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.

Councillor Profiles

	Hon Dr Ken Michael AC President Term expires: 2023 Dr Ken Michael AC was installed as the thirtieth Governor of Western Australia on 18 January 2006, retiring from this position in May 2011. He was educated at Highgate Primary School, Perth Boys’ School and Perth Modern School. He graduated in civil engineering from The University of Western Australia and completed his PhD degree at Imperial College of Science and Technology in London. He served as Commissioner of Main Roads and Public Service Commissioner. He was Chancellor of The University of Western Australia, Chair of the East Perth Redevelopment Authority, Chair of the Western Australian Museum, Chair of the Western Australian Cricket Association and a member of the Economic Regulation Authority. Dr Michael has made a significant contribution in many areas, including public service, engineering, and academia and, in general, to the Western Australian community. He continues his support of the community in his retired capacity. He is currently Chair of Perth Modern School and Chair of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research, as well as being involved in other community based activities. He has received a number of awards in recognition of his contribution to his profession and the community. He was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1996 and Companion of the Order of Australia in the 2006 Australia Day Honours. Previously the Deputy Chairman of Council, he was elected President of the National Trust of Western Australia in 2019. National Trust member since 2015.
	Hon Robert ‘Bob’ Kucera APM GradCertMgmnt DipMgmnt Dip.Pol DipCrimInv JP Chairman Term expires: 2025 The Honourable Robert ‘Bob’ Kucera was born in Cardiff, (Old South Wales), before his family migrated to Western Australia in 1964. Mr Kucera joined the West Australian Police Force in 1966. He went on to become a highly decorated police officer who spent 34 years in the Western Australian Police, achieving the rank of Assistant Commissioner for Police, before resigning and standing for the State Parliamentary seat of Yokine in 2001. He holds tertiary qualifications in applied and business management, Diplomas of Policing and Criminal Investigation and is a graduate of Central Metropolitan TAFE, the Australian Institute of Police Management, and Charles Sturt University. He has presented at many International, National and State Conferences on a range of topics. As a Winston Churchill Memorial Fellow he studied Policing Administration and in particular Juvenile Crime Programs, in the United States, Canada, France and the United Kingdom. After entering Parliament, Mr Kucera served as a Cabinet Minister representing a variety of portfolios including Health, Small Business, Seniors, Volunteers, South-West Western Australia, Tourism, Sport and Disability Services and Multicultural Affairs. He retired from Parliament in 2008. He is currently a Non-Executive Chairman of an ASX listed company, President, Deputy Chair, Director and Patron of a number of “Not for Profit” community and Aged Care organisations. National Trust Member since 2017.
	Mr Roger Jennings MA (Cantab), EurChem, CChem, FRSC Councillor Term Expires: 2023 A retired British Civil Servant and Diplomat who worked in the government healthcare field with a background in quality management and science policy, Mr Jennings has had a keen interest in architecture, design and heritage preservation for over forty years and has been a member of National Trust organisations in the UK, USA, Malta and Australia. Mr Jennings has been actively involved in volunteering with several charitable organisations for more than twenty years. He has worked as a volunteer administrator with the National Trust of Australia (WA) for ten years, and has been a member of Council since 2008. Other activities for the Trust have included the development and maintenance of nearly twenty websites for the Trust’s Australian Schools National Curriculum Programs. National Trust Member since 2005.
	Mr Geoff Moor B.AppSc Councillor Term Expires: 2025 Geoff was a Council member 2002-2005 and again since 2013. He has served on the Classifications Committee since 2002. In everyday life he is employed in local government and oversees planning, development and operation of heritage facilities and programs. Other interests include the Canning Agricultural Society; Coastal Group of agricultural societies; Veteran Car Club of WA; Council of Motoring Clubs of WA and holds positions with these. Memberships include History Council of WA, RWAHS, British Printing Society; and various collectors clubs and community groups. He is a life member of a several community organisations and has been made a Paul Harris Fellow by a couple of Rotary Clubs. National Trust member since 2001.
	Mr Graham Goerke B.JURIS, LLB, GAICD Deputy Chair Term expires: 2023 Graham practised as a property lawyer at Jackson McDonald for over 30 years until the end of 2015. He was chair of the partnership board for 10 years from 2001 and head of the commercial/property practice team from 1995. Graham was a member of the Division Council of the Property Council in WA for over 12 years; an adjunct professor for 6 years with the law school of Murdoch University; and has been a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors since 1991. Graham has been a Council and Board member of Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) since 2006 and Board Chair from 2013 to 2019. EREA currently governs over 50 Catholic schools and flexible learning centres around Australia. Graham has also been a member of the Board of the WA Sports Centre Trust (VenuesWest) since 2007 and Board Chair since mid-2018. Under its governing legislation, VenuesWest is currently responsible for 13 sports and entertainment venues on behalf of the State. Graham has been the National Trust of Western Australia’s delegate to the Australian Council of National Trusts since 2016 and the Council Chair since November 2019. National Trust Member since 2015.
