The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has five members: a full-time Chair, a part-time Deputy Chair and three part-time members.
Mr Darren Walsh
Chair 14 October 2024 to 14 November 2028
Member from 14 November 2023 to 14 November 2028
Mr Walsh is a former environmental consultant with experience in environmental impact assessments, approvals and management, planning, strategic advice and policy. He has previously held a variety of State, local government and public sector roles, including independent Appeals Convenor to the Minister for Environment.
Mr Walsh has a Masters Degree in Environmental Science, is a former state councillor of Western Australia’s Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) and was a WA representative on the National Council of the UDIA.
Ms Lee McIntosh
Deputy Chair 18 November 2020 to 17 November 2025
Ms McIntosh has more than 20 years’ experience practicing as an environmental lawyer. She has extensive experience in corporate, government and community sectors, been active in several environmental law policy and reform initiatives, lectured and tutored in environmental law and worked across all areas of environmental law assessment and approvals.
Ms McIntosh has also held roles on several government and community boards and provided advice on the environmental approval and social licence issues associated with some of Western Australia’s most significant projects.
Ms McIntosh has a Masters degree in Environmental Law from the University of Calgary, Canada, and a Bachelor of Laws (first class honours) and Bachelor of Science (Environmental Science) from Murdoch University.
Mr Hamish Beck
Member from 6 February 2023 to 5 February 2028
Mr Beck has extensive strategic experience in planning, development and conservation. He has been Chair of the Swan River Trust since 2014, Chair of the Rottnest Island Authority since 2021 and recently retired from the Cockburn Sound Management Council.
With experience in marine, terrestrial and environmental management, Mr Beck brings a diverse knowledge in complex environmental matters to the Board. Mr Beck has also held senior roles within Western Australia’s development and construction industry, and has been involved with a broad range of committees, boards, trusts, development groups, foundations and not-for-profits.
Ms Jane Bennett
Member 11 June 2024 to 12 June 2027
Ms Bennett has been at the forefront of delivering major urban development projects, planning policy and legislative reform for more than two decades.
She is a member of the WA Planning Commission (WAPC), a Development WA board member, an Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) (WA) councillor, is chair of the UDIA’s WA Reconciliation Action Plan working group, is a co-owner of a planning and design consultancy and has held planning roles with WA local governments.
Ms Bennett has a Bachelor of Arts in Urban and Regional Planning from Curtin University and a Masters of Business Administration from Murdoch University. She is also a recipient of the UDIA (WA) Women in Leadership Award and was also made a Fellow of the Planning Institute Australia for her contribution to planning.
Ms Karen Caple
Member from 14 October 2024 to 13 October 2027
Ms Caple is a former resource and environmental compliance executive director with the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety and has extensive experience in governance, environmental assessments / approvals, legislative reform, regulatory policy, strategic planning, project management and local government reform.
As well as a broad understanding of initiatives such as StreamlineWA, the Mining Environmental Approvals project, and the delivery of effective compliance regimes, she has a strong record of engagement with stakeholders and key state government agencies.
Ms Caple is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the University of Western Australia.
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