Who we are
Chair
Susan Hunt
AM PSM, BA (HONS), MA, FIPAA
Susan has 17 years of experience as a Chief Executive Officer, leading the Lotteries Commission of Western Australia, the Health Promotion Foundation and the Zoological Parks Authority (Perth Zoo). During her 13 years as Perth Zoo CEO Susan was elected President of the Australasian Zoo Association and President of the World Zoo Association and co-authored the first World Zoo Animal Welfare Strategy. Susan is currently independent chair of the Gorgon Project Marine Turtle Expert Panel. She has been awarded an Australian Public Service Medal for her contribution to conservation and public service.
Executive Officer
Dr Gillian Bryant
For many years, Gillian has worked in ecological conservation projects covering a range of threatened species from pythons, quenda, ringtail possums, bilbies and kangaroos. She has also been committed to fostering an understanding and appreciation of native wildlife and their threats (including feral cats) via teaching and citizen science projects, where she has been able to focus on educating our youth in the classroom and on practical excursions in the field. After spending many years researching in the southwest, Gillian now lives in the region where she shares her love and joy of bushland, beaches and horse riding with her two young boys and husband.
Executive
Dr Bruce Webber
Principal Research Scientist - CSIRO Health & Biosecurity
Bruce Webber is a Principal Research Scientist at CSIRO. Previously he was the Program Director for Ecosystem Processes and Threat Mitigation at the Western Australian Biodiversity Science Institute (WABSI). With a background in global change ecology, Bruce works with end users and the research community to identify, prioritise and enable research that addresses the most important knowledge gaps to improve biodiversity conservation, and together with land managers translates this insight into on-ground outcomes.
Jane O'Malley
CEO of Peel Harvey Catchment Council, NRM Regions
Jane O’Malley is CEO of the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council and represents the 7 NRM Regional Groups that cover WA. Jane commenced her NRM life as an Environmental Planner and has a long held dream of our native animals coming out from behind feral proof enclosures and ruling the roost across Australia, without fear of being eaten by feral cats or foxes. With this in mind Jane drove the establishment of the WA Feral Cat Working Group, with strong support from like-minded colleagues. Jane is a WA Parks Ambassador, Mum to two fabulous boys and has a travel disorder that COVID is seriously testing.
Dr Dave Algar
WA Representative, National Feral Cat Taskforce
Dr Dave Algar is a Principal Research Scientist with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and has extensive experience and expertise in the fields of feral cat ecology and control strategies. The research conducted has led to the design and development of the recently registered feral cat bait Eradicat®, establishment of baiting strategies over broad-scale areas to provide effective and cost-efficient control and implementation of a number of successful feral cat eradication campaigns on islands.
Elisabeth McLellan
Career Development Mentor, Bush Heritage Australia and Chair, Northern Agricultural Catchments Council (NACC) NRM
Working within Bush Heritage Australia’s Seeding the Future Programme, Elisabeth helps provide opportunities for early career and next generation environmentalists to gain experience in the private land conservation sector. With an extensive background in conservation operations, project and team management, and threatened species conservation to draw upon, she is committed to supporting, guiding, and mentoring the next generation of conservation professionals.
As Chair of NACC NRM, together with the rest of the Board, Elisabeth provides leadership on environment issues affecting the Northern Agricultural Region of WA, bringing together State and Commonwealth Government policy to match with local community aspirations.
Working Group
Dr Rachel Paltridge
Ron Shepherd
Tim Allard
Kellie Passeretto
Ecologist, Indigenous Desert Alliance
Director of Invasive Species, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD)
CEO, Australian Wildlife Conservancy
Acting Manager, Ecosystem Health Branch, Conservation and Ecosystem Management, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA)
Dr Rachel Paltridge has spent the past 25 years based in Alice Springs researching the ecology of feral cats and collaborating with Indigenous land management groups on threatened species projects.
Ron Shepherd brings to the WAFCWG his expertise from leading policy, technical, research, and operational pest issues as Director of the Invasive Species and Environment Biosecurity program at DPIRD.
Tim Allard joined Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) in 2011 as the National Operations Manager and was appointed as AWC’s CEO in 2018.
Kellie Passeretto has worked for DBCA and its predecessor agencies since 1996, in a range of different roles which have provided her with broad experience in the management of plant diseases, weeds and invasive animals.
In her current role, Kellie oversees DBCA’s Western Shield and Feral Cat programs, which aim to recover threatened species populations through reducing the threat of predation by foxes and feral cats.
