Perth Zoo Board
The Zoological Parks Authority Act states that the Authority's Board of Management shall comprise eight members appointed by the Minister. The Board is the governing body of the Authority.
Members may be appointed for any term not exceeding four years and are eligible for reappointment.
The Board meets monthly and carries out its responsibilities in line with an approved Code of Conduct for Government Boards and Committees.
The current membership of the Board is:
Mr Peter Metcalfe, Chairperson
Mr Metcalfe was appointed to the Zoological Parks Authority Board on 4 July 2005. He has a background in public policy advice and is the external affairs manager for BP in Western Australia. He has previously sat on the boards of other non-profit organisations and is a former Chairman of the Deckchair Theatre Company and the South Lake Child Care Centre. Mr Metcalfe has two young children and is a regular visitor to the Zoo.
Professor Andrew Thompson, Deputy Chairperson
Professor of Parasitology at the School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Division of Health Sciences, Murdoch University, Professor Thompson is the Principal Investigator and Head of the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for the Molecular Epidemiology of Parasitic Infections. He is also a Principal Investigator in the Environmental Biotechnology CRC, Chair of the Fauna Rehabilitation Foundation Board and a member of the Board of Management of the Asian Rhino Project. Professor Thompson joined the Zoological Parks Authority Board in February 2003. He was reappointed to the Board in March 2006 for a further three‑year term and appointed Deputy Chairperson on 21 May 2007 for three years.
Mr Eric Ball OAM, Member
Mr Ball is a Senior Associate of the ANZ Institute of Insurance and Finance in private practice as a Financial Consultant. He was a foundation member of the Perth Zoo Animal Ethics Committee, is a member of the Animal Ethics Committee at Curtin University and deputy member at the Department of Agriculture. Mr Ball was on the Board of RSPCA WA from 1984 to 2006, Chairman and President from 1985 to 2004, and a member of RSPCA Australia National Council until 2004. He received the prestigious National Outstanding Service Award from RSPCA Australia in 2005. He has sat on a number of advisory committees including the State Animal Welfare Advisory Committee. Mr Ball was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2008 for his service to the community in the field of animal welfare. Mr Ball was appointed to the Zoological Parks Authority Board on 30 October 2006 for a three-year term.
Mr Kevin Harrison, Member
Mr Harrison is a past Commissioner, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Western Australian Tourism Commission. He has served on government boards at a state, national and international level including roles as Chairman of the Rottnest Island Authority, Eventscorp and Rally Australia. He has been a board member of over 60 companies in 17 different sectors of the tourism industry including managing director of a national hotel chain and vice president of an international hotel chain of over 500 properties. Mr Harrison was appointed to the Zoological Parks Authority Board on 11 December 2006 for a three-year term.
Professor George Stewart, Member
Dean of Life and Physical Sciences at the University of Western Australia (UWA), Professor Stewart joined UWA as Dean of Science in 1998. He has more than 35 years experience in research and teaching including 18 years in leadership roles as Head of Science departments at the University of Queensland, University College London, University of London and University of Manchester. He holds a First Class Honours Bachelor of Science and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Botany from the University of Bristol, as well as a Doctorate of Science (DSc) from the University of London. He was appointed to the Zoological Parks Authority Board on 4 July 2005 for a three-year term.
Dr Sandy Webb, Member
Trained as a zoologist, Dr Webb’s early career was in scientific/medical research in reproductive biology. She was the Executive Officer of the WA Reproductive Technology Council for 13 years and served terms on the Gene Technology Ethics Committee and the Australian Health Ethics Committee. In the 2005 Queen’s Birthday Honour’s List she was awarded the Public Service Medal in recognition of outstanding public service in the provision of advice at the state and national level on technical and ethical issues relating to reproductive and gene technology. Dr Webb is now an Honorary Research Fellow at Perth Zoo. She was appointed to the Zoological Parks Authority Board for a three-year term in April 2005 and re-appointed on 22 April 2008 for a further three-year term.
Mr James Best, Member
Mr Best has worked in management consulting since 1987 providing counsel in various areas including strategic and business planning, community engagement and corporate social responsibility. Mr Best operates his own business consultancy practice. He was elected Mayor of the City of South Perth in October 2007 and appointed to the Zoological Parks Authority Board on 26 February 2008 for a period of three years.
Ms Diana Warnock, Member
Ms Warnock was a member of the Legislative Assembly from 1993, retiring in 2001. She was a prominent newspaper and radio journalist for many years and was a spokesperson for women issues and minority groups. Ms Warnock has served on several boards and committees including the Australian Bicentennial Authority; National Australia Day Committee; and the National Library Board. She is currently on the board of the West Australian Ballet; WA Academy of Performing Arts; Cityvision; the Alliance Francaise of Perth; Curtin University Art Gallery; WA Constitutional Centre; Urban Design Centre; and the Hole in the Wall Theatre. Ms Warnock was appointed to the Zoological Parks Authority Board on 29 July 2008 for a three-year term expiring in July 2011 and has been a member of Perth Zoo for a number of years.
Dr Pam Garnett, Member
Dr Pam Garnett is a member of the Western Australian Science Council and Dean of Curriculum at St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls. In 2003 Dr Garnett was awarded the Prime Minister’s prize for excellence in Science teaching. Dr Garnett has a PhD from Edith Cowan University and a Masters degree from Curtin University of Technology. She has been active in curriculum development and is a past President of the Science Teachers’ Association. Dr Garnett was appointed to the Board in March 2009 for a three-year term.