Board of Directors
Martin Copley
Chair
Martin Copley, AM
Chair
Martin Copley is the founder and chairman of AWC. More than 10 years ago, Martin purchased an area of land in southwestern Australia for conservation. From this small beginning, Martin has successfully promoted the development of AWC as a national conservation organisation dedicated to practical, on-ground conservation.
Martin’s objectives for AWC are to make a practical contribution to conserving native fauna and habitats while raising awareness of Australia’s diverse natural heritage. In 2010, Martin was made a Member of the Order of Australia for service to conservation and the environment through the preservation of Australia's native species of flora and fauna.
Prof Tim Flannery
Director
Prof Tim Flannery
Director
Tim Flannery is one of Australia’s leading thinkers on environmental issues. An internationally acclaimed scientist, conservationist, explorer and writer, his books include The Future Eaters, The Eternal Frontier, Beautiful Lies: Population and Environment in Australia, and The Weather Makers: How Man is Changing the Climate and What it Means for Life on Earth.
Tim spent a year teaching at Harvard and currently serves as a board member of the National Geographic Society Research Grant Committee. In 2006 he co-founded and was appointed inaugural Chair of the Copenhagen Climate Council.
Named Australian of the Year in 2007, he quickly made that role an active one in the global arena, working with governments and business in North America, Asia and Europe to spur action on climate change.
Prof Peter Underwood
Director
Prof Peter Underwood
Director
Professor Peter Underwood is a doctor, academic, farmer and conservationist. Currently however, he is mainly occupied with writing; biography, fiction and poetry. He lives in Perth and Denmark on WA's south coast, but has travelled widely - particularly in the Developing World - both for work and pleasure.
Ross E. Ledger
Director
Ross E. Ledger
Director
Ross E. Ledger is a Chartered Accountant in practice and company director. He is a past Board member of Sir Charles Gairdner hospital and a past District Governor of Rotary International. Ross is currently a trustee of the Stan Perron Charitable Trust and the Spinifex Foundation Inc.
Graeme Morgan
Director
Graeme Morgan
Director
Director since 2003. Graeme Morgan was co-founder and Managing Director of SEALCORP Holdings Limited until its sale to St George Bank. He is a director of several private companies and the founder of Wind Over Water, a Foundation which supports conservation, medical research, the arts and social programs. Graeme is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Lea Ferris
Director
Lea Ferris
Director
Lea Ferris is a sculptor and yoga teacher by profession. She has 8 years experience as a director of Riverside Holdings Pty Ltd. She is also a qualified and experienced urban planner and has excellent interpersonal and communication skills which will assist with the development of business networks for AWC. She has a passion for wildlife and will assist with development of our vision and strategy.
Ross Grant
Director
Ross Grant
Director
Ross Grant is Chairman of Grant Samuel Group Pty Limited, an independent investment banking firm which he established in 1988. He was previously an Executive Director of Macquarie Bank Limited having joined Hill Samuel Australia Limited (the predecessor of Macquarie Bank Limited) in 1975.
Ross holds degrees in Mathematics (B.Sc (Hons) – Otago University), Economics (M.Com –Canterbury University) and Business Administration (MBA – University of NSW). He is a Director of The Centre for Independent Studies.
Michael Hamson Director
Michael Hamson
Director
Appointed Director of AWC in August 2010. Michael is qualified as a lawyer and a Chartered Accountant. He is the Chairman of Hamson Consultants Pty Ltd, Technology Venture Partners Pty Limited, and is a Director of Newmont Mining Inc (USA) and Genesis Emerging Markets Ltd (UK), as well as other public and private companies in Australia.
Andrew Clifford
Director
Appointed Director of AWC in December 2010. Andrew Clifford, BCom (Hons) (UNSW) is a Director of Platinum Investment Management Limited. Prior to Platinum Investment Management Limited, Mr Clifford was a Vice President at Bankers Trust Australia Limited.
Michelle Belgiorno Director
Michelle Belgiorno
Director
Michelle Belgiorno is an exhibiting artist, a director of several private companies, as well as a Trustee of the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation. She possesses a Bachelor of Arts (Honours), a Master of Commerce and a BA in Fine Arts. Michelle has extensive experience in the philanthropic sector in Australia, particularly in arts and education, and has a background in corporate communications. She has had a lifelong love of our native wildlife and is passionate about preserving it for future generations. Michelle was appointed a director of AWC in 2012.