The Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority (NT EPA) has welcomed two new members, Dr Gillian Sparkes AM from Victoria and Ms Tracey Wilson from Queensland.

Initially an industrial chemist in the steel industry, Dr Sparkes has spent decades working in the manufacturing, industrial services, and waste management industries.

She has held the statutory role of Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability in Victoria since 2014, and is an experienced non-executive director working across industry, government and the not-for-profit sector.

Based in Queensland, Tracey Wilson is an experienced board member and advisor to government, business, and non-government organisations, providing research and project management services across Australia and the Asia Pacific on sustainable regional economic development.

Ms Wilson previously resided in Nhulunbuy and has extensive experience working with Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory and North Queensland.

Chaired by Dr Paul Vogel AM, the current NT EPA Board members are Janice van Reyk, Joe Woodward, Samantha Nunan, Dr Rod Lukatelich, Jordy Bowman and NT Planning Commission Chair Dr David Ritchie as an ex officio member.

The NT EPA will also be farewelling Ms Janice van Reyk who is the longest serving member, having been on the NT EPA since its establishment in 2013.

The NT EPA Board is an independent authority established under the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority Act 2012.

Quotes from Dr Paul Vogel AM:

“The experience and expertise of incoming board members Gillian Sparkes and Tracey Wilson will contribute to ensuring that the values and expectations of Territorians in regional and remote parts of the Territory are reflected in the deliberations and decisions of the NT EPA.

“As an independent authority, the work of the NT EPA is critical to ensure the Northern Territory has a robust and transparent environmental assessment and regulation framework and is able to provide sound, evidence-based advice to Government.

“I look forward to working with Dr Sparkes and Ms Wilson as the NT EPA continues to focus its efforts on improving environmental outcomes across the Northern Territory.

“And heartfelt thanks to Janice van Reyk who has made such an important and long-lasting contribution to ecologically sustainable development in the NT.”

Source: Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority