The eight board members of the Swan River Trust are appointed by the Environment Minister. It brings together expertise in conservation, natural resource management, recreation, tourism, planning, development and matters of interest to rural and Noongar communities.
The eight Trust Board members are:
Mr Hamish Beck (Chair)
Mr Beck has strong interests and commitment to sustainable and effective environmental management by collaboration, benefitting both community interest and protection of Western Australia’s unique flora and fauna. This passion drives him to coordinate and undertake the annual tree planting / revegetation with landcare groups. Mr Beck is a committed outdoor enthusiast, undertaking regular scuba dives, has completed multiple Avon Descents and a substantial hiking and camping regime throughout remote Western Australia. Hamish is the current Chairperson of the Rottnest Island Authority, Member of the Capital City Planning Committee, Deputy Chairperson of the Historic Heart of Perth Committee, Board Member of the Western Australian Maritime Museum Advisory Committee and recently retired Member of the Cockburn Sound Management Council. Hamish was also an Independent Non-Executive Director of ASX listed Primewest Group (one of Australia’s leading private real estate funds management firms, managing in excess of $5 billion of property assets). In addition, he is an advisor to various institutional and private groups with diverse interests and objectives. Mr Beck is the Managing Director of Beck Advisory, an independent property funds management firm providing specialist, strategic property advice and asset management to a variety of large private and public companies and not-for-profit institutions. Mr Beck was appointed to the Trust in 2011 and was reappointed Chairman in 2020 for a two year term until 15 July 2022.
Dr Joanna Pearce (Deputy Chair)
Dr Pearce is currently a lecturer in Tourism and Hospitality Management at Edith Cowan University. Her experience and skills include social research with a focus on nature-based tourism, providing policy for the National Parks Advisory Committee in Victoria and preparing technical reports for government departments and industry on natural resource management issues. She has held various teaching roles at Murdoch and Notre Dame universities and has a Bachelor of Science in Conservation Biology, a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science (Hons) and a Doctorate of Philosophy. Dr Pearce joined the Board in 2017 and was reappointed in 2019 for a three year term until 15 September 2022.
Mr Peter King
Mr King has held senior positions in several State Government agencies, including the former Department of Agriculture, the former Department of State Development and the Pilbara Ports Authority. Mr King has more than 40 years experience across government and the private sector in the areas of soil and land survey, natural resource management and land use planning. He is very experienced in Western Australia’s statutory approvals processes and facilitating development of major resource projects and port infrastructure in the Pilbara. Mr King has also had overseas postings in a number of countries in the Middle East and the Sub Continent. Mr King has a Bachelor of Science (Hons) from the University of Western Australia. Mr King was appointed to the Trust Board in October 2016 and was reappointed in 2019 for a three year term until 24 October 2022.
Ms Vanessa Martin
Ms Martin is a Noongar woman from the South Coast of Western Australia. She began her career as a qualified secondary teacher, and in 2000 Vanessa completed a Masters Degree in Management and Leadership, Curtin University, Graduate School of Business. In 2018, Ms Martin completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course. This GAICD professional qualification complements her Board and senior executive experience. Ms Martin has comprehensive experience working at senior levels in the private, government and not for profit sectors including roles in diversity and inclusion, employment, training and education, health, justice, community and Indigenous relations. She also has a comprehensive national network of community stakeholders, groups and organisations, Government Ministers, Director Generals and senior managers, CEOs and senior officers/managers in commonwealth, state, local governments, and private industry who she has supported and helped implement collaborative ways of working together to achieve successful outcomes. Ms Martin has served on the Trust Board since December 2009 and was reappointed in 2019 for a three year term until 20 December 2022.
Ms Marenée Provost
Ms Provost commenced her career as a primary school teacher in Victoria. In 1986 she joined the state public service in Western Australia with the then Department for Community Development/Child Protection. Ms Provost subsequently worked in this field for 21 years, culminating in the roles of Director for Capacity Building and Director Accommodation Services. In these roles she acquired significant knowledge and experience in working alongside Aboriginal communities across the State. Marenée later transitioned into the disability sector where she achieved the position of General Manager Community Services and ultimately Executive Director at Ability WA, from which she has now retired after 10 years service. Ms Provost was appointed to the Trust Board in September 2018 and was reappointed in 2019 for a three year term until 15 September 2022.
Cr Sara Saberi
Cr Saberi is a City of Canning councillor and has held various positions as a volunteer with environmental organisations and has been an active member of landcare groups. Cr Saberi holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management and a Graduate Diploma in Environmental Health and has been employed as an Environmental Health Officer since 2018. She was appointed to the Trust Board in July 2018 and was reappointed in 2019 for a three year term until 15 July 2022.
Ms Jacquie Stone
Ms Stone is the Director, Policy for the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage. Ms Stone has over 28 years experience as an urban planner and has worked in Victoria and throughout Western Australia for both local and State Government. She has diverse experience in policy development, as well as strategic and statutory planning in senior management roles. She was appointed to the Trust Board in July 2018 and was reappointed in 2019 for a three year term until 15 July 2022.
Ms Jo Wilkie
Ms Wilkie is the Principal at Jo Wilkie Consulting, working in organisational development, strategic development and cross-sector partnerships between government, community and corporate bodies. Ms Wilkie worked in the community sector for 20 years and was appointed to six Ministerial advisory committees and taskforces during that time. For over 18 years, Ms Wilkie worked at Lotterywest as the Senior Grants Manager with portfolio responsibility for Big Ideas (State-Wide Initiatives), Health and Medical Research, State Universities, Community Radio and Television, Community Legal Centres and Homelessness. She is currently on the Boards of the Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science and the Perth Cabaret Festival She was appointed to the Trust Board in July 2018 and was reappointed in 2019 for a three year term until 15 July 2022.
Board meeting dates
The Trust has eight members, who usually meet every month to discuss Riverpark matters.
- 15 February 2022
- 22 March 2022
- 26 April 2022
- 24 May 2022
- 21 June 2022
- 19 July 2022
- 16 August 2022
- 20 September 2022
- 25 October 2022
- 22 November 2022