Pat is a leader in the field of conservation and protection of Western Australia’s unique environment. She was a member of the Conservation Commission for 17 years and Chair in the last three years of her term and a member of the Rottnest Island Authority for 16 years, and Chair for three years.

She was instrumental in setting up the environmental ecotourism, interpretative and educational programs on the island. Pat was founder of FACET, Forum Advocating Cultural and Eco-Tourism, a community-based organisation whose aim is to inspire and promote responsible tourism associated with Western Australia’s cultural and natural heritage. Pat was awarded the Order of Australia in 2004 for her contribution to tourism and the environment.

Hon Fred Chaney AO was a member of the Federal Senate for 16 years and was the Federal Minister for Aboriginal Affairs from 1978 to 1980. As founding co-chair of Reconciliation Australia and an early advocate for Aboriginal voting rights in 1961 and for the 1967 referendum, he helped establish the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia in his national role as Minister for Aboriginal Affairs.

He is the former Deputy President of the Australian Native Title Tribunal, Chair of Desert Knowledge Australia and was instrumental in establishing the Graham (Polly) Farmer Foundation. He was Senior Australian of the Year in 2014 and is widely respected for the major contribution he has made to Aboriginal rights and reconciliation prior to, during and after his parliamentary career.

Janet Holmes à Court is owner of the Janet Holmes à Court Collection. She is Chairman of the Australian Children’s Television Foundation and the West Australian Symphony Orchestra.

She is a Board Member of the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM), the Australian Major Performing Arts Group (AMPAG), the Chamber of Arts and Culture WA (CACWA), the Australian Urban Design Research Centre (AUDRC), the Australian Institute of Architects Foundation and the New York Philharmonic International Advisory Board, and also a member of the Centenary Trust for Women Board of Advisors at the University of Western Australia and State Buildings Advisory Board, Western Australia.

The Lifestyle Pioneers are Simon and Elizabeth (Liz) Bailey, who traverse Australia in a caravan, sharing their adventures and travel advice online via their thriving YouTube channel.

Frustrated with the daily 9 to 5 grind, Simon and Liz created The Lifestyle Pioneers as an enduring shift in attitude to live the life they want whilst inspiring, educating and equipping other adventure-minded people to do the same.

Documenting their adventures in weekly YouTube videos, the family explores all corners of Australia whilst offering valuable advice to educate viewers on off-grid and off-road caravan living.

Travelling full-time with their two young children is also a part of the adventure, with Liz and Simon balancing their sons’ educational needs whilst providing unique experiences and quality family time. Their eldest son Harrison does remote learning via School of the Air, supported by Liz, a qualified teacher.

They are scheduled to spend six months exploring Western Australia from September 2023.

As Western Australia’s Chief Scientist from 2006 to 2013, Lyn advised governments on science and innovation, worked closely with industry and was a science ambassador in Australia and internationally. She was also named WA Australian of the Year for 2015, is a renowned neuroscientist, a member of several boards and even has a sea sponge named after her Manihinea lynbeazleyae!

Founder of Kanyana Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, Member of the Order of Australia for services to wildlife, Senior West Australian of the Year in 2010, recipient of the Seventy Medal. Passionate advocate and educator about wildlife and conservation, leader in captive breeding of endangered mammals and supporter of the Western Shield fauna recovery program.

Simon Cherriman is an award-winning environmental scientist, educator and wildlife filmmaker and an enthusiastic advocate for the unique Australian bush and its creatures. Simon grew up in the Perth Hills and spent his childhood climbing trees, observing birds and learning firsthand about the local environment.

It was at 15 that he found a giant Wedge-tailed Eagle nest and this captivated and inspired him to spend more than half his life studying, photographing and filming these magnificent birds, incorporating eagles into much of his tertiary education. Currently Simon continues to spread his passion for the environment through his small business, iNSiGHT Ornithology, which specialises in bird-related research and environmental education, and he is currently undertaking PhD research on Wedge-tailed Eagle population dynamics and movement ecology at Murdoch University.

Jock Clough has a business background in the engineering, finance and primary production sectors. He was a former chairman of Hartley’s Ltd, Clough Ltd, Yumbah Ltd and the Santanol Group. Jock is a past board member of the Fremantle Football Club and the Asia Society of AustralAsia.

He is chairman of the University of Western Australia’s Oceans Community, on the Advisory board of The Nature Conservancy and the Advisory Committee of the Western Australian Maritime Museum.

