Appointment of Acting Commissioners

3 May 2024

The Chief Judge is pleased to announce that Ms Laurenne Coetzee, Mr Niall Macken, Ms Helena Miller, Dr Peter Moore, Dr Peter Nichols, Associate Professor Dr Amelia Thorpe and Mr Michael Young have been appointed as Acting Commissioners of the Court for a period of 2 years from 13 May 2024 to 12 May 2026.

Ms Coetzee is an environmental scientist, with over 20 years’ applied experience. Ms Coetzee holds a Bachelor of Environmental Science (Geography)(Hons I) from the University of New South Wales and a Master of Environmental Law from the University of Sydney. Ms Coetzee is a nationally accredited mediator. Ms Coetzee has worked as an environmental consultant and for government on major projects in New South Wales, Western Australia, Victoria and the United Kingdom. Ms Coetzee has broad experience in environmental management, including biodiversity, surface and ground water, air quality, noise and vibration, indigenous and non-indigenous heritage, contamination, waste management, human health, socio-economics and sustainability.

Mr Macken is a registered architect, with over 30 years’ applied experience, particularly in the field of heritage architecture. Mr Macken holds a Bachelor of Science (Architecture) and Bachelor of Architecture (Hons) from the University of Sydney and a Master of Arts (Conservation Studies) from the Institute of Advanced Architectural Studies, York, United Kingdom. Mr Macken is a registered architect and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects. Mr Macken has worked in the private sector as an architect and for State and local government, in New South Wales and in Ireland.

Ms Miller is a planner with over 33 years’ applied experience. Ms Miller holds a Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of New England and a Graduate Diploma of Natural Resources Law from the University of Wollongong. She is a Registered Planner and a Member of the Planning Institute of Australia. Ms Miller has worked as a planner in State government and private practice as a consultant planner, including since 2001 in her own consulting practice. Ms Miller has served on a number of local, district and regional planning panels.

Dr Moore has 40 years’ operational, management and policy experience in natural resources, especially in fire, forest and land management. Dr Moore holds a Bachelor of Science (Forestry) from the Australian National University, a Master of Forestry (Fire Behaviour and Fuels Management) from the University of Montana (USA) and a Doctor of Philosophy (Policy Implementation) from the Australian National University. Dr Moore has provided advice, evaluation and technical assistance on fire, forest and land management to government agencies and the private sector in over 40 countries and to international agencies. Dr Moore has undertaken extensive international work on climate change in the land sector.

Dr Nichols is an environmental scientist, with 30 years’ applied experience in arboriculture, horticulture and ecology (terrestrial vegetation). Dr Nichols holds an Associate Diploma of Applied Science – Landscape from the University of Melbourne, Bachelor of Science – Urban Horticulture from the University of Technology Sydney, Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Studies from Macquarie University and a Doctor of Philosophy in Ecology from Western Sydney University. Dr Nichols has worked for local government, in New South Wales and Queensland, and in private practice, including his own consultancy (Banksia Ecology). Dr Nichols has published extensively on artificial wetlands for stormwater quality improvement, managing trees in urban environments and ecosystems restoration.

Dr Thorpe is a planning lawyer, with 20 years’ applied experience. Dr Thorpe holds a Bachelor of Environmental Design and Bachelor of Architecture (Hons) from the University of Western Australia, Bachelor of Policy Studies (City Policy)(Hons) from Murdoch University, Master of Arts (Jurisprudence) from the University of Oxford (UK), Master of Law from Harvard University (USA) and a Doctor of Philosophy from the Australian National University. Dr Thorpe has worked as a planner for the Western Australian government and a legal academic at the University of New South Wales, teaching numerous subjects on planning and environmental law. Dr Thorpe has published extensively on planning, urban design, sustainability, and planning and environment law. She is currently editor-in-chief of Australian Planner. She has served on local and regional planning panels.

Mr Young is an environmental scientist, with 28 years’ applied experience. Mr Young holds a Bachelor of Science (Ecology) from the University of Sydney, Master of Environmental Science from Macquarie University and a Graduate Diploma in Environmental Law from the University of Sydney. Mr Young has worked as an environmental scientist in the private sector and for the State government. Mr Young has served as an environmental planner, manager and director of resources, energy and infrastructure assessments at the Department of Planning and Environment and executive director of planning and communities at Energy Corporation of New South Wales.