Who we are
Patricia Barblett AM - Acting Chair
Patricia is a consultant with a vocational interest in conservation, nature based tourism, recreation and interpretation. She is the immediate past Chairperson and founder of Forum Advocating Cultural and Ecotourism, (FACET), an organisation whose aim is to inspire and promote the responsible use of Western Australia's cultural and natural heritage through tourism. Patricia was a member of the National Parks and Nature Conservation Authority.
Graeme Rundle - Member
Graeme Rundle is a former member of the National Parks and Nature Conservation Authority. He has expertise and experience in environmental management, historical knowledge and continuity background concerning Western Australia's conservation reserve system, related development issues and management.
Regina Flugge - Member
Regina has over 20 years experience in general environmental management, climate change and sustainable development and is currently the Executive Officer – Environment & Land Access at the Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA. Regina has a broad knowledge of natural resource management and substantial experience in the resources industry in Western Australia. After 16 years in the Pilbara region, she has a keen interest in the biodiversity of this area. Regina is also a member of the Coastal Planning and Coordination Council of the Western Australian Planning Commission. Her past associations also include Vice-Chair of the Natural Heritage Trust Management Committee - Rangelands Natural Resource Management Co-ordinating Group and Chair of the Pilbara NRM (Natural Resource Management) Group. Regina has undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in Science as well as an MBA, MMgt and is currently completing her DBA thesis.
Bill Mitchell - Member
Bill Mitchell is a current Councilor on the Murchison Shire and past Murchison Shire President and Deputy Shire President. He is also the WA Local Government Association President, and is a member of the WA Soil and Land Conservation Council, WA Rivers and Estuaries Council, Pastoralists and Graziers Association Natural Resource Management Committee and the Country Shire Councils Association Executive. He brings to the Commission extensive knowledge of matters related to the management of WA rangelands.
Carolyn Turner - Member
Carolyn was the Chief Executive Officer of the Margaret River Wine Industry Association until June 2006. Carolyn directed the day-to-day business of the Margaret River Wine Industry Association including developing, coordinating and implementing all Association strategies, programmes and activities. She was responsible for developing and promoting the reputation and profile of the Association as a professional organisation representing the wine producers, grape growers and associated businesses of the region's wine industry. She was the General Manager Alliances for Qantas Airways being responsible for directing bilateral relationships with national and international companies including negotiation and relationship management at an executive level.Carolyn has previously worked overseas in China and Vietnam and was responsible for setting up and establishing the administrative and business operations for Qantas in East China.
Vince Paparo - Member
Vince is currently employed as a solicitor working on major-projects facilitation with Freehills in Perth. This work involves facilitation of access to land and water for infrastructure developments, and ensuring the required planning, and environmental approvals are obtained. He has previously held a number of key positions within the WA Public Sector including Chief Executive Officer of Landcorp and the South West Development Authority. He holds graduate qualifications in science and law and postgraduate qualifications in science.
David Newsome - Member
David Newsome is an Associate Professor in the School of Environmental Science at Murdoch University. His principal research interests are the biophysical impacts of recreation and tourism in protected areas and geotourism. David’s research and teaching focus on the sustainable recreational use of landscapes, maintaining the integrity of peri-urban reserves and the assessment and management of tourism activity in protected areas. He is the lead author of two books Natural Area Tourism: ecology, impacts and management and Wildlife Tourism and co-editor of Geotourism a book which has helped set the scene for the emergence of geotourism as a distinct discipline within the area of natural area tourism.
Karen Jacobs - Member
Karen’s work focuses on developing and encouraging Aboriginal peoples involvement in enterprise and business opportunities. Karen has an extensive background in education and training, particularly in the marketing and promotion of new apprenticeships and employment strategies for Aboriginal people. Karen has first-hand experience in developing sustainable tourism opportunities and has a strong interest and experience in environmental and conservation projects.
Karen is a Former Board Director of Tourism Australia. Director and Company Secretary, of Noongar Property Holdings Pty Ltd. An Aboriginal-owned property investment group that assists Indigenous commercial initiatives in the Perth and South West regions of Australia. Board Director, for Aboriginal Hostel Limited. Commissioner, on the Conservation Commission of WA. Board Member, of the Rottnest Island Authority, (RIA) and Chairperson of the RIA Environmental Advisory Committee and Chairperson of the RIA Cultural and Heritage Advisory Committee. Chairperson, of the Kaitajin Mia Mia Aboriginal Foundation (Bush University). Member of the National Tourism Long Term Committee and Executive Board Member with the Forum Advocating Cultural and Ecotourism (FACET), an organisation that aims to inspire and promote the responsible use of Western Australia's cultural and natural heritage through tourism.
