Meet our team at the Natural Resources Commission

Meet the Commissioners, Executive and team who lead the Natural Resources Commission. They use their expertise to give independent advice that helps NSW manage land, water and biodiversity sustainably for today and for tomorrow.

Listen

On this page

Our leadership

The Natural Resources Commission is led by a small, highly skilled team. They have deep expertise in science, policy and natural resource management.

Our leadership combines independent oversight with practical experience to give clear, evidence-based advice to the NSW Government.

The team works together to:

Provide independent advice on complex issues.
Engage with stakeholders across NSW.
Ensure cultural knowledge and science guide our analysis.

Our Commissioners and staff bring together:

Scientific expertise (ecology, hydrology, forestry, biodiversity, water management).
Policy and governance experience (regional, state and national).
Cultural knowledge (Aboriginal land and water management).
Independent oversight skills (audits, evaluations, strategic reviews).
Economics.

This mix makes our advice trustworthy, balanced, and based on evidence.

Commissioners

The Commissioner makes decisions about how the Commission is run and provides advice to the NSW Government.

The Governor of NSW appoints the Commissioner for up to five years. The Commissioner reports to the Premier and works under the Natural Resources Commission Act 2003.

Assistant Commissioners are appointed to support the Commissioner.

Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte

HonFIEAus, FIEEE, FAA, FREng, FRS

Commissioner

Hugh is an internationally recognised scientist and a world authority on artificial intelligence and robotics.

He is the current NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer.

Previously, Hugh was Chief Scientific Advisor to the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence.

He is a Fellow of:

The Royal Society of London
The Royal Academy of Engineering
The Australian Academy of Sciences

Awards include:

MA Sargent Medal
NSW Scientist of the Year

Hugh has chaired the NSW Government’s Innovation and Productivity Council and led National ICT Australia.

Peter Cochrane

BSc, MPubPol

Assistant Commissioner

Peter chairs:

The National Benefit Advisory Committee of the Marine National Facility
The Australian Tropical Herbarium Board

He is:

A member of the Australian Heritage Council
Vice President and Councillor of the International Union for Conservation of Nature

Peter was formerly:

CEO of Parks Australia
Member of the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder Review Panel
Co-chair of the Commonwealth Marine Reserves Review, which re-examined science and zoning for 40 marine reserves

Susan Madden

B. Ag Eco (Hons) University medal

Assistant Commissioner

Susan has over 20 years’ experience in agriculture and natural resource management.

She has held leadership roles including:

Board member of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority
Chair of Central West Local Land Services

Currently, Susan is Technical Director for Natural Resources and Agriculture at GHD Pty Ltd.

Her previous roles include Executive Officer of Macquarie River Food and Fibre, showing her commitment to sustainable land and water stewardship.

Rene Woods

Assistant Commissioner (Healthy Country)

Rene Woods is a Nari Nari man from southwest NSW.

He grew up on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River and understands the importance of land and water to his family, community and First Nations people.

Rene advocates for Aboriginal water rights and has worked extensively on Gayini (water) issues across Australia.

Currently, he is:

Associate Professor of Practice in the Faculty of Science at the University of NSW
Board member of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority

Previously, Rene was:

Member of the National Cultural Flows Research Committee (2013–2018)
Panel member for the Independent Assessment of Social and Economic Conditions of Murray-Darling Basin communities