Management and Structure
Legal change
During the reporting period there were no changes to our establishing legislation. There was a machinery-of-government change and the issuing of Administrative Arrangements Orders were announced between December 2021 and March 2022.During the reporting period there were no changes to our establishing legislation. There was a machinery-of-government change and the issuing of Administrative Arrangements Orders were announced between December 2021 and March 2022.
The effect of the above changes was to:
- Establish the Department of Enterprise, Investment and Tourism (DEIT),
- Transfer the Authority and the Western Parkland City Authority Staff Agency from the Department of Premier and Cabinet Cluster to the DEIT Cluster.
Charter
The Authority is a statutory corporation established under the Western Parkland City Authority Act 2018 (WPCA Act) (formerly the Western City and Aerotropolis Authority Act 2018). During 2021–22, the Authority reported to the Hon. Stuart Ayres MP, the Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade, Minister for Tourism and Sport and Minister for Western Sydney.
Under the WPCA Act, the WPCA is required to produce a formal Charter. The Charter was updated in April 2022. The Charter explains the:
- arrangements for the WPCA, including the role and responsibilities of the Minister, Commonwealth Minister, Board, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer; and
- matters that are to be given priority by the WPCA in exercising its functions and the classes of decisions that are to be referred to the Minister before being made by the WPCA, pursuant to Section 14 of the WPCA Act.
Aims and objectives
The object of the WPCA Act is to encourage the economic growth and development of the Western Sydney Aerotropolis and the rest of the Western Parkland City, in particular:
- by creating active, vibrant and sustainable communities and locations that:
- i. support national and global business, and
- ii. support, and benefit from, the development of the Western Sydney Airport, and
- by supporting the creation of precincts that are focused on job intensive land uses and which include knowledge, industrial, educational, commercial, retail and mixed-use precincts, and
- by promoting investment, and
- by promoting development that accords with best practice environmental and planning standards, is environmentally sustainable and applies innovative environmental building and public domain design, and
- by facilitating the sharing of financial value arising from, or associated with, the development of the operational area so as to offset the provision of public infrastructure, facilities, places and services, and
- by promoting the attainment of value for money and efficiency in the delivery of infrastructure, and
- by achieving optimal outcomes from the Authority working collaboratively with the Commonwealth and State governments and with local councils in the Western Parkland City.
Research and development
Research and development is not a core function of the WPCA for the purposes of annual reporting. However, research and development activities may form part of investigative studies the WPCA undertakes in carrying out its functions.
Board
The WPCA Act provides for the establishment of a Board of the WPCA (the Board) and the appointment of a Chief Executive Officer (the CEO). While the WPCA is a NSW entity, the appointment of the Chair and three of the Board members is subject to consultation with the relevant Commonwealth Minister. The Board consists of a person appointed as the Chairperson, three people nominated by the Minister administering the WPCA Act and three people nominated by the relevant Commonwealth Minister.
Information on the members of the Board is set out in the table below. The Board met eight times during the reporting period.
Jennifer Westacott AO, Chair
Qualifications
- BA (Honours), FAICD, GCB, FIPAA, FANZSOG
- Adjunct Professor at the City Futures Research Centre of the University of New South Wales
- Chevening Scholar at the London School of Economics
- Graduate Management Certificate from the Monash Mt Eliza Business School
- Fellow, Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Australia and New Zealand School of Government
- National Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration (2012)
- Honorary Doctorate from UNSW (2017)
- Awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2018
Experience
- CEO, Business Council of Australia (since 2011)
- Board Director Wesfarmers (since 2013)
- Chair of the Western Parkland City Authority (since Feb 2019)
- Board Member of the Cyber Security Research Centre Ltd (Since Feb 2018)
- Former Co-chair of the Australia-Canada Economic Leadership Forum Organising Committee
- Member of the Prime Minister’s Cyber Security Review Panel (concluded April 2016)
- Chair of Studio Schools Australia
- Patron of Mental Health Australia
- Co-Patron of Pride in Diversity (since Nov 2017)
- Patron of The Pinnacle Foundation (since March 2019)
- Awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2018
Method of appointment
Ministerial
Term
3 years (expires 24/2/2025)
Meeting attendance
8
Geoff Roberts AM, Deputy Chair
Qualifications
- B Nat Res (Honours) Resource Management
- M App Sc, Environmental Science
- FAICD
Experience
- 40 years' experience in strategic environmental planning in Australia and overseas
- Deputy Chair of the Western Parkland City Authority
- Chief Commissioner, Greater Cities Commission (formerly Greater Sydney Commission) (April 2020–present)
- Chief Investment Officer, Investment NSW (April 2021–December 2021)
- Global Head of Relationships, NSW Treasury (November 2019–April 2021)
- Chief Coordinator of the Western Sydney City Deal (end November 2019)
- Deputy Chief Commissioner, Greater Sydney Commission (end 31 March 2020)
- Economic Commissioner, Greater Sydney Commission (end 31 March 2020)
Method of appointment
Ministerial
Term
