Director
Piers Verstegen
Piers brings to the Council a diverse range of experience in environmental policy, law, politics, and economics. He has a strong environmental and sustainability ethic which is demonstrated in both his professional and personal life.
In 2012 Piers was named one of Western Australia’s 100 most influential people by the West Australian newspaper, for his work in the environment and sustainability fields.
Previously Piers has worked as a Senior Policy Advisor for four WA Environment Ministers, giving him a unique set of skills and experience in negotiating complex and contentious issues. He has advised Ministers and government agencies on a range of subjects including science policy, climate change, emissions trading, waste management, air quality, environmental law, environmental education, industry regulation and pollution control.
Piers is involved with a number of other civil society and academic organisations. Piers represents Western Australia on the governing Council of the Australian Conservation Foundation, and he is a Board Member of the following organisations
· Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute
· Centre of Excellence for Climate Change, Woodland and Forest Health
· NaturePlay Western Australia
Manager Operations
Sue Liddicoat
Sue has extensive business and financial management experience with her own business in the central wheatbelt and Perth. She is interested in horticulture which resulted in many years of part time study.
Sue orginally trained in early childhood studies and this may explain her 4 children! She has always had an interest in the environment which has been fostered by working at the Conservation Council.
Citizen Science Project Coordinator
Dr Nic Dunlop
Over a working life, now spanning 26 years, Nic has used his training as an environmental scientist and ecologist in a wide range of capacities.
He has worked as a consultant (both as staff and principal of his own business), as a university research coordinator and independent researcher, as an environmental officer for two mining companies, as a government officer with the Department of Minerals & Energy, and as a liaison officer with the Conservation Council of Western Australia. His last 5 plus years as Sustainable Fisheries Liaison Officer with the Conservation Council has confirmed his preference for working within the ethically consistent and cooperative culture of a conservation NGO.
Nic has been an active conservationist since his undergraduate years in the mid 1970s, when environmentalism was just emerging. Since then he has been active in a wide range of local environment groups including the Nickol Bay Naturalists Club, Pilbara Environment Group, Friends of the Burrup & Dampier Archipelago and the Friends of Shoalwater Islands Marine Park. Nic has a long term research interest in marine ornithology.
Marine Program Manager
David Mackenzie
With 15 years experience in the conservation sector and a background in both engineering and science, David is proud to be part of CCWA’s team focusing on the Save Our Marine Life campaign www.saveourmarinelife.org.au
CCWA's new marine program aims to urge the Federal Government to secure a network of large marine sanctuaries off the WA coast to protect our marine life and the oceans and coasts that make WA such a great place to live.
Marine Coordinator
Tim Nicol
Tim brings to this role a combination of experience as an engineer working in the oil and gas industry and as a volunteer with The Wilderness Society, including the Save Ningaloo Reef and 2005 State Election campaigns.
His passion for the environment stems from a deep love of the rugged beauty of Western Australia and a firm belief that the quality of our future is intimately tied to the health and diversity of our natural environment.
In particular, Tim has a passion for the marine environment in Western Australia. His experiences diving all around WA's southwest, from the Recherche to the Abrolhos, have shown both the unique beauty of our ocean, and the accelerating degradation that threatens to change our marine environment forever. He firmly believes that large marine sanctuaries are the only guarantee for our marine life against the impacts of fishing and development.
Tim will be using the experience gained working as Resources Liaison Officer for the Conservation Council to help ensure that all of our children will grow up able to enjoy the thrill of immersing amongst a giant school of mackerel at the Abrolhos, swimming with a giant blue grouper off Busselton, or playing with a sea lion in the remote islands of the Recherche. Or perhaps even catching a big fish to feed the family, safe in the knowledge that fish populations will be secure into the future.
Community Campaigner
Mika Leandro
Mika has joined Conservation Council WA to raise community support on environmental issues.
Mika has been working and volunteering in various size community development, environmental and human rights organizations for eight years in France, England and Spain. After spending the last year traveling Australia and volunteering on Protect Our Coral Sea Campaign in Queensland and on Organic Farms in Western Australia she has decided to settle in Perth.
