Dr Paul Vogel AM – Chairperson
Dr Paul Vogel was appointed as the Chairperson of the NT EPA on 14 November 2016.
Now a non-executive board director and strategic consultant, Dr Vogel was Chairperson of Western Australia’s Environmental Protection Authority from 2007 to 2015.
Dr Vogel was also the inaugural Chief Executive and Chairperson of the South Australian EPA from 2002 to 2007 and prior to that held senior executive positions in the WA Departments of the Premier and Cabinet and Environmental Protection.
Dr Vogel has a PhD in chemistry from the University of WA and has extensive knowledge and experience across a broad range of environmental issues and sustainability, in organisational and regulatory reform and in the delivery of strategic environmental and business outcomes.
Dr Vogel is also Chairperson of a national Cooperative Research Centre on Contamination and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), Chairperson of the WA Marine Science Institution, Deputy Chairperson of CRC TiME – CRC on Transformations in Mining Economies and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He was appointed to the NT EPA on 1 January 2016.
Mr Colin Joseph (Joe) Woodward – Member
Mr Joe Woodward brings more than 35 years’ experience managing and advising on environmental regulation and approvals having worked in a variety of roles in the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority and its predecessor, the State Pollution Control Commission.
Mr Woodward has extensive experience in environmental management and regulation. As Deputy Director General of the NSW Department of Environment and Conservation he oversaw assessment and regulation of:
- air
- water
- noise
- waste
- chemicals
- radiation
- biodiversity
- threatened species and
- Aboriginal cultural heritage protection.
He has served as a Commissioner for the NSW Independent Planning Commission responsible for statutory assessments and determinations of state significant development proposals including mining, major industrial and urban developments.
Mr Woodward holds a Master of Engineering and Bachelor of Science. In 2009 he was awarded the Public Service Medal for Outstanding Contribution to the Environment in New South Wales.
Ms Samantha Nunan – Member
Ms Nunan is experienced in providing environmental regulatory and policy advice to industry and governments across multiple jurisdictions, including the Northern Territory.
Working in industry for many years, Ms Nunan has significant experience in participating in regulatory reviews and reform processes, predominantly as an industry participant, but also during her time in government.
During her time as a practising lawyer, Ms Nunan provided advice to businesses and statutory bodies relating to compliance frameworks and responses to environmental regulatory investigations.
Ms Nunan has had extensive exposure to environmental assessment processes, securing project approvals and the application of regulatory policies and legislation across a range of different industries, including resources, renewables, waste, agriculture and planning.
With this experience, Ms Nunan brings a good understanding of the existence of and the importance of overlapping interests in land and resources by various stakeholders including Traditional Owners, Government, Industry and broader communities.
Dr Rod Lukatelich – Member
Dr Rod Lukatelich has a Bachelor of Science (Hons) and a PhD from the University of Western Australia.
Dr Lukatelich has 28 years oil and gas industry experience and is now semi-retired, working as an environmental consultant. He has extensive experience in:
- environmental approvals and impact assessment
- wastewater treatment
- atmospheric emissions management and
- assessment and remediation of contaminated sites.
Previously, Dr Lukatelich held an academic position at the University of WA where his research included:
- studies on the impacts of eutrophication on algae and seagrasses in lakes and estuaries
- development of ecological models and
- the relationships between hydrodynamics and water quality in reservoirs, rivers and estuaries.
Dr Lukatelich has been:
- a Board Director of the Cooperative Research Centre on Contamination and Remediation of the Environment since its inception in 2005
- is a member of CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Strategic Advisory Committee
- was Chairperson of the Great Australian Bight Research Program Management Committee and
- was a member of the Environmental Protection Authority of Western Australia between 2009 and 2014.
Rod is a Director of Perth Racing and is the Chairperson (interim) for the Cooperative Research Centre on the Blue Economy.
Ms Jordy Bowman - Member
Ms Jordy Bowman is a local Territorian, with more than a decade of experience in Aboriginal land use and planning, and community and economic development in remote Australia and transitioning economies. Ms Bowman has worked across federal and Territory governments, Aboriginal corporations and not-for-profit organisations and brings a wealth a local knowledge and experience to the NT EPA.
During her career, Ms Bowman has worked in partnership with Traditional Owners, Land Councils, regional and remote communities to support land use, industry and business development that aligns with economic, social and cultural aspirations. Ms Bowman is also a member of the Cooperative Research Centre on Transformations in Mining Economies Impact Committee and holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts.
Dr David Ritchie – Ex. Officio Member
NT Planning Commission Chairperson
Dr David Ritchie has over 35 years' experience working for organisations responsible for heritage protection and land management, in a combination of professional, expert and also senior management and executive roles. This work includes extensive experience with statutory boards with roles under land rights, native title, and environment and heritage legislation.
For more than twenty years he has held Chief Executive roles, leading organisations responsible for:
- land resource planning
- remote service delivery
- parks and wildlife
- natural resource management
- environment protection
- Aboriginal policy
- Aboriginal cultural heritage and museums
- art galleries and
- archives.
Dr Ritchie's work has involved extensive field work in remote regions of the NT working closely with Aboriginal communities and developers on cultural heritage surveys for major infrastructure developments – ranging from gas pipelines and the North Australian Railway to mines, aquaculture and the newly created National Parks.
Dr Ritchie is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Australian Anthropological Society. He is also a Director of Ninti One Limited, on the board of the Northern Territory Land Corporation and Chairperson of the NT Grants Commission.
Dr Gillian Sparkes AM - Member
Dr Sparkes has had a distinguished career working with industry, community and government to care for and protect our environment and was Victoria’s Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability for a decade until June 2024. As Commissioner, Dr Sparkes led Victoria’s state of the environment and broader reporting program and was a key advisor to the Minister for Environment.
Awarded as a Member of the Order of Australia in 2021 for significant services to environmental sustainability, and to public administration, Dr Sparkes holds:
- a PhD Applied Science (Chemistry)
- a Master of Business Administration
- an Honorary Doctor of Science from Swinburne University
- is an Honorary Fellow of Monash University
- a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
- a Victorian and National Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia
- a Trustee of the Royal Society of Victoria and a Member of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute.
Now a non-executive director and strategic consultant, Dr Sparkes’ expertise includes environment, sustainability, ESG, strategy, risk, waste management, science, industry, government & stakeholder relations. Dr Sparkes is currently the Board Chair of FrontierSI (Spatial Information); Deputy Chair of the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation, a Member of the Monash University Council and a Director of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation and the Industry Capability Network, Victoria.
Ms Tracey Wilson - Member
Ms 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 focussing on sustainable communities, stakeholder engagement, collective impact and strategic planning. Ms Wilson previously resided in Nhulunbuy and has extensive experience working with Indigenous communities in the NT and North Queensland.
Ms Wilson is a Fellow of the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2), and a member of:
- Qld Electrical Safety Board
- Qld Electrical Safety Board Education Committee
- Australian Institute of Company Directors
- International Association for Impact Assessment
- Australian Evaluation Society.
Ms Wilson holds a Master of Sustainable Development and through her consultancy has won several awards, including the Inaugural IAP2 UNESCO International Sustainable Development in Community Engagement Award and the IAP2 Core Values Awards Indigenous Project of the Year.