Whaleback Ridge Renewable Energy Panel

Max has an agricultural science degree from Melbourne University and has had a career in natural resource management that spanned 35 years working in Tasmania, Victoria and the Commonwealth. During that time he was the Director of the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service, a Deputy Secretary in the Commonwealth Department of Environment and Heritage and the Chief Executive of the National Oceans Office.

Since leaving permanent employment he has been Chair of NRM South, Chair of NRM Regions Australia and a Greening Australia board member. He is currently a member of the Resource and Planning Stream of Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, Chair of the International Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna and a director of Accounting for Nature Ltd.

Appointed to the Whaleback Ridge Renewable Energy Development Assessment Panel as Chair on 17 April 2024.

Michael holds an electrical engineering degree with honours and a Master of Engineering Science both from the University of Tasmania and enjoyed a career in the Tasmanian electricity supply industry covering generation, transmission, distribution, construction, and customer requirements.

On its formation, he was an inaugural executive with Transend, the then Tasmanian transmission network service provider, responsible for transmission planning, economic regulation, and customer connections; in particular, integration of Basslink.  During national reform of the electricity supply industry, he chaired the Federal Government’s National Grid Management Council’s Transmission Pricing Working Group developing the now National Electricity Rules.

Since leaving permanent employment he has provided independent consulting services locally but also nationally and New Zealand.  He is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia and holds the Engineering Executive credential.

Appointed to the Whaleback Ridge Renewable Energy Development Assessment Panel on 17 April 2024.

John Hickey is a forest scientist and has Bachelor of Forest Science and Master of Science Degrees.
For over 15 years he was a Principal Scientist with Forestry Tasmania before assuming senior management positions.

He is a former Board member of the Forest Practices Authority.  John has served as a member of various organisations associated with forestry including on education, standards, research and giant trees.

He is past member of the Committee of the Tasmanian Division of the Institute of Foresters and has served on the Board of NRM South. John was awarded the Gottstein Fellowship for study in Germany and Sweden in 2011. He has been involved in numerous publications associated with forest science.

Appointed to the Whaleback Ridge Renewable Energy Development Assessment Panel on 17 April 2024.

Michael holds Bachelor of Arts (Economics & Geography) and Master of Town Planning degrees from the University of Tasmania. Michael has over 30 years of work experience across a range of strategic and statutory planning as well as major project approval areas. Michael has worked with the Tasmanian Government’s central land use planning sections and with Tasmanian City Councils. He led the transport infrastructure planning and policy branch of the Government and has worked as a project development manager with private and state owned companies in the renewable energy/electricity sector.

Appointed to the Whaleback Ridge Renewable Energy Development Assessment Panel on 17 April 2024.

Dr Eleni Taylor-Wood has a PH D in Marine Biology and has over 20 years experience in project management, sustainable infrastructure and environmental and social assessment management. Her initial career was focussed on ecological assessment and management and protection of cultural heritage. She is now in semi retirement having worked as the principal consultant including with Entura since 2004.

Appointed to the Whaleback Ridge Renewable Energy Development Assessment Panel on 17 April 2024.