3 years (expires 24/2/2025)
Meeting attendance
7
Alan Stoneham
Qualifications
- Chartered Planner
- Diploma of Environmental Science
- Associate Diploma Local Government Management
- MAICD
Experience
- General Manager of Penrith City Council (2008–September 2018)
- Deputy General Manager of Penrith City Council (2003–2008)
Method of appointment
Ministerial
Term
3 years (expired 24/2/2022)
Meeting attendance
6
Mark Binskin AC
Qualifications
- Dip. Management Studies
- GAICD
- Harvard Advanced Management Program
Experience
- Air Chief Marshal (ret’d)
- Chair of the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements (2020)
- Chair of the Australia Pacific Security College Advisory Board (2019–present)
- Deputy Chair of the Sir Richard Williams Foundation (2018–present)
- Chief of the Australian Defence Force (June 2014–July 2018)
- Vice Chief of the Australian Defence Force (2011–2014)
- Chief of the Royal Australian Air Force (2008–2011)
- Chair of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (2018–2021)
- Board of Invictus Australia (2016–present)
- Temora Aviation Museum Governing Committee (2019–present)
Method of appointment
Ministerial
Term
3 years (expires 24/2/2025)
Meeting attendance
8
Elizabeth Montano
Qualifications
- BA LLB
- Solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW and the High Court
- FAICD
Experience
- Non-executive Chair/ Director of various public sector boards (since 2001)
- Principal of Advisory Practice in program and project delivery, assurance, risk, strategic and corporate planning, performance reporting and ICT governance including roles as Chair/Member of audit and risk committees (since 2001)
- Chief Executive Officer of AUSTRAC (1996–2001) – first woman to lead a Commonwealth regulatory/ law enforcement agency
- Head Australian Delegation to OECD Financial Action Task Force (1996–2001)
- Former Consultant to King & Wood Mallesons, Solicitors
- Board Member large independent school, Sydney (since 2018)
- Member Executive Committee of a NSW Rural Fire Brigade in Western Parkland City area (since 2016) and Member of associated local emergency services infrastructure incorporated association (since 2020)
Method of appointment
Ministerial
Term
3 years (expired 6/5/2022)
Meeting attendance
7
Gabrielle Trainor AO
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Laws (Melb)
- Master of Arts in Cultural and Creative Practice (WSU)
- FAICD
Experience
- Current directorships include:
- The Australian Football League;
- Major Transport Infrastructure Authority (VIC);
- ACT City Renewal Authority;
- WAM Global Ltd;
- Built Pty Ltd; and
- Gadens’ Advisory Board.
Method of appointment
Ministerial
Term
3 years (expires 24/2/2025)
Meeting attendance
8
Vince Graham AM
Qualifications
- BE (Civil) Sydney University
- Post Graduate Diploma of Management, NSW Institute of Technology
- Churchill Fellow 1981
- FAICD
Experience
- Current directorships include
- Sydney University Audit and Risk Committee, Catholic Schools NSW Ltd, and Western Sydney Airport Corporation
- Chief Executive Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy & Essential Energy (Networks NSW) (2012–2015)
- CEO Endeavour Energy (2008–2012)
- CEO Railcorp NSW (2003–2008)
- CEO National Rail Corporation (1992–2002)
Method of appointment
Ministerial
Term
3 years (expired 6/5/2022)
Meeting attendance
7
Anthea Hammon
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Engineering (Mech) (Hons)
- MAICD
Experience
- Managing Director – Scenic World (2011–present)
- Director – Hammons Holdings (2007–present)
- Director – WSACo (Western Sydney Airport) (2017–present)
- Vice President Blue Mountains Tourism (2017– present)
- Director – Australian Leisure and Recreation Association (2009–2017)
- Director – Blue Mountains Economic Enterprise (2016–2020)
Method of appointment
Ministerial
Term
3 years (expires 6/5/2025)
Meeting attendance
1*
*Member appointed on 7/5/2022
Mark Steinert
Qualifications
- BAppSc (PRM)
- G Dip App Fin and Inv (Sec Inst)
- F Fin
- GAICD
Experience
Current experience:
- WEM Advisory Board (member)
- St Andrews School Council (member)
Previous experience:
- CEO and Managing Director Stockland
- Head of Australasian Equities UBS
- Global Head of Research UBS
- Global Head of Product Development & Management UBS AM
- President of the Property Council of Australia
- Director Green Building Council of Australia
- Property Champions of Change (member)
- GP Risk and Compliance sub-committee (attendee)
Method of appointment
Ministerial
Term
3 years (expires 6/5/2025)
Meeting attendance
1*
*Member appointed on 7/5/2022
Leadership team
The Authority's leadership team, as at 30 June 2022, is shown below.
Dr Sarah Hill
Role
- Chief Executive Officer
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Master of Urban and Regional Planning
- Bachelor of Science
- Certificate of UK Planning Law and Practice
- Australian Institute of Company Directors Graduate
James Hebron
Role
- Chief Operating Officer
Qualifications
- Graduate Certificate of Business Administration
- Graduate Diploma of Energy and Resources Law
- Bachelor of Laws
- Bachelor of Arts (Politics)
Anne Skewes
Role
- Head of Development and Delivery
Qualifications
- Master of Arts
- Graduate Diploma of Applied Social Psychology
- Bachelor Behavioural Science
- Australian Institute of Company Directors Graduate
James Passmore
Role
- Executive Director, Investment, Industry and Partnerships
Qualifications
- Executive Master in International Business
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Arts
Stephanie Barker
Role
- Executive Director, City Strategy and Coordination
Qualifications
- Master of Urban and Regional Planning
- Bachelor of Science (Architecture)
Justin Koek
Role
- Director, Communications and Engagement
Qualifications
- Graduate Certificate of Commerce
- Bachelor of Communication, Media and Public Relations
The Western Parkland City Authority’s Senior Executive Leadership organisational chart, as at 30 June 2022