Current EPA Board Members

​​​​​​​Andre​​w P​​aul (Chair)

Andrew Paul - Chair, EPA Board

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.​

Mark Gifford PSM (Dep​​uty Chair)

Mark Gifford - Deputy Member

Mark Gifford - Deputy Chair

​​Mark has over 25 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.

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. ​​

Ian Cres​​swell (Mem​ber)

Ian Cresswell 

Ian Cresswell - Member

Ian has extensive experience working in environmental science in biodiversity conservation and discovery, wildlife regulation, protected areas and oceans management. He was the co-Chief Author of the national State of the Environment Report 2021. He has led major research programs in CSIRO in terrestrial & freshwater ecology and marine science, and worked as a senior executive within the Australian Government Department of the Environment.  

Ian currently chairs the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Advisory Panel, the Western Australian Biodiversity Science Institute, and the Australian Government Resilient Landscapes Hub of the National Environmental Science Program (NESP). He sits on the board of the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, the Tasmanian Land Conservancy, and the Western Australian Marine Science Institution. He has a PhD and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Ian is Adjunct Professor at the School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia.

Rosanna Coombes (Member)

Rosanna Coombes

Rosanna Coombes - Member

Rosanna Coombes has over 35 years' experience as a senior administrator, CEO, leader, and Board Director in the private, not-for-profit, and public sectors in Australia and the United States providing a deep knowledge of organisational and board governance. Rosanna has extensive experience in agricultural production and environmental management including land, water and biodiversity management. She was formerly (2015 – 2022) the CEO of NRM North and was the national chair of the NRM Regions CEO Consultative Committee. Rosanna has served as a board member of the Tamar Estuary and Esk Rivers Partnership Committee, the Tamar Estuary Management Taskforce, the Tasmanian Biosecurity Advisory Committee, and the Tasmanian Rural Water Roundtable.

Rosanna holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business Management, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA), is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and a Certified Project Director (CPD).

​​Wes For​d (Director​)

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. ​​

Dr Therese Flapper ATSE (Deputy Member)

Therese Flapper

Dr Therese Flapper - Deputy Member

Dr Therese Flapper ATSE is a globally recognised technical leader in water, wastewater and recycled water management and an accredited auditor in various Australian Standards. 

She has substantial technical and practical experience bringing infrastructure and property to life from policy and planning, through to procurement and delivery, and regulatory review and compliance. Having led significant multi-disciplinary project teams, Therese has a depth and breadth of experience across the built environment sector including its inter-connectedness, the broadest objectives, including environmental, social and governance (ESG), sustainability and community health, and the details, from regulatory to design. She has transformed profit centres, delivered infrastructure projects and driven research and development portfolios. 

At Board level, Therese aims to drive innovation, future-thinking and purposeful performance. She does this as a life-long learner, adopting digital technologies, AI and ESG platforms, and she is a strong advocate for (STE'A'M) putting the Arts in STEM for humanity's sake, as well as advancing the participation of women at all levels. She is an avid mentor, having been actively involved in industry associations for more than 30 years.