The National Parks and Wildlife Advisory Council (NPWAC) is established under the National Parks and Reserves Management Act 2002 (the Act) to provide strategic and policy advice to the Minister for Parks in relation to the management of Tasmania’s parks and reserves. NPWAC is consulted by the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) to provide comment on management plans, policies and proposals for reserved land.
NPWAC is also responsible for providing advice to the Tasmanian and Australian governments on matters relating to the protection, conservation, presentation and management of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA), under the Australian World Heritage Intergovernmental Agreement 2009.
Membership
NPWAC consists of ten members who are appointed for their individual skills and expertise, rather than as a representative of an organisation. The expertise of members and their association with any interest groups could include, but are not limited to: environmental management, ecological management, Aboriginal cultural heritage management, historic cultural heritage management, recreation, tourism, reserve management, business management and strategic management. Two positions on NPWAC are reserved for representatives of the Tasmanian Aboriginal community, one male and one female.
Current members of NPWAC:
Terry Bailey - Chairperson
Terry is an experienced senior executive and director with over 35 years of management and leadership experience in the public and higher education sectors, including as Executive Dean of the College of Sciences and Engineering at UTAS, Executive Director of the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, Chief Executive of the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage and as Assistant Secretary responsible for heritage in the Commonwealth Government.
Between 2004 and 2010 Terry was the preparer of World Heritage nominations for the Australian Government, overseeing the Ningaloo Coast, the Australian Convict Sites and the Sydney Opera House World Heritage nominations. Terry continues to provide World Heritage advisory services, including on the Murujuga Cultural Landscape (WA) and Flinders Ranges (SA) World Heritage nominations.
Terry has extensive park management experience having worked as a ranger in Victoria, senior manager in Kakadu and Director and Head of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Terry is a keen bushwalker and spends many weekends walking in the Tasmanian parks estate.
Appointed to September 2025.
Dr Allison Anderson
Allison is a consultant who delivers tourism development and planning across Australia, New Zealand and further afield. With a passion for regenerative, nature based and cultural tourism, Allison works with communities, business and governments to help them reap the benefits of competitive, place-based tourism strategies. Allison holds a PhD in Urban Design and Tourism, a Masters in Applied Science (Urban and Regional Planning), and a Bachelor of Science (Honours). She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, is Chair of Northern Tasmania Development Corporation and Deputy Chair of East Coast Tasmania Tourism. She has four children, is a passionate ocean swimmer, and loves spending time in Tasmania's national parks.
Appointed to March 2026.
Dr Rachel Brown
Rachel has 20 years’ experience in managing diverse projects in agriculture, environmental management and extension. She has run her own agricultural/environmental consulting business, and currently manages a shellfish program. She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course.
Rachel has bushwalked extensively throughout the TWWHA, including a 40 day walk from north to south Tasmania for her honeymoon.
Appointed to February 2026.
Trish Hodge
Trish is a proud palawa, Tasmanian Aboriginal. She is sole director of nita Education, an Aboriginal cultural awareness and education company. Trish has a background in tourism & education and is a strong advocate for connecting people to Country, through sharing culture and stories.
Appointed to May 2025.
Hank Horton
Hank is an Aboriginal Elder and cultural advisor, who provides valued advice to the NPWAC in respect to Tasmanian Aboriginal community views and reserve management. Hank is also a member of the Aboriginal Heritage Council.
Appointed to March 2026.
Richard Ingram
Richard is a skilled executive and manager with 25 years management experience in a broad range of industries including Natural Resource Management, Tourism and Hospitality and Finance. This diversity of roles and experience has provided an extensive portfolio of skills, developed across a range of countries and cultures, including 16 years in NW Tasmania.
Appointed to August 2023.
Ellen O’Brien
Ellen is an environmental and sustainability practitioner with high-level skills and extensive experience in non-financial corporate reporting with specialist expertise in environmental, sustainability, carbon and greenhouse gas emission and safety reporting. She has extensive experience in corporate and consulting roles in the private sector, as well as a background in Local and State Government agencies, non-government organisations and scientific research.
Appointed to February 2026.
Su Sprott
Su has a strong background in outdoor recreation and has held a wide variety of positions, inc. outdoor education teaching, mountain bike guiding, co-ordinating programs and assessing risk for nature based outdoor activities and event organisation. She is active in the mountain bike community and serves on numerous Project Advisory Groups to represent the riding community and assist key management agencies with development of strategic trail plans.
Appointed to March 2026.
Dr Jennie Whinam
Jennie has a PhD in plant ecology. She was Senior Botanist for World Heritage Areas in DPIPWE for 25 years. Her areas of research include the ecology and restoration of Sphagnum peatlands, plant ecology of subantarctic islands, the impacts of fire on plant communities and the impacts of recreation activities in alpine environments. Jennie is currently Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Discipline of Geography & Spatial Studies, University of Tasmania.
Appointed to August 2023.