The WA Parks Foundation is fortunate to have a passionate group of Ambassadors.
Meet the people who love our WA parks, inspiring in others an appreciation of their uniqueness and value to the community.
Meet the people who love our WA parks, inspiring in others an appreciation of their uniqueness and value to the community.
Tracy Shea
Tracy has held a range of policy, advisory and leadership roles across the State government in environment, conservation, recreation and parks-based tourism during a career spanning 38 years, with the last decade spent as an assistant director in the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and its predecessors.
Tracy is also a long-standing Executive member of the Forum Advocating Cultural and Eco-Tourism (FACET) and believes that sustainable nature-based tourism, and connecting people with parks, is vital to securing the community advocacy that parks need to survive and thrive.
She is also a strong advocate of Aboriginal cultural tourism in WA parks and sees it as a great way for locals and visitors alike to gain knowledge and understanding of our ancient and unique Aboriginal culture and heritage.
Why do I love WA Parks?
I’m an animal lover and WA’s vast network of parks - which covers an area larger than Victoria and Tasmania put together - safeguards the habitat of our extraordinary animals and plants as well as providing inspirational places for people to experience nature. Getting people connected with parks is the best way to ensure parks are understood, valued and protected into the future. Parks are also essential for our health and wellbeing. The job of protecting WA’s parks is too big for any one organisation and we need to bring people together and form partnerships and connections to protect these special places. I’m honoured to be a Park Ambassador and I look forward to helping in whatever way I can to bring people together to celebrate, promote, protect and enrich WA’s parks.
Richard Simpson
Director
Chair, Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority
Richard Simpson has a background in science but has worked in the finance and investment banking sectors for the past 30 years. He has advised corporates and governments around the world in a range of sectors from mining, oil and gas, infrastructure, tourism and agriculture.
Since returning to Perth from London, Sydney and Melbourne, Richard led the management buyout of Hartleys Limited in 2003 and was the inaugural Chairman and Managing Director of the wealth management and corporate advisory firm. He is currently a director of Hartleys Limited, has been Chairman of Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority (covering Kings Park and Bold Park) since 2002 and a member of the State Emergency Management Committee since 2015.
Why do I love WA Parks?
Our parks provide me and many others a vital connection to the natural environment. They help teach us to value our unique biodiversity and beautiful landscapes, provide a sanctuary from an increasingly busy life and allow us to breathe fresh air and be inspired.
Eva Skira AM
Hon Treasurer
Non-Executive Director Macmahon and Chair of Trustees of St John of God Health Care
Eva Skira has an MBA with Distinction from IMD International (Geneva), and is a former career executive in banking and finance. Her Board roles include Chairman of the Water Corporation, Chairman of Trustees of St John of God Health Care and Director of RCR Tomlinson Ltd.
She has also served as Chairman of the Forest Products Commission and of Westscheme, and on a number of other Boards including Metrobus (formerly Transperth), MDA National Insurance, Doric Construction Group and as Deputy Chancellor of Murdoch University.
Why do I love WA Parks?
Having grown up in Tasmania where national parks were such an important part of our backyard, I am passionate about bringing people and parks together and making them part of our 'forever' sustainable State.
Dale Tilbrook
Director
Maalinup Aboriginal Gallery
Although my traditional country is Wardandi Bubbulmun encompassing Busselton, Margaret River, Augusta, Pemberton, I was born and raised in the North West of Western Australia, only living in the South West from the age of twelve.
I followed the path of many young people and embarked on an adventure overseas in my early twenties, planning to stay only a year but returned after ten years. My love of travel, culture, food and new experiences has not waned.
In the UK and in Perth, I worked in corporate positions in Department Store retailing, but a local elder persuaded me to change direction.
Now I share my culture with visitors from everywhere. Maalinup Aboriginal Gallery is an Aboriginal family owned and operated enterprise in the Swan Valley offering Bushtucker, Authentic Aboriginal art and amazing hand painted giftware. We’ve been there over 20 years.
Why do I love WA Parks?
I love WA Parks because they are a welcome respite from the built environment around urban areas and provide a sanctuary for flora and fauna across the State. It is important to make the most of these outstanding resources as places for enjoyment, respite and education for locals and visitors alike. It is important to engage with Aboriginal people in the joint management of our parks in recognition of the 60,000 years of cultural knowledge and land management we bring to the table.
David & Ainslie de Vos
Ainslie and David de Vos both have extensive experience in communications and media as well as community relations. Ainslie has been Manager External Affairs at Fremantle Ports since 1996. Before taking up this role she spent eight years as Public Affairs Manager at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.