She has travelled extensively and has seen many spectacular natural environments. Western Australia is one of the most stunning areas in the world and has a huge potential but is facing growing environmental challenges. She is dedicated to raise awareness as well as develop more community involvement and action around all the campaigns CCWA is working on.
Come and share your enthusiasm in protecting and sustaining the environment by joining Mika at one of our fortnightly volunteer meetings, or events we regularly hold
Nuclear Free Campaigner
Mia Pepper
Mia is a relatively new arrival from the East Coast. After working on anti nuclear campaigns for a number of years and presenting on the Radioactive show at 3cr, a national radio show on nuclear and peace issues, I decided to come to WA - the front line of the uranium mining push in Australia.
Mia got involved in mining issues as the Environment Officer at the RMIT student union while completing a degree in Social Science/Environment and has worked with Friends of the Earth and the Mineral Policy Institute as a Campaigner and Researcher.
Mia is inspired by the West Australian rich history in defending the environment and standing up for justice and looks forward to workign with so many of the Traditional Owners and West Australians who have been part of the ongoing campaign to remove the nuclear industry from WA.
Climate Project Coordinator
Kylie Turner
Kylie’s background is in campaigning, whether it is for a local wetland, a price on carbon or during Federal and State elections.
A Tasmanian by birth, Kylie grew up appreciating the importance of the natural environment around her and was encouraged by the environmental activism that was happening at the time to always consider actions that have the smallest possible impact on the earth.
Kylie’s involvement in environmental activism made the natural progression to sustainability in 2002 when she and her partner purchased a house in Bassendean with the aim of decreasing the footprint of their home. Their home is now their ‘eco compound’ and along with their family, it is shared with 6 chickens, 50 fish and countless worms.
Kylie is coordinating a project which draws together a consortium of partners to engage Western Australians in a conversation about what climate change action can mean for them, in their homes, their jobs, their day to day lives and their communities.
Marine Project Officer
Adrian Meder
Adrian joined the Conservation Council in December 2009 after discovering for himself the need for marine protection in WA waters. As passionate about fishing as he is about sustainable use of our ocean resources,
Adrian became interested in marine sanctuaries after experiencing falling catches at his favourite childhood fishing spots, and went on to study marine biology; working, learning and fishing around marine sanctuaries in New Zealand. He has a background in aquaculture research for a major commercial fishing company, as well as in conservation projects on land and sea.
Adrian understands that the conservation of marine resources goes hand in hand with the protection and restoration of recreational fishing, and that a network of large marine sanctuaries in WA is the best way to ensure both goals are met and supported into the future.
Save Our Marine Life, Community Campaigner
Tara Finch
Tara joined the Save Our Marine Life team to help raise awareness and gain support in the community for marine sanctuaries in South-West Australia. She studied Zoology at the University of Western Australia, completing an honours project on the critically endangered Western Swamp Tortoise.
Tara first became interested in marine conservation after volunteering on a sea turtle project in Costa Rica. This became a passionate commitment after seeing a humpback whale and its calf entangled in fishing nets in Ecuador. She is now dedicated to raising awareness of the challenges our marine life faces from an ever increasing population and development, while gaining support for minimising the impacts of humanity on the oceans.
If you’d like to be a part of the Save Our Marine Life volunteer group you can contact Tara at cmc@ccwa.org.au.
Environment and Sustainability Policy Officer
Alaya Spencer-Cotton
Alaya has completed a Bachelor of Environmental Science and another in Marine Science at Murdoch University and is currently undertaking her Masters in Sustainable Development (Policy and Development Studies). Having travelled extensively and admired the natural beauty in other parts of the world she is now excited to contribute to work towards environmental conservation and sustainability in her home state of amazing WA.
She is particularly interested in addressing the underlying issues relating to conservation and sustainability and how we can move towards creating a better, more sustainable future for all Western Australians and the earth as a whole.
