Andrew Paul (Chair)
Andrew Paul - Chair, EPA Board
Andrew Paul has over 40 years' experience in local government within Tasmania and Victoria with the past 25 years in senior management roles. He recently retired as General Manager at Clarence City Council, a position he held for 16 years. His significant environmental management experience within local government extends across environmental health, community engagement, public policy, governance, economic development, and planning.
He has tertiary qualifications in environmental health and is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is a former Chair of the Marine Farming Planning Review Panel. He is presently a Director of Cancer Council Tasmania and Chair of Trustees of the Anglican Diocese of Tasmania.
Belinda Hazell (Deputy Chair)
Belinda Hazell - Deputy Chair
Belinda Hazell has had extensive involvement with large and small businesses during her career, specialising in quality, work health and safety, food safety and environment management systems to meet customer and market requirements. She currently works for Optimum Standard as a Principal Consultant working with a range of industry clients based in Tasmania and mainland states. She is a current member of the Freshcare Limited Environmental Technical Committee and is Deputy Chair of Freshcare - a horticultural industry-owned on-farm assurance program helping over 7,500 growers nationally with food safety, quality and environmental certification. She is a Churchill Fellow, holds an MBA at the University of Tasmania, is Emeritus Chair of Tasmanian Women in Agriculture and was a Corporate and Private Award Tasmanian Finalist in the 2016 Telstra Business Women's Awards.
Ian Cresswell (Member)
Ian Cresswell - Member
Ian Cresswell is formerly CSIRO Science and Research Director (2008-2019). Prior to joining CSIRO, Ian worked as an Australian Government Department of the Environment senior executive in Tasmania and Canberra spanning 25 years with a wide portfolio of responsibilities including parks management and planning, sustainable fisheries assessments, and wildlife management. He also has international experience including working within the United Nations Secretariat to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD); leading the Australian delegation to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, as well as negotiations under the Convention for Migratory Species and the Convention on Biological Diversity.
He has a PhD and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has served in ten Chair positions that often dealt with environmental management issues. He is currently Chair of Western Australian Biodiversity Science Institution Board and Co-Chair (national) State of Environment report.
Wes Ford (Director)
Wes Ford - Director
Wes Ford was appointed Director, Environment Protection Authority in May 2015.
Wes is also the Chief Executive Officer (Head of Agency) of the Environment Protection Authority.
Born and raised in Tasmania, he holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Tasmania and Graduate Certificates in Fisheries Management and Public Sector Management. He has worked in the State Departments responsible for primary industries and fisheries for over 30 years, commencing his career in fisheries research, management and regulation. He has held senior positions in the Department since 1993, firstly as Fisheries Manager for Rock Lobster then Director of Marine Resources in 2002, followed by General Manager of the Primary Industries Division in 2004, General Manager of Water and Marine Resources in 2009, and Acting Deputy Secretary in 2014.
He aims to work closely with businesses and the community to encourage regional development – generating employment and creating wealth – whilst ensuring the goals of sustainable development for future generations. In his personal life, he is a keen bushwalker, kayaker and traveller, and has shared with his family, a love of the outdoors and a long association with Scouts Tasmania.
Mark Gifford PSM (Deputy Member)
Mark Gifford - Deputy Member
Mark has over 20 years' experience in public administration and environmental and resource management, the majority at senior executive levels in the New South Wales public service. He has extensive experience in leading an environmental agency. He was the Chief Environmental Regulator (CER) for the NSW Environment Protection Authority and on several occasions the interim Chair of the independent Board and CEO.
He is a regulatory practice expert and has extensive experience in environment protection, waste and resource management, regulation, environmental impact assessment, policy development and implementation and issues management. He is currently based in New South Wales specialising in environmental management and works part-time as a Principal Waste and Environmental Consultant for Talis Consultants.
He was the past Chair of Australasian Environmental Law Enforcement and Regulators Network (AELERT). Mark has tertiary qualifications in business and public administration and was awarded the Public Service Medal for outstanding service to environmental protection in New South Wales.