The National Trust of Western Australia works to raise knowledge, awareness, understanding and commitment to Western Australia’s natural and cultural heritage.

The National Trust achieves this through the conservation and interpretation of heritage places it manages on behalf of the community and government of Western Australia, through education and learning programs, and through community consultation and engagement.

From the beginning, the National Trust of Western Australia has been a community-based organisation. It was founded in 1959 by a group of concerned citizens who identified the need to promote heritage conservation. This group grew rapidly and included some of the most prominent citizens in the State. Some five years later a state Act of Parliament was passed which formally established the National Trust as an independent community based organisation.

The National Trust of Australia (W.A.) Act 1964 can be found on the Australasian Legal Institute (Austlii) Database. The National Trust is a registered charity.

Vision

To be recognised as leaders in engaging communities with the value of Western Australia’s heritage to ensure its protection for future generations.

Mission

To connect communities to the value of Western Australia’s diverse natural and cultural heritage.

Services

The National Trust of Western Australia is a statutory body that delivers heritage services through whole of government appropriations. The organisation delivers services in the areas of property and collection management, natural heritage management and education and learning programs.

Acknowledgement of country

The National Trust of Western Australia recognises and celebrates the continuing connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to their Countries, cultures and heritage across the state and the vital role they play in our holistic approach to heritage conservation and management at all of our places across the state.

Learn more about how we work with Aboriginal people in the conservation and interpretation of heritage places.

Patron of the National Trust of Western Australia

His Excellency The Honourable Chris Dawson AC APM, Governor of Western Australia and his wife, Mrs Darrilyn Dawson, are joint Patrons of the National Trust of Western Australia.

Government House Website

Council of the National Trust of Western Australia

The Council consists of 25 members, of which 16 members are elected from amongst members of the National Trust and the remaining nine members are appointed by nominating organisations. Terms conclude following the Annual General Meeting in the year of expiry.

Meet our Council

 

Senior Staff

Mr Julian Donaldson

BA DipEd GAICD M ICOMOS

Chief Executive Officer

Mr Julian Donaldson brings to the National Trust significant leadership experience gained in a career spanning the commercial and cultural sectors. He is committed to involving the community in the National Trust’s mission to connect communities to the value of Western Australia’s diverse natural and cultural heritage and emphasises the role of storytelling in deepening the connection people have with heritage. He is focused on ensuring that all Western Australians have the opportunity to engage in the National Trust’s role in building a valued sense of our place in the fast-changing world through reflection on our rich and diverse cultural heritage.

Mr Donaldson led the Perth International Arts Festival over a decade before joining the National Trust of Western Australia in 2016. He retains his involvement in the arts through membership on the board of the Perth Theatre Trust and Perth Symphony Orchestra. He also represents the Trust on the City of Perth Cultural Advisory Committee, and the Albany Bicentenary Working Group.

 

Mr Enzo Sirna AM

BA DipEd MACE

Deputy Chief Executive Officer/Director Corporate Services

Mr Enzo Sirna AM joined the National Trust in 2001 and has over 30 years’ experience in education and in governing community and not-for-profit organisations.

Mr Sirna was previously a Senior Policy Advisor for the Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Interests and a former Senior Master of Languages and Director of Studies at Penrhos College.

He was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in 2004, for service to the community through education, multicultural affairs, welfare and the arts.

Mr Sirna is also Chairman of the Australian Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, Deputy Chairman of Community Languages Australia, President of the Italo-Australian Welfare and Cultural Centre and a member of the State Government’s Multicultural Advisory Group.

 

Mr Michael DSouza

B.Com, ACMA, DBA, APIA AFA

Chief Financial Officer

Mr Michael D’souza joined the Trust in February 2019. He has extensive experience and skills from a broad range of commercial and government business across diverse geographic and cultural environments.  He is a qualified accountant and has over 30 years of experience in Finance, Business and ICT.

