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.
Graeme has been a Director at AWC since 2003. Bringing a background in finance and management, he was co-founder and Managing Director of Sealcorp Holdings Ltd (Asgard) until its sale to St George Bank.
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 is a member of the Board Executive, Remuneration and Audit Committees and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Michelle has been a Director at AWC since 2012. With a Bachelor of Arts (Honours), a Master of Commerce, a BA in Fine Arts and a background in corporate communications, Michelle is an exhibiting artist, a director of several private companies, as well as a Trustee of the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation.
Michelle has extensive experience in the philanthropic sector in Australia, particularly in arts and education, and has had a lifelong love of our native wildlife and is passionate about preserving it for future generations.
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.
Born in Australia, Sophie was brought up in the UK before returning to Australia where she has lived and worked since 1994. She has a BA (Hons) in Modern Languages and Information Systems, and has worked in the IT industry in both the UK and Australia.
Sophie is one of the founders and current committee members of Impact100 WA, a collective giving group with over one hundred members making high impact $100,000 grants to local WA not-for-profits.
Andrew has been a Director at AWC since 2010, bringing a background in finance and investment management.
Andrew has a BCom (Hons) from UNSW and is a Director and CEO of Platinum Investment Management Limited. Prior to Platinum Investment Management Limited, Andrew was a Vice President at Bankers Trust Australia Limited.
Lea Ferris has been a Director at AWC since 2005. She is a qualified and experienced urban planner as well as being a sculptor and yoga teacher.
Lea is also a director of Riverside Holdings Pty Ltd, and of a family foundation. 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.
Ross has been a Director of AWC since 2005, and holds degrees in Mathematics (B.Sc (Hons) – Otago University), Economics (M.Com –Canterbury University) and Business Administration (MBA – University of NSW).
Ross 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 is also a Director of The Centre for Independent Studies.
Ross has been a Director of AWC since 1995 and is a practicing Chartered Accountant 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.
Malcolm has been a Director of AWC since 2015, and was the Governor of Western Australia for three years from July 2011. Having practiced law for over 50 years, Malcolm was Chairman of the Legal Aid Commission of WA (1983-2011), and inaugural Parliamentary Inspector of the Corruption and Crime Commission (2004-2009).
Malcolm was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for his services to law (2005) and a Companion of the Order of Australia for his services to the community (2012). He received two WA Citizen of the Year Awards and was the WA ‘Australian of the Year’ in 2011, as well as having received Honorary Doctorates from UWA, Edith Cowan, Murdoch, Curtin and Zhejiang University.
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.
Dennis has been a Director of AWC since 2018. He 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, Advisor to the Prime Minister and Ambassador to the United States.
Dennis is Patron of the RSPCA in the ACT and currently serves on several boards, including those of Linfox, the National Capital Authority and his beloved Canberra Raiders.
Mark has been a Director of AWC since 2014, based in Melbourne where he runs a family business incorporating property and hospitality interests. Mark has extensive experience in funds management, as both Director and Deputy Chair of HOSTPLUS and as a Member of the Industry Funds Management Advisory Board. He is founder and chair of Hotelcare, the charitable arm of the Victorian branch of the Australian Hotels’ Association.