Earlier, she was a television journalist for the ABC in Perth and later Channel Nine in Perth and Sydney. Ainslie is also a member of the Strategic Priorities Panel for the WA Parks Foundation and of the Public Relations Institute of Australia. David has produced and directed many programs and documentaries in his 40 plus years with the ABC and appeared on many others.
Particular programs of note are Salvado’s Letters and The Day the Shark Came in.
Why do I love WA Parks?
Western Australia’s extensive network of national parks and reserves is a wonderful asset for our State. As well as their scenic value and recreational opportunities, these natural areas play a vitally important part in the conservation of an astonishing array of flora and fauna, including endangered species, and in preserving our cultural heritage. As a WA Parks Ambassador, we welcome the opportunity to contribute to programs that care for, interpret and promote our WA Parks as places to treasure and enjoy. In an enormous and varied State like ours, national parks are defined, explained and accessible packages. By definition they contain the best flora, fauna and landscapes in Western Australia. How could you not love that?
Dr Richard Walley OAM
Director
Director of Aboriginal Productions and Promotions
Richard is a Nyoongar man, one of Australia’s leading Aboriginal performers, musicians and writers and has performed around the world. He has been a campaigner for social justice for Indigenous Australians from a young age. At 23 Dr Richard Walley OAM chaired the Aboriginal Advisory Board. He is Director of Aboriginal Productions and Promotions.
Why do I love WA Parks?
Parks connect people, places, plants and animals. Parks are medicine, our bush food. Our family lived in the bush when I was younger. And I think that experience was fantastic and set me up for the rest of my life in terms of how you present yourself to the world.
Mark Webb PSM
Mark became the Director General for the new Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions in July 2017. He now has combined CEO responsibilities for Perth Zoo, Rottnest Island, Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority and the Parks and Wildlife Service (formerly Department of Parks and Wildlife).
Mark was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority in November 2004. He joined the BGPA in October 1998 as Director, Living Collections with extensive experience in horticultural research, public and private sector management and business. Mark sits on a number of local, national and international boards and committees.
Why do I love WA Parks?
Our parks are special places where we share experiences and create memories with our families and friends. They provide a retreat from our busy lives, to slow down, recharge and get back in touch with what is really important to us. They provide glimpses into the amazing beauty and wonder of our natural world.
Melanie Wilshin
General Manager
Melanie Wilshin is the General Manager of the WA Parks Foundation. Melanie’s previous leadership roles include Executive Management with Youth Focus, State Manager at Ticketek, Senior Manager at Mellen Events and her early career included management roles in Association Management and Conference industries in London and Vancouver.
Why do I love WA Parks?
It’s important to me to maintain a healthy balance in life which is why I value every opportunity to soak up the tranquillity and beauty of our parklands. Western Australia is renowned for the diversity of its flora and fauna and it is paramount we ensure the heritage of our unique parklands is protected and enriched for all Western Australians to enjoy for generations to come.
Tim Winton
Tim Winton is Australia’s most celebrated writer. His work has been translated into 28 languages. Long active in the environmental movement, he is the patron of the Australian Marine Conservation Society and the Trust for Australian Native Animals.
He played a prominent public role in advocating for the system of marine national parks the nation now enjoys.
Photo: Hank Kordas
Why do I love WA Parks?
The natural world is vital to our physical and mental wellbeing. National parks, therefore, are not a luxury. Native landscapes and ecosystems need respite and relief and so do we. Our natural heritage is something to celebrate and honour, study and protect, and national parks provide crucial opportunities in all these endeavours, on land and in our seas.
Mike Wood AM
Director
Chair, Bibbulmun Track Foundation
Mike Wood is the Managing Director of Peregrine Travel Centre Perth and founding Chair of the Bibbulmun Track Foundation since 1996. Mike completed an end-to-end walk of the Bibbulmun Track in 2008 and has trekked extensively overseas, travelling to every continent.
Mike’s outdoor skills include bushwalking, both white water and sea kayaking, rock climbing and abseiling. Mike has led treks and expeditions for 36 years and feels it’s important to visit as many of the world’s long distance trails as possible to bring back knowledge to WA. Prior to joining Peregrine, Mike owned and operated the Mountain Designs adventure stores across the State.
Why do I love WA Parks?
I am a huge fan of national parks because I believe it is imperative that there are some wild places left on the planet where we can go to rejuvenate and immerse ourselves in the wilderness. And for the sake of the ecosystem that doesn’t need humans to keep interfering in its workings.
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