The NFDAP Steering Committee

The National Feral Deer Action Plan Steering Committee has representatives from the agricultural, conservation, government and non-government, and research sectors.

The Steering Committee will report to the Environment and Invasives Committee, National Biosecurity Committee and the Minister for Agriculture, on the progress of the Plans activities.

Meet The Group

Ted Rowley

Chimney Ridge Farm Moonbah, NSW

Feral deer are our major business risk posing a significant biosecurity management challenge for us. Our biosecurity planning is compromised by the presence of feral deer. Production, environmental and community safety concerns also arise from feral deer presence. For example, we cannot establish tree or grassland areas because of the need to protect areas established from grazing and browsing by feral deer for up to 14 years with 2 metre high fences.

Tony Buckmaster

Principal RD&E Manager

CISS is a collaborative not-for-profit, member-based organisation formed to address the impact of invasive animals and plants across Australia. The Centre has been extensively involved in research to better understand the impacts of feral deer and develop best practice management techniques to reduce the damage they cause.

Dr Tony Pople

Invasive Plants & Animals Research

Biosecurity Queensland works closely with local governments, communities and other stakeholders to minimise the economic, environmental and social impacts of wild deer. Wild deer are increasing in abundance and spreading in Queensland, requiring the development of strategies, tools and an improved understanding of their ecology and impacts for their management.

Michelle Hanslow

Team Lead – Deer Control Program

Biodiversity Division

DEECA works in partnership with a range of agencies and stakeholders to protect and preserve Victoria’s native landscape through a range of biodiversity, wildlife, sustainability, climate change, and community programs. The Deer Control Program is responsible for delivering the Victorian Deer Control Strategy and three regional deer control plans. Michelle is a passionate advocate for strategic deer management, with a strong focus on collaborative, tenure-blind work and engaging with the community.

Quentin Hart

Manager – Vertebrate Pests Biosecurity

Quentin has over 25 years of experience in pest animal science, policy, and programs. He is currently the Manager of Pest Animal Policy and Programs at the NSW Department of Primary Industries. Previously, he worked at the Federal Bureau of Rural Sciences (now ABARES), managing pest animal research funding and contributing to national management guidelines. Quentin also served as the National Manager of the Australian Feral Camel Management Project, gaining expertise in large-scale, cross-jurisdictional pest management using adaptive management and a strong MERI framework.

Jack Gough

Advocacy Director

Jack is the Advocacy Director for the Invasive Species Council, with extensive experience as a campaigner, policy analyst, and environmental advocate. He has previously served as the National Pastoral Conservation Manager for the Pew Charitable Trusts, leading law reform and policy efforts for conservation on private lands. Jack has also worked as the policy lead for the NSW Nature Conservation Council and advised cross-bench MPs on key issues including environment, agriculture, and biosecurity.

Dr Brad Page

Principal Biosecurity Officer – Pest Animals

Brad is a passionate leader supporting primary industries, through leadership of a team undertaking applied research, policy, and management work on pest animals. He has a keen focus on management of feral deer, wild dogs, pigs, rabbits and management of the SA Dog Fence rebuild.

Karen Moloney

Director – Invasive Species National Coordination and Programs

Karen Moloney is the Director of the Invasive Species National Coordination and Programs team in the Environmental Biosecurity Office at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. In her role Karen is involved in biosecurity policy and programs with a focus on post border biosecurity working with stakeholders to reduce the impact of feral deer and other exotic pests, weeds and disease that negatively impact our agricultural production and environment.

Stuart Dawson

Development Officer – Invasive Species and Environmental Biosecurity

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is lead biosecurity agency in Western Australia, including invasive species. While still in relatively low numbers in WA, feral deer are an emerging issue. Stuart’s current research focuses on understanding and refining control tools, measuring impacts, and exploring human-wildlife conflicts.

Jake Tanner

Business Partner Invasive Species

Local Land Services is the leading agency for the management of established invasive species such as feral deer. Feral deer are increasingly impacting the agricultural industry and environmental values of NSW.

To be advised

TAS Natural Resources and Environment

Zac Rayson

Senior Policy Officer

National Farmers Federation

Richard Mailer: Proxy for Amy Kirk

Corporate Silviculture and Fire Manager

HVP manages approximately 240,000 hectares of land in Victoria, including 170,000 hectares of pine and eucalypt plantation. Feral deer are having a significant impact on our plantations through a combination of damage caused by browsing, rubbing and bark stripping. HVP are involved in collaboratively managing the impact of deer through deterrent, prevention and control methods.

Dr Annelise Wiebkin

National Deer Management Coordinator

Annelise is Australia’s first National Deer Management Coordinator.

Annelise has a strong background in Biosecurity, policy and legislation, research engagement, and management of vertebrate pest animal programs.

Acknowledgements to the former Working Group

The National Deer Management Team would like to extend our thanks to all members of the previous working group for their dedication and hard work in developing the National Feral Deer Action Plan from 2021 to 2023. Your expertise, collaboration, and commitment to addressing this important issue have been invaluable in creating a comprehensive, forward-thinking strategy that will guide efforts in managing and mitigating the negative impacts of feral deer across the country.