There are two advisory committees for the Gondwana Rainforests, the Community Advisory Committee and the Technical and Scientific Advisory Committee. The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area advisory committees provide advice to relevant government ministers and management agencies.
The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area includes reserves in New South Wales and Queensland. Members of advisory committees are appointed by New South Wales and Queensland environment ministers. Chairs of the advisory committees are jointly appointed by environment ministers for the New South Wales, Queensland and Australian Governments.
Advisory committees meet in Brisbane with one on-site visit each year.
Community Advisory Committee
The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area Community Advisory Committee has an independent Chair and 10 members who represent traditional owners, local authorities, community interest groups and other stakeholders.
- Five members represent stakeholder interests within the New South Wales portion of Gondwana and are nominated through the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) regional advisory committees.
- Five members represent stakeholder interests within the Queensland portion of Gondwana Rainforests and are selected through an expression-of-interest process.
The Chair of the Technical and Scientific Advisory Committee is also a member of the Community Advisory Committee.
Current members of the Community Advisory Committee, with the fields they represent, are:
Chair
Dr Mahri Koch (NSW, ecologist)
Members
- Mr Paul Donatiu (Queensland, recreation)
- Mr Terry Evans (NSW, conservation/NPWS Lower North Coast Regional Advisory Committee)
- Mr Bryan Johnston (NSW, commercial tourism/NPWS Northern Tablelands Regional Advisory Committee
- Mr Innes Larkin (Queensland, commercial tourism)
- Mr Rod McKelvey (NSW, local government/NPWS North Coast Regional Advisory Committee)
- Mr Peter Ogilvie (Queensland, conservation)
- Ms Jan Olley (NSW, recreation/NPWS Northern Rivers Regional Advisory Committee)
- Ms Carmel Peacock (NSW, local government)
- Mr Terry Tibbett (NSW, Aboriginal people/NPWS North Coast Regional Advisory Committee)
- Professor Nick Reid (University of New England)
- vacant (Queensland, Aboriginal member).
Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area Community Advisory Committee Terms of Reference (PDF 1.1MB)
Technical and Scientific Advisory Committee
The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area Technical and Scientific Advisory Committee has an independent Chair and 8 members who represent areas of technical and scientific expertise. The Chair of the Community Advisory Committee is also a member of the Technical and Scientific Advisory Committee.
Current members of the technical and scientific advisory committee, with the areas they represent, are:
Chair
Professor Nick Reid (University of New England)
Members
- Professor Stephen Gale (geomorphology)
- Ms Liz Gould (community engagement in natural-resource management)
- Dr Aila Keto (World Heritage assessment and ecological restoration)
- Dr Melinda Laidlaw (plant-community ecology)
- Professor Michael Mahoney (threatened species management and conservation biology)
- Dr Bill McDonald (biogeography, ecology and plant identification)
- Dr Ross Peacock (fire ecology and citizen science)
- Professor Betty Weiler (visitor management, interpretation and sustainable tourism)
- Dr Mahri Koch (NSW, ecologist).
Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area Technical and Scientific Advisory Committee Terms of Reference (PDF 1.1MB)
Committee meetings are also attended by representatives of the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, the Queensland Department of Science, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and a representative from the Department of the Environment and Energy.
Committee members are reimbursed for travel expenses and sitting fees are paid to the Chairs.
