About regional advisory committees
National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) regional advisory committees are community members and stakeholders who provide advice to the Minister for the Environment, the Secretary of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, and the National Parks and Wildlife Advisory Council on policies, plans and activities for their region.
Regional advisory committees have a statutory responsibility to provide advice to the Minister on reserve plans of management.
Members are appointed by the Minister under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974.
There are 8 NPWS regional advisory committees, one for each of the operational branches.
Who they are
Each regional advisory committee has between 12 and 17 members, including:
- at least 2 Aboriginal people
- a person jointly nominated by the National Parks Association of NSW and the Nature Conservation Council of NSW
- members with expertise in fields such as conservation biology, wildlife management, environment, recreation, education, Aboriginal cultural heritage and world heritage, local government, rural, regional and agricultural issues, ecotourism, and community involvement in conservation and/or environmental education.
Regional advisory committees are appointed for a 4-year term.
What they do
Regional advisory committees meet at least 4 times a year, including online and at in-person meetings and site visits. Members collaborate with other members, Aboriginal custodians, NPWS staff and management to provide advice on park management. Members provide their informed personal views and represent the views of their aligned organisation or special interest groups.
Issues can include draft plans of management, feral animal and weed plans, fire management, heritage protection and recreation planning.
Members liaise with community and interest groups to bring local views to their committee and NPWS. They provide informed feedback to the community about NPWS initiatives.
Regions and current members
See the regional advisory committee links below for detailed boundary maps:
- Blue Mountains (PDF 883KB)
- Greater Sydney (PDF 729KB)
- Hunter Central Coast (PDF 745KB)
- North Coast (PDF 708KB)
- Northern Inland (PDF 742KB)
- South Coast (PDF 709KB)
- Southern Ranges (PDF 783KB)
- West (PDF 832KB).
Current regional advisory committee members were appointed in July 2022 for a 4-year term.
Email [email protected] for more information on the Blue Mountains Regional Advisory Committee.
Committee members
- Mr Gregory Chapman
- Mr Richard Delaney
- Mr William (Bill) Dixon (Chairperson)
- Ms Nina Gallo
- Ms Cara George (Deputy Chairperson)
- Mrs Sharyn Halls
- Mr Adam Hawken
- Ms Althea Kannane
- Ms Madi Maclean
- Mr Andy Macqueen
- Mr Craig Martin
- Ms Fiona Meller
- Ms Heidi Ploeg
- Mr Trevor Woolley
Email [email protected] for more information on the Greater Sydney Regional Advisory Committee.
Committee members
- Mr Alex Allchin (Deputy Chairperson)
- Ms Sherrie Anderson
- Mr Rob Brewster
- Mr Robert Conroy
- Mrs Kathryn Cox
- Dr Kirsten Crosby
- Ms Kumkum Dubey
- Mr Darren Duncan
- Mr Brian Everingham (Chairperson)
- Mrs Rhonda Lenardon
- Mr Paul Lidgard
- Mr Luke Murtas
- Assoc Prof Julie Old
- Mr Samuel Swain
- Mr Allan Teale
Email [email protected] for more information on the Hunter Central Coast Regional Advisory Committee.
Committee members
- Ms Cassie Bremner
- Mr Art Brown
- Ms Kendal Caynes
- Mr Kevin Duncan
- Ms Jane Frances (Chairperson)
- Mrs Janene Hamilton
- Ms Jessica Leck
- Dr Elizabeth McEntyre
- Ms Suzanne (Sue) Olsson
- Miss Arielle Saunders (Deputy Chairperson)
- Mr Christopher Sheed OAM
- Mr Andrew Smith
- Prof Mark Sutherland
- Mr Chris Tola
- Mr Joe Townsend
Email [email protected] for more information on the North Coast Regional Advisory Committee.
Committee members
- Dr Rosemary Black
- Dr Christopher Carr
- Dr Grahame Douglas
- Mr Stephen (Steve) Fuller
- Ms Karen Love
- Ms Jeanette (Jan) Olley
- Ms Sandra (Sandy) Pimm
- Dr Romina Rader
- Mrs Rhonda (Anjilkurri) Radley
- Dr Adam Smith
- Ms Kim Stephan
- Mr Brett Tibbett
- Mr Peter West
Email [email protected] for more information on the Northern Inland Regional Advisory Committee.
Committee members
- Prof Jeremy Bruhl
- Mr Michael Davis
- Ms Wendy Hawes
- Mr Bryan Johnston (Chairperson)
- Mr Graham Lightbody
- Mr Lancelot (Peter) Lloyd
- Mr Timothy Norton
- Mrs Sally Osland
- Mrs Karen Potter
- Mr James Rainger
- Mr Graham Sawtell
- Mr Peter Shinton
- Mr Simon Smith
- Mr Jason Wilson
Email [email protected] for more information on the South Coast Regional Advisory Committee.
Committee members
- Mr Julian Armstrong
- Prof William Buttemer
- Mr Grahame Byron
- Dr Penny Davidson
- Mrs Lynette Goodwin
- Dr Meredith Henderson
- Ms Jane Madden
- Mr Michael McGrath
- Dr Kevin Mills (Chairperson)
- Ms Paula Pollock
- Mrs Jacqueline Puckeridge (Deputy Chairperson)
- Mrs Julia Short
- Mr Mark Stubbings
- Mrs Yvonne Thomson
Email [email protected] for more information on the Southern Ranges Regional Advisory Committee.
Committee members
- Dr Phillip Andrew
- Ms Stefanie Bonat
- Miss Suzanne Bulger
- Ms Rachel Clarke
- Dr Tracey Dickson
- Ms Megan Graham
- Mr Christopher Griffiths
- Mr Alistair Grinbergs
- Ms Linda Groom
- Mr Peter Hill
- Mrs Ursula Lang
- Mrs Felicity Anderson (Deputy Chairperson)
- Ms Ant Packer
- Mr Ian Pulsford
- Mr Ted Rowley (Chairperson)
- Ms Dianne Thompson OAM
- Dr Frank Ingwersen
Email [email protected] for more information on the West Regional Advisory Committee.
Committee members
- Dr Michael Augee
- Mr Lynton Auld
- Ms Nicola Chandler
- Mr Geoff Chapman (Chairperson)
- Mr Adrian Davey
- Mr Lachlan Gall
- Mrs Diana Hoffman
- Dr Jonathon Howard
- Ms Dianne Kelly
- Ms Yvette Myhill
- Mrs Karen Potter
- Mrs Michelle Pryse Jones
- Mr Bruce Reynolds
- Mrs Marie Russell AM (Deputy Chairperson)
- Mr James Williams
Applications closed for 2026
Applications are now closed for the new 2026-2030 term commencing 1 July 2026.
