The group of people who make the Blackwood Basin Group great, are not only representative of the broad range of communities across the catchment, but also offer valuable skills and experience to the organisation.
See below to learn more about our staff and committee members.
Staff
With two decades of experience in the field of Natural Resource Management (NRM), Greg has led BBG projects for 6 years. He is currently studying for a Masters in Integrated Water Management through the International Water Centre. Greg takes a thorough, well-researched and professional approach to NRM and provides strong leadership to the BBG team.
Felicity Willett
After graduating from Curtin University with a Bachelor of Social Science (Environmental Management and Geography), Felicity joined the Blackwood Basin Group in May 2010. Born and bred in the Blackwood River basin,at Boyup Brook, Felicity brings considerable skill and enthusiasm to the organisation. |
 Kirsten Skraha Kirsten Skraha, BSc (NRM) Kirsten Skraha begun, in July, a year of maternity leave from her role as leader of the award-winning BestFarms team at the BBG. Her experience in training, facilitation and presentation has helped build BestFarms into a vibrant, growing project with national relevance. Felicity Willett and Kathe Purvis will carry the project forward in her absence. |
 Kathe Purvis Kathe Purvis Kathe brings to the BBG a range of environmental management skills and experience. Her businesslike approach to delivery of the BestFarms program has helped drive development and open future opportunities for the BBG. A qualified environmental auditor and trainer, Kathe also works with the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture and brings a broad-ranging view and a common-sense approach to the BBG’s activities. |
 Jennifer Staniforth-Smith Jennifer Staniforth-Smith A new addition to the BBG team, Jennifer manages the administration and financial activities of the organisation. A former journalist, Jennifer also has experience in running a small magazine publishing company. She now lives on her husband’s family farm at Dinninup, east of Boyup Brook. Jennifer has experience in financial management as well as a good understanding of the importance of good, cost-effective natural resource management in rural communities. |
Committee Members
The Blackwood Basin Group has a 15-member committee, representative of shires, landcare groups, industry and government agencies across the 22,000 square-kilometre Blackwood catchment.
 Ray Colyer Ray Colyer Ray Colyer was elected chairman of the BBG in July 2009 after serving on the committee since 2005. Ray is the current president of the Augusta-Margaret River Shire Council and operates a small business in the Karridale area. |
 Per Christensen Per Christensen Per has spent his life working in Natural Resource Management (NRM). A retired biological scientist, now based in Balingup, Per remains active in NRM groups and his passionate approach and wealth of experience brings great value to the BBG committee. |
 Jill Richardson Jill Richardson Jill’s tireless work in NRM has its base in Katanning, where she manages the Katanning Landcare Zone office. A long-serving member of the BBG, Jill is passionate about the effective use of NRM funds and offers lively, considered input in her role on the BBG committee. |
 Peter Wren Peter Wren Peter migrated to Australia from California in 1971. He and his wife Maya took up farming near Karridale in 1972, with market gardening and beef production as their main enterprise. Peter believes farming capabilities and opportunities have been grossly marginalised through arbitrarily enforced land use changes and controls. Peter now describes himself as a “de-facto natural resource manager of privately held lands”. As an avowed property rights activist, Peter feels that his role on the BBG is to keep a watchful eye on processes that jeopardise the private values of land and resources. |
 Derek Dilkes Derek Dilkes Having served as the BBG chairman for more than 5 years, Derek has been a strong influence on the management of the organisation. A Bridgetown beef and dairy farmer, Derek is passionate about community-driven management of natural resources and has overseen strict adherence to good governance practices at the BBG for many years. Additional to his work on the BBG, Derek has served as a Bridgetown-Greenbushes Shire Councillor for 11 years. |
 Mick Quartermaine Mick Quartermaine A 5th-generation Katanning farmer, Mick’s passions are sustainable land use and communities. As a committee member of the Katanning, Wagin, Woodanilling and Beaufort River LCDCs, the BBG’s upper catchment representative, a member of the South West Catchments Council Association and the Secretary Treasurer of the Blackwood River Foundation, Mick pursues his passion with much energy and enthusiasm. |
 Russel Thomson Russel Thomson A Woodanilling farmer, Russel takes a pro-active approach to NRM within the bounds of running a viable farming entity. As a founding member of the BBG, Russel has worked hard to help build an organisation of which he and others can be proud. His common-sense approach and excellent understanding of technical and social issues associated with natural resource management make him a well-regarded and highly effective member of the BBG committee. |
 Nick Dobson Nick Dodson One of only two founding members of the BBG still serving on the committee, Nick Dodson brings his a life-long passion for environmental protection to his role with the group. |
 Michael Carlton Michael Carlton Michael is one of the newest members of the BBG. Based in Bridgetown, Michael represents the middle catchment LCDC/Zone community. |
 Felicity Astbury Felicity Astbury Felicity Astbury sits on the Blackwood Basin Group Committee representing Industry in the Upper Catchment region. Felicity is the Executive Officer of the Wickepin-based Facey Group and in her spare time assists on her partner’s sheep and cropping property at nearby Dudinin. The Facey Group is a farmer-run group which aims to improve on-farm practice to keep farms healthy and profitable into the future, and Natural Resource Management (NRM) plays a key role in its activities. Felicity brings to the BBG a valuable link with agricultural industries in the Upper Catchment region through her extensive network of contacts and her understanding of farming industry issues. |
 Clark Ward Clark Ward Clark ward has been involved with the BBG for 10 years, initially as the manager of Blackwood Valley Landcare Zone and recently as an industry representative. A geologist by profession Clark has worked in mining and exploration throughout Australasia and brings another facet of natural resource management experience to the BBG. |
 Felicity Bunny Felicity Bunny Currently working with the Department of Water as the NRM coordinator for the South West region, Felicity is involved in the development and implementation of works designed to improve water quality in waterways in the region. Prior to this, she was with the Australian Government Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, working on water and natural resource management, primarily in the Murray Darling Basin. Felicity was employed with the Australian Government Natural Resource Management team from the beginning of the second phase of the Natural Heritage Trust and the National Action Plan and has developed a strong understanding of the issues facing natural resource managers and NRM bodies. |
 Stephen Tunbridge Stephen Tunbridge Steve represents the Department of Agriculture and Food (DAFWA) on the Blackwood Basin Group committee. Based in Katanning since 2007, Steve has been the project manager for a recently completed salinity project and deep drainage project in the Dumbleyung Shire. Steve works with the NRM team in Katanning to provide advice to landholders on managing soil acidification, waterlogging, soil erosion and other soil constraints. |
 Greg Durell Greg Durell Greg is the District Manager for the Department of Environment and Conservation, Great Southern District Office. Based in Narrogin, he has more than 30 years experience in NRM at an operational and management level. Greg represents DEC on the BBG, providing support, advice and updates on DEC activities in the Blackwood Basin. Greg has 30 staff in the district, responsible for the managing more than 400 nature reserves, 60 Declared Rare Flora and threatened fauna, and several Threatened Ecological Communities including Toolibin Lake, a Ramsar-listed wetland. |