Management Committees

The management of the Shark Bay World Heritage Area is determined through participatory consultation that takes into consideration the best available scientific information, and the knowledge and aspirations of the local community. Two consultative committees provide input and advice to a ministerial council, which coordinates government policy relating to the management of the area.

Shark Bay World Heritage Property Ministerial Council

The ministerial council comprises four members, with two members each from the Australian and Western Australian governments. The ministerial council’s role is to:

• coordinate policy and funding between the Western Australian and Australian governments on all matters concerning the World Heritage Area;
• provide advice to both governments on management requirements, management plans, research and education, presentation and promotion, boundary modifications, and community consultation and liaison.
• refer matters to the Community Consultative Committee and Scientific Advisory Committee and consider reports from these bodies; and
• resolve any dispute that might arise between the two governments.
  

Shark Bay World Heritage Property Community Consultative Committee

The Community Consultative Committee advises the Ministerial Council on management matters from the viewpoint of the community. Its members have knowledge of or background in fields such as conservation, heritage, local government, fishing, tourism, Aboriginal matters, park management and/or agriculture. Most members must be residents of, or live near, Shark Bay.

Members are appointed by the chair of the Ministerial Council for a period of three years and meet at least once a year. The chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee (or nominated representative) is a member of the Community Consultative Committee.

Current members are:

Name	Expertise/ Interests
Ms Susan Jones (Chair)	Former Chief Executive Officer of the Gascoyne Development Corporation and resident of Carnarvon
Mr Richard Patty	Previous manager of seafood company and resident of Carnarvon
Mr Brian Wake	Manager of Hamelin pastoral lease and local resident with commitment to pastoral industry
Mr Harvey Raven	Commercial tour operator at Monkey Mia and local resident with interest in tourism
Mr Darren Capewell	Indigenous tour operator at Monkey Mia, local resident and descendent of traditional Aboriginal owners
Mr Bart Boelen	Former Gascoyne manager of Tourism WA and Carnarvon resident. Current consultant
Dr Sue Graham-Taylor	WA Museum historian, long-term interest in history of Shark Bay and member of Conservation Council
Mr Peter Morgan	Commercial tour operator and Monkey Mia and local resident with interest in pearling and tourism

Shark Bay World Heritage Property Scientific Advisory Committee

The Scientific Advisory Committee comprises people with scientific qualifications relevant to managing Shark Bay’s World Heritage values. Their input ensures that the best available scientific research underpins all decision-making. Members are appointed by the chair of the Ministerial Council for a period of three years and meet at least once a year to advise the Ministerial Council on such issues as scientific research priorities; new scientific information or developments; and the appropriateness of research proposals.

The chair of the Community Consultative Committee (or nominated representative) is also a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee.
Current members are:

Name	Expertise/ Interests
Professor Diana Walker (Chair)	University of WA professor and seagrass expert. Long-term involvement with Shark Bay’s seagrass and marine environment.
Dr Lindsay Joll	Senior research scientist with Department of Fisheries and closely involved in fisheries resource management in Shark Bay
Mr Greg Keighery	Principal research scientist with DEC, expertise is botany with extensive knowledge of WA flora and its biology
Dr Ian Eliot	Expert knowledge in coastal geomorphology and its application to coastal planning and management
Dr Per Christensen	Expert knowledge in the fields of botany, zoology (intimate knowledge of Shark Bay fauna) and forestry
Dr Anthony Chiffings	Systems ecologist with extensive experience in environmental and coastal zone management and water resources planning and policy formulation.

The two committees also have input into the drafting and review of management plans. Learn more about management plans here.