Mr Darren West

Chair

Representing Ministerial
Term of Office to June 2009

Darren farms 2200ha at Jennacubbine. Darren spent 12 months in the US as an agricultural exchange student before returning to the family farm. He is married with a young family and is involved with several community groups and his interests include sport and public affairs.

Phone Number: (08) 9623 2321
Email Address: ridgewood1@bigpond.com

Ms Tracy Meredith

Deputy Chair

Representing Ministerial
Term of Office to June 2010

Tracy's previous role in the blindness prevention programs of The Fred Hollows Foundation Inc. provides experience in sustainable development programs, which can be applied to the regional issues of the Wheatbelt. Tracy also has a background in the public health sector and her interests within the Wheatbelt Development Commission lie within health and social equity. Tracy is Chair of the Health portfolio.

Phone Number: 0428 631 035
Email Address: tn2@bigpond.com

Mr Russell Crook

Representing Community
Term of Office to June 2009

Russell is a recent resident of Merredin, moving with his wife Jean, to the town after handing over the operation of the family farming property north of Westonia to their two sons. Russell is a councillor of the Shire of Westonia and has previously held the position of Chair of the North Eastern Wheatbelt Regional Organisation of Councils (NEWROC), and been a member of the Merredin and Districts Hospital Board and also the WA Farmers Federation.

Mobile Phone: 0429 449 014
Fax Number: (08) 9041 3748
Email Address: booladgi1@bigpond.com

Cr Wendy Williams

Representing Local Government
Term of Office to June 2009

For over a decade Wendy has had a strong involvement in the community of Goomalling and the Wheatbelt Region of Western Australia. She has been an elected member of the Goomalling Shire Council since 2001 and brings to the Board experience in the areas of health, small business and tourism. Wendy farms at Hulongin with her husband Robert and is passionate about the preservation of the history of our forefathers.

Phone Number: 9629 1136
Email Address: wendywill@bigpond.com.au

Mr Paul Tomlinson

Representing Community
Term of Office to June 2009

Following careers at the Stock Exchange, real estate & the media, Paul’s involvement with the Wheatbelt and Avon Valley date from 1989. Passionate about regional development & the related pressures on social infrastructure, Paul understands sustainability, the need for diversification & the importance of infrastructure provision to attract industry & growth. Varied Community service includes chairs of the committee establishing the Avon Valley Residency (aged care facility), Northam Chamber of Commerce & Northam Tourist Bureau and deputy chair of Central Area Region Training Scheme (Directions). He is a champion of the Avon Industrial Park both as chair of the Avon Industrial Park Advisory Board & CEO of the Avon Community Development Foundation.

Phone Number: (08) 9622 5400
Mobile Phone: 0428 928 002
Email Address: ptomlins@bigpond.net.au

Mr Ian Seymour

Ministerial Nominee
Term of Office to 2010

Ian Seymour, a farmer from Miling, has been involved with local community and agricultural networks for some time. Ian believes in promoting alternative economic initiatives such as tourism and manufacturing to create additional income streams and to encourage long term population growth within the Wheatbelt. Ian’s interests in a number of regional issues including the Central Coast will be of great assistance to the board.

Phone Number: (08) 9654 1070
Email Address: madgingarra@bordernet.com.au

Cr Tony Boyle

Local Government Representative

Tony runs a mixed farming enterprise having a focus on prime lamb production (with his wife and two sons). Tony brings a wealth of business and local government experience to the Board, having served as a councillor with the Shire of York for 3 years.

Phone Number: 9641 4021
Mobile Phone: 0429 882 497
Fax Number: 9641 4021
Email Address: asboyle@bigpond.com

Ms Helen Bennett

Representing Community
Term of Office to June 2011

Farmer and former kindergarten teacher from Lake Grace, Helen Bennett joined the Board in 2002 as a Local Government member. She has since been reappointed at a Community member. Helen has assumed portfolio responsibility for the education sector, and brings a wealth of business, local government and community knowledge to the Board.

Phone Number: (08) 9865 1026
Email Address: mablac@treko.net.au

Wendy Newman

Director of the Commission
Term of Office Ex-Officio

Wendy is the Director of the Commission, and brings to the position a range of professional experiences across the areas of education, organisational development, human resource management, marketing and regional development. Wendy has been a member of numerous boards and advisory bodies for government and the not for profit sector at a national, state and local level.

Phone Number: 9622 7222
Email Address: breannechrimes@wheatbelt.wa.gov.au