Board TAS

Harriett has had a life long interest in the preservation of historic houses and buildings and believes strongly that it is important to not only extend their lives, but to bring them back to life.

Six years ago, Harriett and her husband relocated from Sydney to Tasmania, and have spent their time since restoring a historic house at Hollow Tree. The restoration won the 2020 Tasmanian Architecture Awards - Award for Heritage Architecture and was joint winner of the National Architecture Awards- Lachlan Macquarie Award for Heritage Harriett has undertaken studies in fine arts, art restoration, practical art, jewellery design and film production. She has also run her own shop and gallery.

Harriett is an experienced fundraiser and looks forward to using her skills to grow support for, and increase knowledge of, the Trust’s work, while encouraging a new, younger demographic to become involved. Harriett is particularly eager for the Trust to become more involved with Aboriginal Tasmanians and to be more inclusive of their stories.

Jude Franks joined the Board of the National Trust of Australia (Tasmania) in May as a Ministerial appointee under the National Trust Act 2006 for a three-year term commencing July 2023.

Jude is an accomplished and seasoned professional, renowned for her effectiveness as a Company Director.
With over 40 years of senior executive, consultancy and leadership experience, Jude has delivered innovative and strategic change, predominantly in the tourism industry in Tasmania.
Jude is currently an Executive Director of the Mt Wellington Cable Car Company and the Cartela Steamship Restoration Trust playing a pivotal role in planning, developing, and implementing these projects. Jude was a Director of RACT for seven years until November 2022, including roles on the RACT Autoserve, RACT Travel, and RACT Destinations boards. She served as a Director of the Port Arthur Historic Sites Management Authority (PAHSMA) for ten years until December 2021 where she contributed significantly to the preservation and management of the iconic site. Additionally, Jude has served on boards as diverse as Tasmania's Southern Regional Tourism Association, Ecotourism Australia, Tasmanian Convention Bureau (as Deputy Chair), and Woolmer's Estate (Archer Historical Foundation).
As Principal of Jude Franks Consulting, she has displayed proactive and insightful leadership. Her expertise in tourism, management, marketing, and strategic planning has led to successful outcomes in projects for Innkeepers Corporation, the Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel, Hotel Grand Chancellor /Federation Concert Hall, Callington Mill Oatlands. Jude also led a large team through a market-shaping era of acquisitions and the development of the Pure Tasmania brand and experiences at the Federal Group.
Jude is a proud Tasmanian who has worked extensively interstate and in South East Asia. She lives in West Hobart and is the proud Mum of three adult children and also has a new grandson ! The recent discovery of new information of her Convict and early settler ancestors has again ignited her passion for the deep stories of our amazing Island.

Elected to the Board in 2023, Alistair is a former journalist, communications manager and ministerial adviser to Tasmanian and Federal Labor governments and has extensive experience in public sector management and governance at a senior level. He has held senior positions in the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPAC) as Director of Local Government and in the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE – now Natural Resources and Environment) as General Manager of Natural and Cultural Heritage. Alistair has previously served on a number of boards including the Local Government Board, the Tasmanian Libraries Advisory Board and the management boards for both NRM North and NRM South, and is currently a director of Cricket North.
Alistair recently gained a PhD in Tasmanian history at the University of Tasmania. His thesis was the first study of the lives of the male juvenile convicts held at the Point Puer Boys Establishment near Port Arthur between 1834 and 1849. He found that for many of the boys, Point Puer was a place of unrelenting punishment and maltreatment. While some succeeded in establishing themselves in the colony after being released – living quiet, unobtrusive lives – most inevitably struggled to integrate into colonial society.
As a board member, Alistair has a particular focus on good governance and on ensuring that the National Trust is able to operate on a financially sustainable basis. He is also keen to explore opportunities for the Trust to continue to broaden its role to encompass Tasmania’s First Nations, convict, industrial and social heritage beyond its more traditional role in conserving buildings and places of historical and cultural significance.

An inclusive leader and tourism operator with an appreciation for Tasmania’s heritage, Kerry Houston has demonstrated management, marketing, human resource, leadership, and communication skills alongside a passion for reimagining heritage buildings and ‘telling their story.’
Kerry is skilled in corporate leadership, has a commitment to heritage preservation and understands small business in the tourism arena. From steering payroll and human resources for a significant organization to thriving small business ownership, her journey embodies strategic acumen, community engagement, and a passion for elevating heritage tourism experiences.
Growing up in regional Victoria, Kerry is now passionately Tasmanian. She has spent over a decade based in Hobart, and has spent the last five years in Stanley on the far northwest coast bringing strong regional perspective and insights from the north of the State. As owner operator of Ship Inn Stanley, she oversaw the renovation of the 1840s heritage listed property, originally an 1840s sailor's tavern built by Jo Lyons grandfather. Ship Inn Stanley has received multiple national and state tourism awards as well as media accolades.
As Vice President of the Circular Head Tourism Association, Kerry's contributions led to Stanley's victory in the Top Tourism Town competition. Kerry was instrumental in leading the submission for the Nut and volcanic features of the Stanley peninsula to be included on the national heritage list, and these sites have now been approved for priority assessment. Kerry was also instrumental in securing a grant to transform the street signage of Stanley to link it with interpretive material to Stanley’s Highfield Historic site.
Kerry and husband Alastair live in an 1840s stone bond store designed by John Lee Archer for the Van Diemen’s Land Company. This is another renovation in progress, using traditional lime and stone working methods. Kerry is passionate about preserving buildings and landscapes with a view to people engaging with them in a modern and relatable way.