EPA Board

The Environment Protection Authority Act provides for the appointment of between four and seven Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Board members based on their expertise. The members are appointed by the Administrator of the Northern Territory and the chair is then appointed by the Minister. Members are appointed for a period of up to three years.

The current members of the EPA Board are:

Professor Grahame Webb (Chair) (PhD)

Professor Grahame Webb is a PhD Zoologist who specialised on reptile research in 1960’s.  In 1973 he began pioneering research on the ecology and population dynamics of saltwater crocodiles in the Northern Territory, through a joint research program between the NT Government and the School of Physics, University of Sydney. It involved working closely with traditional Aboriginal people in Arnhem Land. As the NT crocodile populations recovered, creating increasing problems, his research broadened to management of wildlife populations. He was the architect of the incentive-driven conservation programs, based on sustainable use, which now operate and which has allowed a complete recovery of the wild population. This involved international work with CITES, IUCN and many NGOs.

Through the 1980’s, he started similar pioneering research with the endemic freshwater crocodiles. His current Chairmanship of the IUCN-SSC Crocodile Specialist Group (since 2004) reflects his familiarity with crocodilian conservation, management and research. In 2001 he was awarded the prestigious Clunies Ross National Science and Technology Award, for his contribution to a new vision for wildlife conservation based on sustainable use. In 2003 he was awarded an Australian Centenary Medal, for his contribution to crocodile research, and for his leadership and vision in establishing the highly successful “The Essington School” in Darwin.

In 1978, when there was no University in the NT, he formed a consulting company to continue crocodile research [G. Webb Pty. Limited, later changed to Wildlife Management International Pty. Limited (WMI)], while holding honorary research positions with the Australian Museum and the University of New South Wales. In the 1990’s, the activities of WMI broadened from crocodiles to a wide range of other wildlife and environmental research and management problems, within and outside Australia. Many of these have involved sustainable use, trade and the complexities of compliance with CITES. In 1994 WMI developed “Crocodylus Park” in Darwin, a crocodile and wildlife research and education centre, which is the base of all WMI’s operations and has become a major tourist attraction.

WMI has been involved in many research projects as a partner with researchers from various Universities within and outside Australia. Professor Webb was a foundation member of the NT Research and Development Council (1994-2002), was appointed to the position of Adjunct Professor at Charles Darwin University (2000), and was foundation Chairman NT Research and Innovation Council (2004-2010).

Dr Peter Whitehead (BSc, MSc, PhD)

Dr Peter Whitehead’s research, management and policy experience in wildlife, conservation and natural resource management exceeds 25 years, in both government and academic sectors. This includes leadership roles as foundation Director of the Key Centre for Tropical Wildlife Management at Charles Darwin University, as theme leader and member of the management group of two Cooperative Research Centres (both relating to resource use and conservation in Tropical Savannas), and as head of a Territory government wildlife research group.

Most recently Dr Whitehead has been involved in development of policy and legislation for native vegetation management, environmental offsets and climate change. Past and present research interests include animal physiology, wetland ecology, wildlife harvest management, fire management, climate change and related policy questions. Dr Whitehead played a role in scientific and policy work supporting establishment of the Territory's crocodile industry and now works on development of enterprises to deliver environmental services.

Dr Whitehead has a particular interest in working with Indigenous people to support their greater formal role in resource management. He has more than 150 journal articles, book chapters, technical reports and popular articles in wildlife, conservation and resource management. His contributions to conservation management have been recognized in previous appointments to the Boards of Kakadu, Nitmiluk and Garig National Parks, as Commissioner of the NT Parks and Wildlife Commission and as a member of the NT Heritage Advisory Council. He is presently also a member of the Museums and Galleries of the Northern Territory Board.

Professor David Parry (B.App.Sci; Dip.Ed; PhD, University of Queensland)

David Parry is currently Science Leader of the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) in Darwin, Australia; Officer-in-Charge of the Arafura Timor Research Facility in Darwin; Director of the North Australian Marine Research Alliance; Adjunct Professor at Charles Darwin University; Member of the Darwin Harbour Advisory Committee (DHAC); Member of the NT Land and Sea Management Board; Member of the Kakadu Research Advisory Committee and Member of the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority Board.

Appointed in 1986 as a foundation member of the academic staff of the University College of the Northern Territory (later to become the Charles Darwin University) Dr Parry established the undergraduate programs in analytical and inorganic chemistry, as well as research programs in the fields of environmental and analytical chemistry. Dr Parry was appointed Professor of Chemistry in 2006. He is on the refereeing panels for 17 international journals and has over 120 peer-reviewed publications and 90 scientific reports for industry and Government.

In 2009 Dr Parry was appointed as AIMS Science Leader, with a focus on the establishment of research programs on estuarine and coastal marine processes in northern Australia and the development of collaborative partnerships with government, university and industry. Building on his 25 years research experience in the field of environmental analytical chemistry in northern Australia, he continues to apply this experience by providing environmental evaluations for government and industry, developing and implementing environmental monitoring programs and baseline studies for major developments.

Cris Cureton (LLB, Univeristy of Adelaide; BA, University of Adelaide)

Cris Cureton is the foundation partner of Minter Ellison's Darwin office. He has substantial experience in resources and major project procurement and delivery, having worked on many of the major projects undertaken in the Territory in the past two decades including the Alice Springs to Darwin Railway and the Bonaparte Gas Pipeline.

He was named in Best Lawyers Australia 2010 and 2011 as one of Australia's leading lawyers.

Partly educated in the Northern Territory, attending Parap Primary School before Cyclone Tracy, he returned to the Territory after completing his University degrees in 1987.

Cris has significant environmental experience and has advised government agencies and large companies enabling them to meet their environmental obligations in the Northern Territory and has been involved in the Northern Territory Economic Future Forums, and assisted with the drafting of legislation and reforms for the construction industry in the Northern Territory.