Board


The Parks Forum Board is comprised of senior representatives of a number of our member agencies.

Our current Board members are:





Allan Holmes

Chief Executive, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, SA

Chairman

Allan is a career public servant who has been a chief executive in South Australia since 2000. His first executive appointment was in Victoria in 1989 and he moved to Adelaide in 1994 to become Director of National Parks and Wildlife. Allan is a graduate of the University of Melbourne and has a Masters degree from the University of Adelaide. He is a fellow of the Victorian Leadership Program and a fellow of the Institute of Public Administration in Australia.

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Michael Ayrton

Park Director, Cornwall Park Trust Board

Deputy Chairman

Michael Ayrton has been employed by the Trust since 1991 and previously worked in Parks for the Auckland Regional Council, Department of Conservation and the former New Zealand Forest Service.

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Andrea Leverington

Assistant Director-General, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service



Ms Leverington has recently taken on the role of Assistant Director-General, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.

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Kevin O'Connor

General Manager, Research and Development, Department of Conservation, NZ



Kevin O'Connor has some 35 years experience in conservation management in a variety of roles and locations throughout New Zealand with most of this experience gained in the operations work of the Department of Conservation (DOC).

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Neil McCarthy

Parks Division, Parks Victoria



For 25 years Neil McCarthy has worked in the field of natural resource management, and played a lead role in establishing Melbourne Parks and Waterways and Parks Victoria.

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Sally Barnes

Chief Executive, Office of Environment & Heritage, NSW Parks and Wildlife Services



Sally Barnes is the Deputy Chief Executive of the Department of Environment & Heritage and Head of NSW National Parks and Wildlife Services. Sally has been a senior executive within the environment portfolio for 15 years. In her current role she is responsible for building and managing the NSW national parks system - to protect our natural and cultural heritage and to promote opportunities for people to enjoy the great outdoors.

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Francis Khoo

Manager, Parks Services, City of Melbourne



In his role, Francis Khoo is responsible for the management and maintenance of the City's parks and tree assets. Francis is a civil engineer by profession and also has an MBA from Monash University.  

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Ian Maxwell

Manager, Parks, Sport & Recreation, Auckland Council



Ian Maxwell manages the Parks, Sports and Recreation Department of Auckland Council. The Department brings together parks and leisure facilities and services some 1.5 million Aucklanders.

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Margaret Barrett

Principal Officer, Open Space Planning, Brisbane City Council



Margaret Barrett is Senior Officer, Natural Environment and Sustainability with the Brisbane City Council.

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Jim Sharp

Deputy Director- General, WA Department of Environment and Conservation



Jim Sharp was appointed Deputy Director General Parks and Conservation in early 2008 following the merger of the Departments of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) and Environment to form the Department of Environment and Conservation.

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Graham Porteous

Manager, Recreation Services, Parks and recreaction Group, City of Melbourne

Parks Forum Company Secretary

Graham Porteus has been in the role since September 1999 and currently has responsibility for delivery of Council's Active Melbourne Strategy, planning the long-term recreation needs of the municipality, management of sporting and facility needs of community level clubs, supporting the business needs of the Group, and working with key capital city sports organisations to improve the sporting assets and infrastructure in the city.

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