	Mr Max Hipkins MSc BTRP BArch DipAdmin Councillor Term Expires: 2024 Mr Hipkins is a planner, architect and engineer. With a career as a consultant and local government director, he has experience in heritage assessment, conservation plan preparation and compilation of municipal inventories. Mr Hipkins was a foundation member of the Swan River Trust, is a past National Chairman of the Australian Institute of Urban Studies, was a member of CityVision and has held the positions of Director of Planning at the City of Perth and Mayor at the City of Nedlands. He is currently Chair of the Trust’s Significant Tree Committee. National Trust Member since 1994.
	Dr Hugo Bekle Appointed Councillor - The Royal Society of Western Australia Term Expires: 2022 Dr Bekle has worked at four universities over 32 years and also operates a consultancy, EnviroSystems. His teaching, research and consultancy focuses on biogeography, environmental science, water and wetlands, salinity, urban and regional planning, sustainability and Indigenous land management practices. In 2012, he was awarded a Fellowship of the Institute of Australian Geographers in recognition of his achievement, leadership and excellence in the field. Dr Bekle is the author, or co-author, of 33 publications and 26 conference papers. In particular his knowledge of the ecology and migration of water birds has been recognised nationally and internationally. Dr Bekle also co-authored a book on The salinity crisis: landscapes, communities and politics, which was a short-listed finalist in the WA Premier’s Book Awards (2001). In 2014, he was awarded the Leonard Slater Visiting Fellowship at Durham University. His professional contributions also extend to considerable service to community organisations, government agencies and representative professional bodies. His teaching efforts have been recognised by various awards, including the Sybe Jongeling Award (2006) for recognition of outstanding compassion to students. Dr Bekle also recently served as Chief Examiner in geography for the WA School Curriculum and Standards Authority. National Trust member since 2016.
	Emeritus Prof John Stephens PhD RAIA M.AICOMOS Appointed Councillor - Australian Institute of Architects (WA Chapter) Term expires: 2023 John retired from Curtin University in 2017 but is still involved in research and teaching projects. As an academic at Curtin University, John has taught in architectural history, heritage and conservation. He has a long-term background in conservation plans and heritage reports and his research and teaching concentrates on the topics of heritage, cultural landscapes, and memory and war commemoration. John has worked with students on heritage and community development projects in India and Timor Leste. John’s current projects include working with Aboriginal organisations to document and map former Native Mission sites for use by Stolen Generation Survivors. He was appointed to the Heritage Council of Western Australia as the National Trust nominee from 2012 until June 2019. National Trust member and volunteer since 1990.
	Ms Chris Kingsnorth Appointed Councillor - Country Women's Association of Western Australia Term expires: 2024 Chris spent her professional career as an Occupational Therapist, working in England, Canada, Melbourne and Perth. While working as a Senior Therapist in Neurology at Shenton Park Rehabilitation Hospital, Chris joined the Board, eventually becoming President of the Motor Neurone Disease Association of WA, and is currently an Honorary Life Member. Chris spent nine years providing country services for the Independent Living Centre in Perth, which involved extensive travelling to every area of WA including remote communities in the Pilbara, Kimberley and Central Desert. This work involved researching and linking with communities and health professionals in the regions and gaining information about how the organisation could assist people in those communities. Education and mentoring of students was a special interest during her career, including positions at Curtin University and Lincoln Institute in Melbourne. Before her retirement in 2019, Chris spent seven years as a clinical Senior OT and Triage Officer at Bentley Hospital. Chris was an early member of the South Perth Historical Society, representing the community on the City of South Perth Bicentennial Committee, and was the lead member in gathering information to establish a Heritage Trail around the South Perth/Como area. Chris has been a member of the Country Women’s Association for 15 years, holding the office in her branch of President, Vice President and Secretary. She currently sits on the CWA Board of Management with involvement in the Learning and Development, Reconciliation Action Plan and Strategic Planning committees.
