Indigenous Water Advisory Committee
The Indigenous Water Advisory Committee advises the department on incorporating Indigenous views, beliefs and interests into the development and implementation of Commonwealth water policies and programs. It was established in recognition of the importance of considering Indigenous interests, values and needs in developing and implementing national water reform policy.
Role
The Indigenous Water Advisory Committee provides advice directly to senior officials within the department's Water Group.
The committee provides advice on matters such as:
- Commonwealth water policies, programs and research activities;
- Indigenous stakeholder and engagement strategies for water policy and program development and implementation;
- integration of Indigenous cultural heritage and natural resource management knowledge into water policy, program development and implementation, and research activities;
- implementation of water-related 'Closing the Gap' initiatives administered by the department.
When required, the committee also provides advice to other Commonwealth water portfolio agencies such as the National Water Commission, the Bureau of Meteorology and the Murray Darling Basin Authority.
Meetings
The Indigenous Water Advisory Committee meets between two and four times annually. The first meeting was held in October 2012.
Members
The Indigenous Water Advisory Committee has ten members. All members have demonstrated skills, knowledge and experience on issues relevant to national Indigenous water policy.
The committee is chaired by Mr Phil Duncan. Membership includes the Chair of the Minister's Indigenous Advisory Committee, Ms Melissa George, as an ex-officio member.
Members are:
- Ms Cheryl Buchanan
- Mr George Cooley
- Mr David Collard
- Mr Robert Dalton
- Mr Phil Duncan
- Ms Melissa George
- Ms Katie Kiss
- Mr Bradley Moggridge
- Ms Lillian Moseley
- Mr Brian Wyatt
Secretariat
Secretariat support for the committee is provided by staff within the department's Water Reform Division. If you would like more information about the committee please direct all enquiries to the IWAC Secretariat using the details below.
Email: iwacsecretariat@environment.gov.au
Post:
IWAC Secretariat
Water Reform Division
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601
Australia
Member Biographies
Ms Cheryl Buchanan
Mr George Cooley
Mr David Collard
Mr Robert Dalton
Mr Phil Duncan (Chair)
Leslie (Philip) Duncan is a member of the Gomeroi Nation from Moree, North Western New South Wales. Phil's home lands are Moree and Terry Hie Hie. Phil is currently a Senior Policy Officer for the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council. In 2002 Phil was involved in the negotiations to establish the NSW Aboriginal Water Trust. In 2007 Phil was elected as the inaugural Chair of the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water's Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Advisory Council. Phil was also the Chair of the National Water Commission's First Peoples' Water Engagement Council and is currently the inaugural Chair of the SEWPaC Indigenous Water Advisory Committee. Phil has represented the rights and interests of Aboriginal people in NSW on a range of other NRM issues and has an extensive background and membership on many committees and councils.
Ms Melissa George
Ms Katie Kiss
Mr Bradley Moggridge
Bradley Moggridge is a proud Murri from the Kamilaroi Nation (North-West NSW). Bradley is currently employed by NSW Office of Water as Program Manager, Aboriginal Water Initiative. He is also a member of the Joint Steering Committee reviewing the National Water Quality Management Strategy as the Australian Indigenous representative. Previously Bradley was with CSIRO for 3.5 years as the Indigenous Water Research Specialist. He has qualifications in Environmental Science (BSc) and Hydrogeology (MSc) and has significant experience in water, environmental protection and regulation and cultural heritage operational policy.
Ms Lillian Moseley
Mr Brian Wyatt
Brian Wyatt is a Churchill Fellow who has had nearly 40 years experience in administration of Aboriginal affairs. He held the position of CEO with the Goldfields Land and Sea Council for 11 years and was the inaugural Chairperson of the National Native Title Council, of which he is currently CEO. Mr Wyatt participates regularly in international forums including the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Among other committees, working groups and dialogues involving extractive industries, Mr Wyatt is a former member of the First Peoples' Water Engagement Council, current Chair of the National Cultural Flows Planning and Research Committee, and a member of the Indigenous Science Review Panel of the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility.
Mr Wyatt has strong links with the Indigenous communities of Western Australia, where he has worked both as a committee member and employee with health, legal, social justice and sport and recreation services with youth and boarder community members.
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