After completing her PhD on predator–prey interactions in spinifex grasslands, Rachel spent 20 years as an ecologist in central Australia, working primarily with Indigenous ranger groups on projects at the interface between research and management. Projects included documenting the effectiveness of Indigenous tracking techniques to reduce cat impacts on threatened species and collaborating with the li-Anthawirriyarra Sea Rangers to conduct an annual cat-baiting program to restore island mammal populations.
Rachel is passionate about integrating traditional Indigenous knowledge and skills with the latest technologies and scientific methods to come up with innovative methods to manage and monitor biodiversity.
Ron brings a breadth of experience in natural resource management and biodiversity conservation through 35 years in the WA public sector. His current role involves leading DPIRD’s strategies and responses to the breadth of terrestrial and aquatic pests and weeds that are established in WA, or are new incursions into the State. Having always lived in rural WA and as a zoogeographer, Ron has a broad passion for the landscapes of WA, their biodiversity assemblages, and the threats to their sustainability. In respect to feral cats, Ron has experienced first hand the challenges through initiating and leading the implementation of Project Eden on Peron Peninsula in Shark Bay in the 1990’s.
AWC is one of the largest non-government conservation organisations in Australia, owning or working in partnership across more than 6.5 million hectares, in regions such as the Kimberley, Cape York, Central Australia and south-west Western Australia. AWC works in partnership with Indigenous corporations and communities, Government agencies and Pastoralists to deliver science informed land management programs for effective conservation.
AWC employs more than 200 staff, including more than 50 ecologists, who undertake research and monitoring programs to understand the threats to Australia’s native wildlife. This research and information informs land management programs such as fire management, weed control and feral animal control (predator and herbivore).
AWC has undertaken research into the populations and ecology of feral cats in Northern Australia, particularly investigating how feral cats use fire scars to assist with hunting. AWC is currently implementing research in the ecology of feral cats and foxes across southern Australia to help understand the ecology, density and identify when to reintroduce native animals into the landscape.
Research Committee
| Name | Affiliation | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Prof Owen Nevin | The Western Australian Biodiversity Science Institute (WABSI) | CEO (Research Committee Chair) |
| Dr Owain Edwards | CSIRO | Group Leader, Environmental & Synthetic Genomics |
| Prof Trish Fleming | Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University | Professor |
| Prof Stephen van Leeuwen | Curtin University and NESP Resilient Landscapes Hub | Chair, Biodiversity and Environmental Science |
| Di Evans | RSPCA | Senior Scientific Officer |
| Dr Gillian Bryant | WAFCWG | Executive Officer |
| Dr Bruce Webber | CSIRO Health and Biosecurity | Principal Research Scientist |
| Dr Dave Algar | National Feral Cat Taskforce and DBCA | WA Representative / Senior Research Scientist |
| Elisabeth McLellan | Bush Heritage Australia | Western Rangelands Healthy Landscapes Manager |
| Tim Allard | Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) | CEO |
Advisory Group
The Group will make information on feral cat management easily available to end users, enable the translation of research findings into effective on-ground outcomes and will help guide the implementation of a new research program, led by The Western Australian Biodiversity Science Institute.
(Webber, 2020: Increasing knowledge to mitigate cat impacts on biodiversity )
Membership comprises suitably skilled and experienced representatives from community, government, industry and the research community involved in feral cat management in Western Australia. For efficiency, membership will remain at less than 10 representatives, including the Chair.
| Name | Affiliation | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Rebecca Brown | WA Local Government Association (WALGA) | Manager, Waste, Recycling and Environment |
| Mick Davis | Western Australia Landcare Network | Chairperson |
| Todd Edwards | Chamber of Minerals and Energy, Environment Committee | Representative |
| Jenni Loveland | Oyster Harbour Catchment Group | Coordinator, Albany and Surrounds Feral Cat Working Group |
| Nolia and Jodie Ward | Kiwirrkurra Indigenous Ranger Group | Feral Cat Experts |
| Katie Kruetz | Australian Veterinary Association | Regional Manager, Western Regions (WA, SA and NT Divisions) |
| Lisa Adams | Environmental Consultants Association WA | WA Chapter President |
| John Kargotich | WA Farmers Federation | Representative |
| Dr Owain Edwards | CSIRO | Group Leader, Environmental & Synthetic Genomics |
| Prof Trish Fleming | Murdoch University | Professor, Wildlife Ecology |
| Prof Stephen van Leeuwen | Curtin University | Chair, Biodiversity and Environmental Science |
| Di Evans | RSPCA | Senior Scientific Officer |
| Justin Bellenger | WA Biosecurity Council/Harry Butler Institute | Chair |
| Dr Judy Dunlop | Independent Consultant | Feral cat research expertise |
| Rowan Hegglun | Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) | State Feral Cat Strategy Coordinator |