	Mr Robert Rossi JP BEd Appointed Councillor – Western Australian Local Government Association Term expires: 2023 Mr Robert Rossi JP has devoted the last 17 years representing the City of Belmont and was the Deputy Mayor for 6 years. He is also a school teacher and has been teaching since 1984. He is an active contributor to the community, which started over 20 years ago when he volunteered for Belmont Home Care for the City of Belmont. His commitment has grown, as a Councillor, through to Neighbourhood Watch, St Vincent De Paul and as a Justice of the Peace to name a few. Mr Rossi has been a member on numerous committees and organisations, including the Belmont Retirement Villages Board of Management as Chairman, Deputy Chair of the Aboriginal Reference Committee; and, as the designated Council member along with the Mayor of the City of Belmont on the Metro Central Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP). Mr Rossi is passionate about retaining Western Australia’s rich history. As the Presiding Member of the Belmont Museum Advisory Group, he is involved in shaping the new Belmont Museum. He has been nominated for several awards that have come from the residents that he serves or organisations that value and recognise his work in the community. National Trust Member since 2018.
	Mr Tutu Phong BCom CA Treasurer Term expires: 2024 Tutu is a Partner of RSM specialising in providing Assurance and Advisory services to clients listed on the ASX, companies with international operations and Australian private companies. Tutu graduated from UWA in 1994 with a Bachelor of Commerce and was admitted to the membership of the Charter Accountants Australia and New Zealand in 1998. Tutu is a registered company auditor in Australia and an Approved Overseas Auditor by the New Zealand Companies Office.
	Dr Shino Konishi Appointed Councillor - The Senate of the University of Western Australia Term expires: 2022 Shino Konishi is a historian based at the University of Western Australia, and descends from the Yawuru people of Broome, WA. She is a member of the Centre for Western Australian History, and her research interests include histories of Indigenous labour, and maritime and overland exploration in Australia. She currently leads a national project on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lives, in collaboration with the Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Trust Member since 2020.
	Mrs Margaret Harper BA, Dip Bus, Dip Speech and Drama, F.AUSAE Councillor Term expires: 2025 Mrs Margaret Harper joined the National Trust in Victoria whilst teaching at Camberwell Girls Grammar School in the 1960’s. Returning to Perth, she married Charles Harper, grandson of Charles Walter Harper of Woodbridge. She was appointed Executive Director of the Perth Convention Bureau and played a significant role in developing the conference industry in Australia. Margaret has held numerous tourism industry and association committee positions, participated in the Perth City Council’s Town Planning Sub-Committee and Sister City delegation to Kagoshima; the Sesqui-Centennial Celebrations Committee and Bicentenary Planning Committee. She was made a Fellow of the Australian Society of Association Executives. Appointed founding Executive Director of the Conference and Development Office at UWA in 1983, she was later selected Australia’s representative to the Duke of Edinburgh Sixth Commonwealth Future Leader’s Study Conference, Australia/India 1986. Whilst living on Corfu, Margaret partnered in the establishment of Chamber Music Holidays and Festivals. Concerts were held in historic buildings across Europe. She helped establish the Guildford Foundation School on Corfu, appointed to the School Board in 1995. Returning to Perth she served as Principle Policy Adviser to a State Cabinet Minister, has consulted on various projects and works with heritage-focused organisations.
	Ms Carol Buckley AM LVO Secretary Term expires: 2023 Carol commenced service at Government House on 9 April 1990, following a 16-year career in the WA Public Service which commenced in 1974. Early career was within the commercial arm of the State Government Insurance Office (SGIO) and subsequently RiskCover WA. She was the first woman to take on a management role in Commercial Fleet and Broker liaison which was a complete business unit and commercially competitive. Following her move to Government House, for more than 21 years until her appointment as Official Secretary and Chief Executive, she held the position of Deputy Official Secretary responsible for strategic projects as well as day to day management and operations of the Governor’s Establishment including financial management. Her recognition of the importance of heritage architecture led to her completing a degree in cultural heritage studies at Curtin University in 2007, and the outstanding heritage restorations she was later responsible for. Over many years Carol established the highest standards for each type of ceremonial and community event involving the Governor particularly Investitures, Open Days, swearings-in, VIP, Diplomatic and Official Callers and house guests. She managed the house program for visits by Her Majesty The Queen and members of the Royal family; other visiting Royals and Heads of State and in many other protocol or ceremonial matters in which the Governor represents the Crown. She provided invaluable counsel and advice to the seven Governors she served.
