Our Board brings a wealth of experience to managing the strategic direction of AWC, focusing on driving the effective conservation of all Australian animal species and the habitats in which they live.
Nick Butcher has been a Director of AWC since 2020 and was elected Chairperson in 2022. Nick is Chair of AWC’s Executive Committee and Gift Fund Management Committee. He has a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) from the University of New South Wales.
Nick has spent 25 years in investment banking at Macquarie Group, holding a number of senior management positions during that time including Global Co-Head its Infrastructure and Energy Group. He is experienced in corporate acquisitions, and project finance and principal investing in the development and delivery of infrastructure and renewable energy project globally. He has a lifelong passion for the environment and its conservation and is involved in a range of environmental causes in Australia and internationally.
He is Chairman of Friends of Australian Wildlife Conservancy US, and a member of the National Council of World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the BirdLife International Advisory Group.
Michelle Belgiorno has been a Director of AWC since 2013. Michelle holds a BA (Hons) in Japanese, a Master of Commerce, and a BA in Fine Arts. Michelle is an exhibiting artist, a director of several private companies, a Trustee of the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation, and a director of the Ngununggula Regional Art Gallery.
Michelle has extensive experience in the philanthropic sector in Australia, particularly in the arts, and has a background in corporate communications.
She has had a lifelong love of the Australian bush and native wildlife and is passionate about preserving it for future generations.
Sophie Chamberlain has been a director of AWC since 2014. Sophie has been involved with AWC since its inception, as she is the daughter of AWC’s late founder, Martin Copley. She strongly believes we need to do all we can to conserve the flora and fauna of Australia in their natural habitats.
Sophie has a BA (Hons) in Modern Languages and Information Systems from University of the West of England in the UK, and worked in the IT industry in both the UK and Australia.
Sophie is the founder and current committee member of Impact100 WA, a collective giving group with over one hundred members making high impact grants to local not-for-profits. Sophie is also a director of Spinifex Trust, a foundation which supports conservation, the arts and youth programs.
Andrew Clifford has been a Director of AWC since 2010 and is Chair of AWC’s Sustainability Fund Committee.
Andrew holds a BCom (Hons) from the University of NSW. Andrew is a co-founder, Director and Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director of Platinum Asset Management Limited. Prior to Platinum Asset Management, Andrew was a Vice President at Bankers Trust Australia Limited.
Guy Fergusson has been a Director of AWC since November 2021 and is Chair of AWC’s Audit & Risk Committee.
Guy has a BCom and MTax from UNSW and is also a chartered accountant. He is the Co-Chief Executive Officer of Grant Samuel and has over 20 years of investment banking experience.
Guy has been Co-CEO of Grant Samuel since 2019 and Co-Head of the Grant Samuel Capital Advisory business for more than ten years. Throughout his career Guy has advised on a wide range of corporate advisory transactions spanning public and private company situations across a broad range of sectors.
Guy has also worked on capital raisings across the capital spectrum including IPOs, equity placements and hybrids and the full range of debt financings, across bank and bond markets, domestically and internationally.
Having grown up on a cattle and sheep property in Central West NSW, Guy has a passion for the conservation of animals and the sustainability of their natural environments. Guy and his wife have been strong supporters of AWC since 2009.
Lea Ferris has been a Director of AWC since 2005. Lea is a sculptor with an urban planning background. She also teaches yoga.
Lea is a director of Riverside Holdings Pty Ltd. and of a family foundation. Lea has a range of skills relevant to the development of AWC’s business and community networks. With a passion for wildlife, Lea is keen to contribute to AWC’s vision and strategy, together with assisting with the development of business networks for AWC.
Malcolm McCusker has been a Director of AWC since 2015 and is Chair of AWC’s Conduct Standards Committee. Malcolm has practised law since 1961 and as Queens Counsel since 1982.
Malcolm was Chairman of Legal Aid Commission of WA (1983-2011); Special Inspector investigating Rothwells Bank collapse (1989‐90); Inaugural Chairman Advisory Board of the Constitutional Centre of WA (1997‐2011); Trustee SAS Resources Trust (1996–2011); inaugural Parliamentary Inspector of Corruption and Crime Commission (2004-2009); Surf Lifesaving WA Bravery Award (2010); Awarded AO and WA Citizen of the Year (Professions) (2005); WA Citizen of the Year (Community Service) and Western Australia’s Australian of the Year (2010); Governor of WA (2011–2014); Life Member, WA Law Society (2010); Awarded AC in 2012; Director, Minderoo Foundation (2015–March 2021); Chairman of the McCusker Charitable Foundation; Chairman WA Health Translation Network (2015-2021); Chairman Law Access WA (2018-2021); Chairman, Ministerial Expert Panel, Voluntary Assisted Dying (2019–2020); and Chairman, Government Expert Committee on Electoral Reform (2021).
Malcolm has been patron of more than 100 organisations including the McCusker Foundation for Alzheimer’s Disease Research and is Chairman of the McCusker Charitable Foundation – his family foundation. Malcolm has a strong belief in the need to conserve Australian native wildlife, and to eradicate feral predators.
Graeme Morgan has been a Director of AWC since 2003, and was Chairperson from 2014 to 2022.
Graeme is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Graeme is a director of several private companies and the founder of Wind Over Water, a family Foundation supporting conservation, medical research, the arts and social programmes.
Graeme supports the continuing development of AWC as a leading contributor to the effective conservation of Australia’s fauna and habitats and to reversing the decline of Australia’s threatened species.
Dennis Richardson has been a Director of AWC since 2018 and is Chair of AWC’s Nomination & Remuneration Committee. Dennis has enjoyed a 48-year career in the Australian Public Service, including as Secretary of the Department of Defence, Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Director General of ASIO, Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister and Ambassador to the United States.
He currently serves on a number of boards, including those of Linfox, the National Capital Authority and his beloved Canberra Raiders. Dennis is also Patron of the RSPCA in the ACT.
Professor John Zichy-Woinarski has been a Director of AWC since 2019. John is a conservation biologist, involved in research, management and policy. John has authored and edited seven books, and more than 300 scientific papers and book chapters. His work was recognised with the Eureka Prize for biodiversity research (2001), the Serventy Medal for life-time contribution to Australian ornithology (2001), the Northern Territory Chief Minister’s Award for Research and Innovation (2008), the Australian Natural History Medallion (2011), and the Society for Conservation Biology Distinguished Service Award (2013).
From 2003 to 2012, he was a member of the Threatened Species Scientific Committee. He is currently employed as a Professor in Research Institute for Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University and is a Deputy Director of the Threatened Species Recovery Hub of the National Environmental Science Program.
