Learn more about our people

Ann moved to Margaret River from the Kimberley where she spent  26 years as a rural doctor and obstetrician. Prior to that she was a Flying Doctor in Meekatharra for three years. Ann has a passion for bushwalking in wild areas and has worked in various capacities in the Himalayas, Antarctica, the Arctic and Tonga.  She was formerly on the board of directors for the Royal Flying Doctor Service WA section for nine years and is a founding member of Gija Total Health Advisory group, supporting Warmun Aboriginal Community. Margaret River is now home, and when Ann’s not busy with dutires as chair of Nature Conservation, she is working hard to eradicate invasive arum lily and restore her land.

Hamish is an economist and actuary who settled in Margaret River with his family in 2014. Raised on a family farm in southern NSW, he graduated from the University of Melbourne and worked and travelled extensively in Australia and internationally. He is a director at international strategy consulting firm NMG and also treasurer for the Margaret River Regional Environment Centre. His passion is spending time in nature with his wife and four children. “We moved here to live in this unique environment. We had young kids and wanted them to have a childhood surrounded by nature. I’d like that preserved for future generations and want to support groups striving for that,” says Hamish.

Michelle operates a leading and award-winning regenerative farming business and currently supports Landsmith Collection, a company holding key properties for stewardship and protection. Her industry experience includes urban development, mining, infrastructure, rail, and natural gas, as well as small and medium enterprises, arts organisations and local and state government. She has a broad range of experience with stakeholder engagement, communications and management focussing on sustainable development, environmental management, and corporate social responsibility.

Carmen was Premier of Western Australia from 1990-93, a Member for Fremantle in the House of Representatives from 1994-2007) and helf roles including the Minister for Human Services and Health (1994-96), Chair of the Australian Heritage Council (2010-2016), Professor Emerita in the School of Psychological Science at the University of Western Australia and former President of the Conservation Council of WA. Carmen now lends her considerable knowledge and experience of government and conservation to the team at Nature Conservation. She has a bush retreat in the Margaret River region and is deeply connected to the region, its people and nature.

Crispin is the founder and director of an environmental consultancy specialising in environmental engineering and natural resource management. He has had a varied career with private industry, government, the not-for-profit sector as well as in farming. Crispin has a holistic approach which has drawn from his diverse work history, wide ranging travels, and his nature-based personal interests. He has had a long involvement with Nature Conservation as a board member, citizen scientist and volunteer.

Natalie has lived in the Margaret River region for more than three decades and has worked across a wide range of industries at an executive advisory level, concentrated mainly around human resource management, training and legislative compliance. She has always lived rurally and shares a passion for exploring, and protecting, the local environment with her husband, children and grandchildren. International involvement with fundraising for projects as diverse as building houses in Cambodia to cancer care facilities throughout Indonesia reflect her other passions for active charity work and travel.

Emma grew up in Pemberton and formed an affinity with the forests of the South-West. Emma holds a Bachelor of Laws (UWA) and a Master of Environmental Management (ECU). She trained as a lawyer in Perth, worked as a senior solicitor for top tier law firms in Melbourne and London, and led a policy team for the British Government. More recently, Emma volunteered at The Woodland Trust (UK), the Environmental Defenders Office (WA) and the Conservation Council of WA. After a stint volunteering with Nature Conservation Margaret River Region and living in Margaret River with her family and two children while she studied her Masters, Emma has joined the organisation as a volunteer advisor.

Perth-born Peter has a long history as an outdoorsman, caver, mountaineer, boatsman, expedition leader and experiential learning facilitator in natural environments across the world.  He’s been a senior executive in large organisations; presenter and public speaker; facilitator whose work ranged from Kimberley Aboriginal community meetings to World Health Organisation teams; rescue and remote area trainer in emergency preparedness and response. Peter says joining NCMRR as an advisor is a chance to give back after “spending most of my life in natural environments and enjoying the many gifts from that lifestyle”.