He has held senior positions in WA State Government and in the private sector in Australia and overseas. He has a track record of driving major reforms, managing multimillion projects and delivering innovative cost – effective outcomes, aligned to organisational strategic objectives. Mr D’souza is very passionate about being able to serve the community of Western Australia.

 

Ms Kelly Rippingale   

B.Arch (Hons) B Arts (UWA), M AIA, M ICOMOS

Senior Manager, Asset Management  

Ms Kelly Rippingale has qualifications in both architecture and history and has worked for over twenty years in government, private and the not-for-profit arenas, in Western Australia and the UK, focusing on the management of significant places. She has been with the Trust since 2001 and undertaken a broad range of projects across the whole of the asset portfolio.

Ms Rippingale is passionate about the values embodied in Western Australia’s built heritage, seeking to best maintain those values while meeting sustainable future use goals.

Opportunities with the National Trust

Job opportunities

There are no current employment opportunities.

Volunteering opportunities

There are no current volunteering opportunities.

Committees of Council

The purpose of the Finance and Audit Committee is to assist Council in fulfilling its statutory and good governance responsibilities relating to financial planning, reporting and control, risk management, accountable performance, and audit.

The role of the Classification Standing Committee is to identify and assess places and objects of cultural heritage significance and recommend to Council the classification and conservation of those places and objects considered to have heritage significance.

The purpose of the Committee is to support the National Trust of Western Australia in the identification, recording, classification and preservation of Western Australia’s Defence Heritage. The definition of defence heritage is as encompassing as the interests of the committee members. It is not limited to army, navy or air force artefacts, equipment, oral history or military heritage sites. It is also concerned with the history of civil and military aviation, war graves, war memorials, internment and POW camps, women’s services, restoration, conservation and the impact of war and conflict on the security and defence of Western Australian communities since 1826.

The purpose of the Significant Trees Committee is to identify and assess trees of cultural and natural heritage significance and advise the Classification Standing Committee for the classification and conservation of those trees considered to have heritage significance.

Honours

The National Trust depends on the commitment and support of the community and many individuals.

In recognition of the hard work and dedication to conservation and interpretation of Western Australia’s unique heritage, the National Trust awards individual effort.

In 2012 the National Trust introduced Fellow of the National Trust as the highest honour bestowed to an individual.

Honours List

Ronald Bodycoat
Eileen W Brown
Dr Fiona L Bush
Chris Corry-Thomas
Sue Corry-Thomas
Hon. John Cowdell AM
Heather J Dayman
Pamela F Hall
Joyce M Hardy
Dr Cleve Hassell
Frank M Montgomery OAM
Roslyn F Stewart OAM
Don Strang

 

Policies and Rules

Section 27 of the National Trust of Australia (WA) Act 1964 enables the Trust to establish by-laws to assist regulating the affairs, business and management of the Trust. Trust by-laws are adopted by general or special general meetings of the National Trust.

National Trust By-Laws 1972

 

Every five years the National Trust adopts a Strategic Plan to guide the activity of the organisation.

Through this strategic plan the National Trust of Western Australia aspires to awaken the community to the value of heritage. The plan sets out to achieve this by connecting Western Australians with the story of their heritage. The stories found in the rich and diverse natural and cultural heritage are the embodiment of our memories – the vast collection of things – both tangible and intangible – which we chose to keep and which we choose to keep for the future

Strategic Plan 2022-24

The National Trust of Western Australia is committed to developing mutual respect and meaningful partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. With the alignment of its Reconciliation Action Plan objectives to those of its Strategic Plan, the Trust aims to strengthen existing and develop new relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, communities and organisations, creating respectful and mutually beneficial opportunities so all Western Australians are connected with their heritage.

Reconciliation Action Plan

The Australian Privacy Act requires The National Trust of Western Australia to provide information to our members about the collection, use and disclosure of their personal information.

This Privacy Statement is prepared in conjunction with the Privacy Commissioner’s ten National Privacy Principles (NPPs).

Privacy Statement