	Dr Fiona Bush OAM Vice President Term expires: 2023 Dr Fiona Bush OAM obtained a BA degree, majoring in archaeology from Sydney University, followed by a Master’s degree in Building Conservation from the University of NSW. Fiona then headed west with her husband in 1984, where she found that at that time, the heritage industry was in its infancy. To learn more about heritage in Western Australia she joined the National Trust’s Built Environment Committee in 1985 and has remained on it ever since – although the name has changed over the years. Fiona has worked as a building archaeologist and heritage consultant in Western Australia for over 30 years. She has a broad spectrum of heritage interests but two of her passions are industrial heritage and colonial buildings. She is a member of the Mundaring & Hills Historical Society and a Councillor with the Royal Western Australian Historical Society. She served on the State Heritage Office’s Register Committee from 2005 until its disbandment in 2019. In January 2017 she was award an OAM for services to community history and heritage conservation.
	Mr Ashley Zimpel BA Hist (UWA) Councillor Term Expires: 2024 Mr Zimpel is currently CEO of Australian MedTech Cortical Dynamics Limited and a non-executive Director of ASX listed Additive Manufacturer AuroraLabs A3D. With a background in investment banking, Mr Zimpel worked at Bankers Trust, Macquarie Bank and co-founded Rand Merchant Bank Australia in Sydney prior to returning to Perth. In recent years he has focused his business activities in the Innovation sector. Holding a Degree in History from the University of Western Australia he is keenly interested in preserving the built legacy of our state for future generations. Mr Zimpel was a committee member of the NSW National Trust building, Lindsay House in Darling Point, Sydney and a benefactor of Elizabeth Bay House in Sydney. He is a Foundation Member of AGWA and holds a Diploma from the Christies Fine Arts Course in London. National Trust Member since 2020.
	Ms Renata Lowe Appointed Councillor – Tourism Western Australia Term Expires: 2022 Renata has some 30 years’ experience in the tourism industry working across visitor servicing, marketing and destination development and is currently the Executive Director Destination Development at Tourism WA. Here she leads the team driving Aboriginal tourism, workforce development, cruiseline attraction and tourism planning, as well as destination and experience development. Renata is a past CEO of Australia’s Golden Outback regional tourism organisation, interim CEO of the WA Indigenous Tourism Operators Council and was a tourism policy adviser for former state tourism ministers.
	Mr Karl Clement Haynes Councillor Term expires: 2024 Karl has worked for the National Trust over the last 25 years and retired from the position of Manager of Heritage Services in 2020. During his time working for the National Trust he played an active role in promoting Aboriginal Cultural Heritage through the development of cultural heritage programs with Aboriginal communities throughout Western Australia. Karl is keenly aware of the importance of heritage to our wellbeing and the incredibly important role the National Trust plays in promoting cultural heritage conservation. Karl is currently the Treasurer for the Wetlands Education Centre Cockburn and assists the Art Deco and Modernist Society of Western Australia in providing governance and financial management support. Karl is keen to continue to support the work of the National Trust and joined the Council in 2021.
	Ms Rosa Tu Councillor Term expires: 2025 After graduating from Zhejiang University’s English Department with an Accounting Major, Rosa has served as the chief financial officer and financial director in various international corporations in Hangzhou and Shanghai. With a focus on environmental protection and sustainable development, attracted by Australia’s pristine natural beauty, in 2007, Rosa immigrated to Australia. While continuing her accounting work in Bunbury and Perth, she sought to find pathways to better assist in advocating for the protection and conservation of Australia’s natural heritage. Rosa wants to expand the awareness of environmental protection among people of different cultural backgrounds in the community and to cultivate and encourage the next generation to consciously participate in the sustainable development of the planet using new ideas, new technologies and communication methods.
	Dr Dean Economou, B.E., Hons., PhD., GAICD Councillor Term expires: 2025 Dean has broad experience in innovation across technology, sustainability, transport and built environment, with a special emphasis on sustainable transport and regeneration of urban ecology. He currently manages the Net Zero Corridors project for the Sustainable Built Environment National Research Centre, is the technology lead at the Curtin Sustainability Policy Institute, and is engaged in several projects on the transition to renewable energy through the RACE for 2030 Cooperative Research Centre. He also consults privately to transportation agencies and technology start-ups. In former roles Dean was the Director of Infrastructure, Transport and Logistics at CSIRO, and before that, Director of the CSIRO laboratory that invented Wi-Fi. In his CSIRO roles he has had deep engagement with federal and state ministers as well as the media. In the private sector he was the Chief Transport Strategist and CTO for Products at Telstra and co-founded telecommunications vendor QPSX in Perth. Dean has extensive US experience, having studied at both UC Berkeley and the Stanford d.School. He also co-founded and established on-demand transport provider Liftango in the US. Locally he is an active member of Nedlands Tree Canopy Advocates and engages with several community consultation groups.

Council of the National Trust of Western Australia

Search National Trust