Emeritus Professor Dowling AM is Honorary Professor of Tourism in the School of Business and Law at Edith Cowan University. He has a strong interest in conservation, parks and tourism and is a member of the WA Conservation and Parks Commission. He is also a member of the World Commission on Protected Areas and an advisor to UNESCO Global Geoparks. In New Zealand he was a foundation staff member of the Ministry for the Environment and he has been awarded a NZ Conservation Council Citation for his contributions to conservation education.

Kim is the CEO for Kalgoorlie-Boulder Urban Landcare Group. She moved to Kalgoorlie-Boulder nine years ago and her passion is her community, and its future, and raising awareness and education on all things to do with the environment.

This includes managing a native plant nursery, creating an Eco and Cultural Education Centre, water-wise projects, clean-up days, tree planting, recycling and together with her staff and the council, maintaining Karlkurla Bushland Park.

Kim is a member of the Conservation and Parks Commission of WA, conservation interest member on the Pastoral Lands Board, the Vice Chairperson for the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Community Garden, sits on the Board for Rangelands Natural Resource Management Group, Kalgoorlie-Boulder Visitor Centre, is the Chairperson for Kalgoorlie-Boulder Volunteer Centre, a committee member for the Palace Theatre Recreation Centre, Goldfields Naturalists’ Club, Kalgoorlie-Boulder Lotteries House and is an associate member of the Goldfields Nullarbor Rangelands Biosecurity Association.

David Flanagan has worked in the resources sector for 25 years and achieved recognition for several corporate and community achievements. David is currently a Director of Northern Star Resources Ltd, Chairman of Metals of Africa Ltd and Chancellor of Murdoch University.

He is Patron of ManyRivers Microfinance, Kalparrin and the Bunbury Museum Foundation. David was awarded Western Australian of the Year and Business Leader of the Year in 2014, an Eisenhower Fellowship in 2013, the Governor’s Award for Giving in 2011, an EY Australian Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2010 as well as the WA Business News First Among Equals in 2009. During his time as Managing Director at Atlas Iron it was also recognised with Restructuring Deal of the Year in 2016 and Digger of the Year 2009.

Stephen and Regina both share a passion for the natural landscapes of Western Australia, in particular the wide-open spaces of the southern rangelands, Pilbara and Western Deserts. They like nothing better than to be out in the bush exploring what is over the next rise, finding new plants and watching birds go about their business. Stephen enjoys the thrill of exploring and discovering new, rare, and interesting plants, while Regina can’t wait – it’s in her genes – to become a fulltime grey nomad.
Stephen is a botanical ecologist who learnt his craft from mentors like Prof Stephen Hopper. His scientific pedigree is broad covering research, leadership and management domains. Today he is Australia’s first Indigenous Chair of Biodiversity and Environmental Science at Curtin University.
Stephen is a Wardandi Noongar man from the Busselton-Margaret River area. He is passionate about Indigenous land and sea management, ensuring Indigenous Australians are acknowledge for their ongoing stewardship of Country and making certain that they are active contributors in decisions about them, their future and their Country.
Regina is an accomplished leader with wide multi-sector knowledge and a knowledgeable Non-Executive Director with broad and strategic experience across a portfolio of Board positions. Regina is Chair of the Ningaloo World Heritage Advisory Committee and Deputy Chair of the Biosecurity Council of WA with a keen interest in environmental biosecurity. Regina served for many years on the Conservation Commission/Conservation and Parks Commission and has a long history with NRM governance and management in WA. Regina has a focus on delivering economic, social, environmental, and cultural outcomes from a lens of deep domain knowledge and expertise in managing non-financial risks and stakeholder engagement.

Sophia Forrest is one of Australia’s most exciting new performers. Sophia’s first acting experience was in the Russell Crowe directed, The Water Diviner. Sophia went on to train at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), graduating in 2016.

There she performed in various productions including Les Liaisons Dangereuses which toured to Hong Kong and Coriolanus which toured to the Hydra Festival in Greece. Sophia also appeared in the fourth season of Love Child and as the lead in the Black Swan State Theatre Company’s production of Let the Right One In.

Nat Fyfe is a well-respected Australian Rules Footballer playing with Fremantle Football Club. In 2015, he was named the recipient of the AFL’s most prestigious individual honour, the Brownlow Medal, after being judged the fairest and best player of the 2015 season. In February 2017, he was appointed Captain of the Fremantle Football Club.

Kate Gibson is the owner and founder of Perth based hiking tour company, The Hike Collective. She has a strong interest in nature based tourism, and is a Board Member of FACET (Forum Advocating Cultural and Ecotourism).