeing, economic prosperity, cultural security and connection of Indigenous Australians to their land and sea Country.

Dr. Bec Wellard is a marine scientist who operates at the intersection of science, governance, and conservation. With over 20 years of experience spanning academia, industry, government, and the not-for-profit sector, she has dedicated her career to developing and implementing science-driven ocean conservation initiatives.

As the Head of Oceans Biodiversity and Habitats at the Minderoo Foundation, Bec focuses on marine protected areas, creating and executing strategies to garner political and partnership support for large-scale ocean conservation both domestically and globally. She possesses a strong scientific research background in Australia, with expertise in policy and communications, and is eager to provide input into the development, deliverance and monitoring of marine parks in Australia.

Bec’s dedicated research as a marine scientist and cetacean specialist includes investigating population ecology and behaviour of marine wildlife, underwater bioacoustics of whales and dolphins, and advocating for policy change. A significant part of Bec’s Doctorate research focused on the South-west region studying the marine megafauna, in particular the population of killer whales found in the Bremer Sub-Basin. This work has deepened her understanding of the South-west region and its marine life.

Lisa is an environmental scientist with extensive experience in environmental assessment and management in Western Australia, with particular knowledge regarding major and recreational marine infrastructure on the coast of WA.

Her roles in consultancy and WA State Government have provided her with skills in environmental impact assessment, stakeholder engagement, and a strong understanding of state and federal environmental legislative processes.

She is a board member of The World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC) Australia and New Zealand; an industry body which develops technical guidance for the design, sustainable development and maintenance of ports, waterways and coastal areas.

Lisa is an avid boater and free diver, is passionate about the ocean and working in the marine industry, and cares about the protection of Australia’s incredible marine environment.