Consulting with the Aboriginal community

The panel shall consist of:

Mark Gifford, Director Reform and Compliance – Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC)

Mark has been with the former Environment Protection Authority, DEC and now the DECC for over nine years. He is the Director of the Reform and Compliance Branch within the DECC’s Climate Change and Environment Protection Group. The Group is responsible for the DECC’s regulatory programs relating to pollution control, the protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage and the regulation of impacts on biodiversity and native vegetation. Mark‘s role involves compliance assurance, operational policy, regulatory reform and the administration and systems that support the regulatory program. Mark is currently leading the DECC’s Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Regulatory Improvement Project which includes the review of the Interim Consultation Requirements.

Andrew Smith, General Manager of the Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council.

Mark previously spent 8 years as the Chairperson for the Awabakal Local Aboriginal Land Council, which included 4 years as the Chairperson for the Sydney/Newcastle Regional Aboriginal Land Council. Passionate in dealing with consultation issues and the barriers faced by Aboriginal people in their ongoing striving to protect their Culture & Heritage.

Brad Whittard Brad is the Senior Environmental Consultant with EnergyAustralia’s Hunter Region.

Brad has a large role to play with the increased construction program of EA and the increasingly complex environmental planning and regulatory requirements. His experience has included substantial community and cultural consultation and environmental and planning input to design for powerlines and substations. A large number of his project include consultation with the Aboriginal Community.