Gondwana World Heritage Advisory Committee (Qld Section)

Expressions of interest for the positions of Chair and members of the Gondwana World Heritage Advisory Committee (Qld Section) is now closed.

The Gondwana World Heritage Advisory Committee (Qld Section) (Committee) provides advice to management agencies and State and Australian Government ministers responsible for World Heritage on matters relating to the identification, protection, conservation, presentation and transmission to future generations, of Gondwana’s cultural and natural heritage.

Advice may include the review and implementation of plans and strategies, research needs or management activities.

Committee members are appointed by the Queensland Minister responsible for World Heritage and the Chair is jointly appointed by the Queensland and Australian Government ministers responsible for World Heritage.

The Chair may be asked to represent the Committee on the Australian World Heritage Advisory Committee, which provides advice to the Australian and State/Territory ministers on issues affecting Australia’s World Heritage properties.

The work of the Committee is influenced by the World Heritage Convention, which recognises the way in which people interact with nature, and the fundamental need to preserve the balance between the two.

Committee membership

The Committee members provide advice on the management and protection of the Gondwana World Heritage Area (Qld Section). Membership will consist of First Nations, scientific and community interests and expertise relevant to the management of the property.

Membership interest and expertise will broadly be reflected by up to a total of 17 representatives as follows:

  • The Chair is an independent, non-government person, with no current direct financial or vested political interest in the way in which Gondwana World Heritage Area is managed (they may be a member of one of the groups below).
  • Two Yugambeh People
  • Two Yuggera Ugarapul People
  • Two Githabul People
  • Up to five members (who may also be First Nations people) with community interest/expertise, including representatives of the following sectors:
    • tourism
    • recreation
    • residential
    • conservation
    • natural resource management
    • local government
  • Up to five members with scientific expertise for example in relation to:
    • botany
    • zoology
    • general ecology
    • geomorphology
    • cultural heritage/archaeology/anthropology
    • stewardship and governance of social-ecological systems
    • sustainable tourism/visitor management
    • protected area management/biosecurity
    • implementation of the operational guidelines
    • social science
    • climate/climate change.

It is not intended that members be ‘representative’ in the strict sense of the word. Rather, it is intended that members will be broadly across the issues relevant to their sector(s) of representation and thus able to provide informed advice.

In addition, as part of a suite of initiatives under the Queensland Women’s Strategy 2016–21, the Queensland Government has set gender balance requirements for all appointments to Queensland Government bodies and as such this Committee is to consist of at least 50% women.

Duties of the Committee Chair

  • Chair meetings in accordance with formal meeting protocols e.g. Code of Conduct.
  • Liaise with the Executive Officer as required to develop agendas and approve meeting notes.
  • Facilitate discussion on the agenda items, seek consensus on issues and provide advice to the ministers.
  • Ensure First Nations peoples’ rights and interests are incorporated into advice provided by the Committee.
  • Facilitate participation of all Committee members in the meeting and encourage members to share and exchange information with each other and the Executive Officer.
  • Present the Committee’s advice (via a Communique) to the management agencies and State and Australian Government ministers responsible for World Heritage on matters relating to the identification, protection, conservation, presentation and transmission to future generations, of cultural and natural heritage.
  • Identify research priorities that will contribute, in particular, to the protection and conservation of the Outstanding Universal Value of the Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage Area (Qld Section).
  • Represent (or proxy) Gondwana (Qld Section) on the Australian World Heritage Advisory Committee (AWHAC), which will consider national and cross-cutting issues relevant to all World Heritage properties in Australia.

Committee Chair selection criteria

  • Familiarity with, and/or an interest in, the Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage Area.
  • Demonstrated experience in the facilitation/operation of advisory committees or similar bodies; and/or demonstrated expertise in the management of the Gondwana World Heritage area (in particular, the Qld Section).
  • Familiarity with Australia’s obligations under the World Heritage Convention.

Duties of Committee members

  • Ensure First Nations peoples’ rights and interests for the Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage Area are a primary focus in advice provided to management agencies.
  • Provide advice to the management agencies and State and Australian Government ministers responsible for World Heritage, on matters relating to the identification, protection, conservation, presentation and transmission to future generations, the natural and cultural heritage of the property.
  • Identify research priorities that will contribute, in particular, to the protection and conservation of the Outstanding Universal Value of the Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage Area (particularly the Qld Section).
  • Members representing Yugambeh, Yuggera Ugarapul and Githabul People may also represent Gondwana on the Australian World Heritage Indigenous Network.

Committee member selection criteria

  • Familiarity with, and/or demonstrated interest in, the Gondwana World Heritage Area.
  • Demonstrated expertise in a sector (detailed under Membership heading) relevant to the management of the Gondwana World Heritage area (in particular, the Qld Section).
  • Familiarity with Australia’s obligations under the World Heritage Convention.

Term of appointment

The Chair and Committee members are appointed for a three-year period commencing on the date advised in the letter of appointment.

The Chair and Committee members may resign at any time and are eligible for reappointment in another term.

Find out more by reading the Committee’s Terms of Reference (PDF, 388.2KB) .

Further information

For further questions email world.heritage@des.qld.gov.au