Board Members

Members of the Rottnest Island Authority Board are appointed to oversee the management and control of Rottnest Island.

The Board of the Rottnest Island Authority consists of a Chair and five other members appointed by the Governor on the nomination of the Minister for Tourism. Members are appointed so that not less than one member is:

  • A person experienced in conserving the environment
  • A person experienced in preserving buildings of historic value
  • A person with sound commercial experience, and
  • A person who is a regular user of the Island for recreational purposes

Members are appointed for a term not exceeding three years, but from time to time, may be re-appointed.


Meet the team

Select a profile for more information

Hamish Beck

Chairman

Hamish Beck was appointed Board Member in March 2016 and Board Chair in November 2021. He is the Managing Director of Beck Advisory, a Perth-based strategic advisory business and has extensive experience in planning, development, tourism development and environmental conservation. His current appointments include Board Member of the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority and Board Chair of the Fremantle Museums Advisory Committee. Hamish brings diverse knowledge in complex matters to the Board through his appointment as the inaugural director of the Perth-based, ASX- listed Primewest which was subsequently acquired by Centuria. Former positions include Chair of the Swan River Trust between 2014 and 2023, Member of the Central Perth Planning Committee and Board Member of the Cockburn Sound Management Council.

Ann Robinson

Deputy Chair

Ann Robinson was appointed in July 2019. She is a commercially focused non-executive director and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Ann’s executive experience includes senior roles at Wesfarmers Limited in mergers and acquisitions, commercial business management and as Chief Financial Officer of Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy & Fertilisers. Ann’s experience spans project evaluation, corporate strategy, financial reporting, risk management, governance and audit. Before joining Wesfarmers, Ann worked as a management consultant in Australia, South Africa and the US, supporting clients across a wide range of industries with operational performance improvement and strategy setting.Ann currently serves as Deputy Chair of the Lionel Samson Sadleirs Group, Member of Curtin University’s Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee and Non-Executive Director of D’Orsogna Limited.

Guy Houston

Member

Guy Houston was appointed in November 2021. He is Strategic Projects Advisor for Australian Capital Equity, owner of Seven Group Holdings. Guy has more than 36 years’ experience in communications, politics and government affairs in the public and corporate sectors. This comprises 16 years’ working in the media as a print, radio and TV journalist with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Channel 7. This was followed by nearly two decades in government and the corporate sector at senior levels specialising in public affairs, political strategy, policy development, communications and staff management. Guy was Chief of Staff to the Premier of Western Australia from 2017-21.

Louise Watson

Member

Louise Watson was appointed in July 2020. She brings 15 years of experience working across the people, safety, and environment portfolios on a range of Western Australian projects encompassing mining, port, rail and pipelines. Louise has a Bachelor of Science (Hon) in Eco Chemistry from the University of Adelaide, and both a Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety and a Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management from Edith Cowan University. Louise is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and also a board member of the Rottnest Foundation.

Peter Lee OAM

Member

Peter Lee OAM was appointed in July 2019. Peter is a WA architect with extensive experience in large-scale developments in Australia and around the world. He is the recipient of many design awards. As a Principal of Hassell, Peter has been involved in the design of major Perth developments including the Optus Stadium, the Westin hotel, Crown Towers, Brookfield Place and the city and stadium railway stations. Peter is also on the boards of FORM, Foundation Housing and Open House Perth. He is an Adjunct Professor at Curtin University, a member of the State and Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority’s design review panels, and a specialist member of the WA Development Assessment Panels. In June 2022, Peter was awarded a prestigious Order of Australia (OAM) for his service to community housing initiatives and to architecture.

Anneke Brown

MEMBER

Anneke Brown was appointed in July 2023. She has a Bachelor of Commerce and has spent much of her 25-year career working around the globe on hotel projects in locations such as Sri Lanka and the Caribbean. Anneke returned to Australia to manage the iconic Longitude 131 at Uluru and was part of the Old Treasury Building refurbishment in Perth. As General Manager of COMO The Treasury from 2015 - 2020 Anneke proudly unveiled a 48-room boutique hotel in October 2015. She runs her own consultancy supporting tourism and hospitality projects.

Pamela Thorley

MEMBER (EX-OFFICIO)

Pamela Thorley was appointed in June 2023. She is a Noongar Menang woman, Chair of RIA’s Wadjemup Aboriginal Reference Group (WARG) and co-chair of RIA’s reconciliation working group. As a former Registrar of Aboriginal Sites one of Pamela’s passions is the protection and culturally appropriate management of Aboriginal heritage and culture, including Wadjemup / Rottnest Island. Pamela is the Manager of Aboriginal Pathway Strategies at Mercy Care, supporting the ongoing journey towards reconciliation, and improving outcomes for Aboriginal people.