ILWS - Institute of Land, Water and Society
Advisory Board
The Institute has an outstanding Advisory Board that reflects the diversity of research disciplines in ILWS and represents many of our key stakeholders. Each Board member is a leader in his or her field and has a strong commitment to supporting ILWS develop as an internationally recognised provider of research in social and environmental sustainability. The Board provides strategic advice to the ILWS Director and Management Team that includes identifying emerging research opportunities and potential research partnerships and by linking science with policy. In 2008 the Board underwent changes to diversify its membership and added a student member and an indigenous perspective.
Board Members
Dr Denis Saunders AM (Chairperson)
Adjunct Professor CSU
Dr Saunders, AM, is a conservation biologist and landscape ecologist. He is a former CSIRO Chief Research Scientist. He is a member of the Australian Heritage Council, a member of the Executive Council of World Wide Fund for Nature (Australia), a Director of Earthwatch Institute Australia, one of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists and an Adjunct Professor at Charles Sturt University. He edits two international peer-reviewed scientific journals; Biological Conservation and Landscape and Urban Planning.
Dr Wendy Craik
Chief Executive of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission (MDBC)
Before taking up her current position in August 2004, Dr Craik was President of the National Competition Council, Chair of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and Chair of the National Rural Advisory Council. Other former positions include Chief Executive Officer of Earth Sanctuaries Ltd, a publicly listed company specialising in conservation and eco tourism, Executive Director of the National Farmers Federation, and Executive Officer of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. She has also worked as a consultant for AcilTasman Consulting. Wendy is a member of the Board of the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal.
Ms Victoria Keighery
Chief Executive Officer, Community Cultural Development NSW
Victoria has worked in the arts since 1979 including positions with the Crafts Councils of Australia and NSW, the Crafts Board of the Australia Council, NSW Community Arts Association, Creative Cultures in Western Sydney and Arts Training Australia. Prior to taking up her new position with Community Cultural Development NSW, she was the Chief Executive Officer for Regional Arts NSW. Before that she was the Cultural Policy Officer for the City of Sydney for four years. Victoria has a Master of Arts in Arts Management from UTS and has lectured and tutored at graduate and post-graduate levels in Arts Environment, Arts Management and CCD at UTS, the Sydney College of Fine Arts, UNSW and NAISDA. Victoria has undertaken arts and cultural projects, conferences, research, policy development and publication projects, and conducted management reviews and strategic planning processes working with both community and cultural agencies and organisations at national, state and local levels.
Mr Ken Matthews AO
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, National Water Commission
Ken Matthews is the inaugural Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Water Commission. Previously, he was the Secretary of the Department of Transport and Regional Services from November, 1999 to October, 2004, and from February, 1998 to October 1999, was the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. During 1997, Mr Matthews headed the Wik Task Force in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, providing advice to the Prime Minister on Native Title. In previous years Mr Matthews worked in the Department of Industry, Technology and Commerce where he was responsible for advice on manufacturing industry policy and technology policy.
Ms Cathy McGowan AO
Rural communities and agribusiness consultant
Cathy McGowan, the principal of Catherine McGowan Consulting which specialises in building capacity in individuals and communities in rural Australia and overseas, is a rural consultant, farmer and academic. Her experience includes researching effective services for rural communities, and the design and presentation of leadership and change management programs for agricultural industries. Her major current work is with horticultural industries, where she is responsible for a national program to encourage and support leadership. She is also interested in agri politics. Cathy has been on a government advisory committee on the World Trade Organisation, the chair of the Regional Women's Advisory Council and is a past president of the national organisation, Australian Women in Agriculture.
Ms Samantha Edmonds
Deputy Directory, Policy and Communications, Council of Social Service of NSW
Samantha Edmonds is the Deputy Directory of Policy and Communications at the Council of Social Service of NSW (NCOSS). NCOSS provides independent and informed policy development, advice and information and plays a key coordination and leadership role for the non government social and community services sector in NSW. NCOSS works with the sector, NSW Government, departments and other relevant agencies on emerging (and ongoing) social, systemic and operational issues. Samantha's major policy responsibilities include the environment, human rights, women, transport and domestic violence. She has previously held positions at the Australian Human Rights Commission and Royal Australasian College of Physicians. Samantha has completed a Master of Politics and Public Policy and a Master of Social Administration. She sits on the NSW Department of Corrective Services Women's Advisory Council Consultants Group, the Board of the Women's Rights Action Network Australia and is a director of Ostara Australia - a national consortium of specialist employment agencies that assist people with a mental health issue to obtain and maintain employment.
Dr Shayne Williams
School of Teacher Education, Charles Sturt University
Shayne Williams teaches in the School of Teacher Education on CSU's Bathurst campus. Shayne focuses on Indigenous studies - the social, cultural and political circumstance, history and perspectives of Indigenous Australia and Indigenous education. Shayne is an Indigenous Committee member for the Regional Advisory Committee, South Sydney Region, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and is a member of the NPWS Greater Blue Mountains Wilderness Area Indigenous Reference Group.
Dr Williams has been involved in indigenous research since 1991.
His research interests centre on the socio-cultural/socio-political landscape of formal education structures, especially in terms of curriculum and pedagogical praxis, and the social, cultural and political dynamics of culturally empowered Indigenous education.
Anna Lukasiewicz 
PhD student, Charles Sturt University
Anna is the Board's student representative and is undertaking her PhD in the School of Environmental Sciences at CSU's Thurgoona campus. Anna's Phd is on social justice in Australian water institutions.