Who we are

Chair

Professor Peter Klinken

AC PhD DSc (Hon) FTSE FAHMS CitWA

Peter had a long career in biomedical research, where for 14 years he was the Executive Director of the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research (later the Harry Perkins Institute). Peter was appointed as Chief Scientist of Western Australia in 2014, and served in that role for 11 years, providing independent external advice to the Government on Science and Technology issues. He was also the Chair of Lotterywest and Healthway (2018 to 2024).  In 2017, Peter was made a Companion of the Order of Australia and was WA Citizen of the Year (Professions) in 2008. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering as well as the Academy of Health and Medical Sciences. He was inducted into the WA Science Hall of Fame in 2025 and is passionate about the environment, education, innovation and Indigenous culture.

Executive

Dr Bruce Webber

Executive Manager, Science and Conservation, Bush Heritage Australia

Bruce Webber is Executive Manager, Science and Conservation with Bush Heritage Australia, one of Australia’s largest private land conservation organisations. He is also an Adjunct Professor with the University of Western Australia.  Bruce has experience working across government, academia and the not-for-profit sector and has collaborated with a diversity of stakeholders.  As a global change ecologist, he has more than two decades delivering solutions to improve biodiversity outcomes with a focus on invasive species and climate change.  While with the WA Biodiversity Science Institute, he wrote Western Australia’s program on mitigating cat impacts on biodiversity, which prioritised knowledge gaps and identified solutions to address them.  Bruce is passionate about ensuring improved welfare outcomes for all creatures great and small.

Jane O'Malley

CEO of 5 Rivers NRM (previously Peel Harvey Catchment Council)

Jane O’Malley is CEO of 5 Rivers NRM and represents the NRM WA 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 loves exploring the world.

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.

Professor Owen Nevin

CEO of the Western Australian Biodiversity Science Institute

Professor Owen Nevin is a globally recognized leader in biodiversity science and conservation biology, with over 25 years of experience spanning academia, industry, and government. As the CEO of the Western Australian Biodiversity Science Institute (WABSI), he drives innovative, evidence-based solutions to complex environmental challenges, fostering collaboration across research institutions, government agencies, and industry stakeholders.

Passionate about bridging science and policy, Owen’s work champions collaboration to ensure impactful outcomes for biodiversity, natural resource management, and environmental stewardship. His work inspires action, offering deep insights into the intersection of science, technology, and public policy in addressing global environmental challenges.

Working Group

Dr Rachel Paltridge

Ron - close up

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

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.

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.

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.

Advisory Group

The Advisory Group provides advice and insight to the Working Group on matters relevant to their expertise.  Membership comprises suitably skilled and experienced representatives from across the range of stakeholders, including community, government, industry and the research community involved in cat management in Western Australia.

Name Affiliation Position
Rebecca Brown WA Local Government Association (WALGA) Senior Representative
Todd Edwards Chamber of Minerals and Energy, Environment Committee Representative
Jenni Loveland Cat Laws and Wildlife Survival (CLAWS) Voluntary Chair/Convenor
Nolia and Jodie Ward Kiwirrkurra Indigenous Ranger Group Feral Cat Experts
Katy Davis Australian Veterinary Association President, AVA WA Division Executive Committee
Prof Trish Flemming Murdoch University Professor, Wildlife Ecology
Prof Stephen van Leeuwen Curtin University Chair, Biodiversity and Environmental Science
Dr Judy Dunlop Curtin University Research Fellow
Di Evans RSPCA Senior Scientific Officer
Hannah Anderson Biologic (ECA Representative) Senior Zoologist
Bruce Ivers WA Landcare Network Chair
Dr Heather Crawford Murdoch University Animal Ethics Advisor
Roz Robinson Cat Haven CEO

Research Committee

The Research Committee help to guide the implementation of the research pillar, where prioritised knowledge gaps identified in the WABSI-led research program are addressed (Webber, 2020).

Name Affiliation Position
Dr Dave Algar National Feral Cat Taskforce and DBCA WA Representative / Senior Research Scientist
Tim Allard Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) CEO
Dr Heather Crawford Murdoch University Animal Ethics Advisor
Dr Judy Dunlop Curtin University Research Fellow
Prof Trish Fleming 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 Bruce Webber Bush Heritage Australia Executive Manager, Science and Conservation