The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has nine members: a full-time Chair, a part-time Deputy Chair and seven part-time members.
Darren Walsh
Chair 14 October 2024 to 4 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 was appointed to the EPA as a member in November 2023. He 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.
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. She was Acting EPA Chair from April- October 2024.
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.
She 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. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and achieved an order of merit in the Company Directors course.
Mr Hamish Beck
Member 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.
Karen Caple
Member 14 October 2024 to 8 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.
Dr Luke Twomey
Member 26 November 2024 to 25 November 2027
Dr Twomey is chief executive of the Western Australian Marine Science Institution (WAMSI) and has been leading strategic research programs and initiatives at this independent marine research organisation since 2017.
He is a phytoplankton ecologist with experience across environmental impact assessment, management, research and teaching in estuarine, nearshore and offshore environments, both in Australia and internationally.
Dr Twomey’s primary role is to drive planning and implement a strategic marine science approach for WAMSI and its partners to deliver strategic multi-disciplinary marine research programs across WA. He is a member of the National Marine Science Committee, and CQ University’s Coastal Marine Ecosystem Research Centre (CMERC) Advisory Group.
He holds a Doctor of Philosophy and Bachelor of Science, Honours (Class 1) from Curtin University and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Kelly Faulkner
Member 26 November 2024 to 25 November 2027
Ms Faulkner has four decades of experience in the WA State Public Service, specialising in delivery of environmental and natural resource management, including leading a range of environmental impact assessments and approvals, waste and contaminated sites management, pollution control and statewide compliance and enforcement activities.
She is an experienced executive leader and was an Executive Director within the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) and its predecessor agency, and is a former independent Appeals Convenor to the Minister for Environment. Ms Faulkner has extensive experience in public administration and governance, provision of strategic advice, development of policies and regulatory reform and was an active member of the DWER corporate executive.
She is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Institute of Public Administration Australia and the National Environmental Law Association.
Anthony Sutton
Member 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2027
Mr Sutton has more than two decades experience in environmental impact assessment, including roles as independent Appeals Convenor and executive director of the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation’s EPA Service directorate. Most recently he led the State Government’s energy transition division in the sectors of renewable hydrogen, batteries and critical minerals, LNG decommissioning and carbon capture and storage.
Mr Sutton has also held environmental roles at the Swan River Trust, Cockburn Sound Management Council, Geographe Bay Catchment Council and Waters and Rivers Commission.
He holds a Master of Science (Environmental Science) from Murdoch University and a Graduate Certificate in Business from the University of Notre Dame. Mr Sutton is also a recipient of the Public Service Medal (PSM) for outstanding public service in supporting the sustainable development of the resources, minerals and energy sectors.
David Caddy
Member 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2027
In an urban and regional planning career spanning 50 years, Mr Caddy has developed a skillset abundant in statutory planning, development control, strategic and structure planning, project management and documentation, planning advocacy and formulation and delivery of policy.
He was Chair of the Western Australian Planning Commission for nearly seven years, stepping down from the role at the end of 2024. Mr Caddy also remains Chair of the Regional Development Trust administering the Royalties for Regions Fund, a position he has held since 2023.
He has a Bachelor of Arts in Urban and Regional Studies from Curtin University, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Registered Planner and Life Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia, is a recipient of the Planning Institute of Australia’s Leadership and Service Award (2022) and the W. E. Bold Memorial Medal (2024). Mr Caddy also held the position of Professor, Urban and Regional Planning at UWA from 2010- 2019 and was appointed to the position of Adjunct Professor in 2020 and 2023.
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