Professor Chris Doepel, PSM - Chair
Chris is a part-time Professor at the University of Notre Dame Australia in Fremantle, where he chairs the University’s Program and Course Accreditation Committee and undertakes policy work within the Division of Academic Affairs. Until March 2016, he was the Dean of Business and Chair of College Committees for Arts & Sciences, Business and Law at the University. Prior to undertaking this last role, he was Dean of the Faculty of Law and Business at Murdoch University in Perth. Before joining Murdoch University in 2008, Chris was the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the National Native Title Tribunal. He has extensive experience as a senior manager in public administration and in the formulation of policy advice to governments. Chris holds a Bachelor of Jurisprudence, a Bachelor of Laws and a Master of Arts. He is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Management. In 2006, Chris was awarded a Public Service Medal (PSM) in the Australia Day Honours for his native title work.
Mrs Jo Lanagan - Deputy Chair
Jo Lanagan is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Central Desert Native Title Services; she was appointed to the Commission in May 2018. Jo has held senior roles in the State and Commonwealth Governments including Director of Heritage and Culture at the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Director of Claims Management for the Office of Native Title. She has led negotiations on behalf of both the State and Commonwealth Governments in the Australian Square Kilometre Array Project, leading to the CSIRO build of the largest Radio Astronomy observatory in the world and Australia hosting international radio astronomy projects. Jo was one of two negotiators on behalf of the State Government to reach a comprehensive native title settlement with the Yawuru People over Broome, resulting in the creation of Conservation Estate and the creation of a Marine Park. Through her native title work Jo has had the good fortune to visit much of the more remote conservation estate in Western Australia
Ms Penny Bond - Member
Ms Penny BOND graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (with Distinction) & Bachelor of Arts from Murdoch University and has both public and private sector experience. She previously worked as a Senior Policy Adviser in State Government, with responsibility for ensuring the implementation of cross-portfolio policies and progressing a number of Bills though Cabinet and the State Parliament. Ms Bond represented the Minister as a Panel Member on the Ministerial Advisory Panel for Occupational Health and Safety Reform, which saw her work collaboratively with stakeholders on an important law reform project. Ms Bond is a law graduate at MinterEllison and is undertaking postgraduate studies in law at the University of Western Australia, where she was recently recognised as the highest achieving postgraduate student in Climate Change & Emissions Trading Law. Ms Bond enjoys hiking and camping and is passionate about the appreciation of Western Australia’s conservation estate.
Mrs Tania (Tahn) Donovan - Member
Mrs Tania (Tahn) DONOVAN is a Wardandi Yok from Busselton and has expertise in Aboriginal affairs in relation to employment, tourism, business development, policy and capacity building across State government, Aboriginal interest groups and the community sector. Ms Donovan is currently working as a Heritage Officer with the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council and is a board member of the Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council. She has a wide range of skills and experiences in the environmental, tourism and hospitality, disability employment, farming and transport industries. She is involved in Leadership and Governance training to the Noongar community.
John Keesing - Member
John is a research scientist with the CSIRO where he carries out marine biological, ecological and fisheries research. He has also undertaken research in New Zealand, China, India and Japan publishing more than 100 scientific articles across multiple disciplines. John has led ship-based research voyages off Western Australia in the Timor Sea, Kimberley, Pilbara and the Gascoyne including assessments of the biodiversity of the Kimberley, Dampier and Montebello Marine Parks. John holds a Bachelor of Applied Science, a PhD in Zoology and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment. He is Australia’s representative on the UNESCO Intergovernmental Panel on Harmful Algal Blooms and was previously a Visiting Senior Professor with the Chinese Academy of Sciences. John is a past President of the Australian Marine Sciences Association and prior to joining CSIRO, he held senior research management positions in state government and in the higher education sector, including at executive level.
Kim Eckert OAM - Member
Kim resides in Kalgoorlie-Boulder and is the CEO of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Urban Landcare Group (KBULG), a not for profit community organisation in the Goldfields. Kim utilises her broad range of skills and experience in conservation and the environment, not for profit, community groups, disability, tourism and volunteering sectors to assist community groups and sits on many community committees in Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Appointed as a WA Parks Foundation Ambassador in 2017, Kim is passionate about our state’s conservation areas, educating the community about the local flora (including facilitating Traditional Owners to educate the community about traditional bush food and bush medicine), connecting people to parks and nature and promoting travel in WA to visit our most precious and natural areas. Kim holds a qualification in conservation and land management and is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. In 2019, Kim was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her significant contributions to the Kalgoorlie-Boulder community.
Mr Mark Webb PSM – Member
Mark retired from the Public Service in February 2023. Before this, he was Director General of the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, which included being the Chief Executive Officer of the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, the Rottnest Island Authority, and the Zoological Parks Authority. Mark has extensive experience in horticultural research, public and private sector management and business, both nationally and internationally. Mark also volunteers in his local community and has a strong interest in social justice.