Outdoors Great Southern brings together the very best strategic thinkers with significant experience in the government and non-government sectors. Our staff bring a breadth of skills and experience in tourism, outdoor recreation, natural resource management, and social research.
Lenore Lyons is our Executive Director. Prior to joining Outdoors Great Southern, Lenore held positions in the public, private and community sectors. She worked as a research professor in the university sector for over 15 years and during that time was Director of an Australian Research Council (ARC) Key Centre for Teaching and Research. In 2006, she co-founded a successful eco-tourism business in the Great Southern. That business was inducted into the Western Australian Tourism Hall of Fame in 2015.
Lenore currently serves on the Board of Australia’s South West (ASW).
She has previously served on the Boards of Management of Trails WA, Denmark Tourism Incorporated, the Munda Biddi Trail Foundation, and Outdoors WA.
Lenore is an enthusiastic hiker and kayaker and takes every opportunity to explore the amazing Great Southern region on land or on the water.
Karl is the Trails Coordinator for the implementation of the Great Southern Trails Master Plan. Karl has a Natural Resource Management background managing biodiversity projects on Western Australia’s South Coast for the last nine years. Prior to that he has coordinated school and community education projects with the Department of Environment, and has managed projects involving conservation trainees.
Karl knows that a benefit of living in the Great Southern is the amazing choice of outdoor environments and activities which he shares with his family. Camping, hiking and canoeing are favourites of this family!
Andy is our Skills Development Officer and is responsible for increasing community participation across the region through the development of workshops, training, and grassroots instruction within the Outdoor Recreation sector. After 11 years coordinating accommodation and recreation programs in recreation camps in Perth, Andy had the opportunity to relocate to Denmark in early 2018 and immediately saw the benefit to living in the region, for both his family and himself.
Andy and his family love camping and being outdoors, and they are excited to explore more of the areas the Amazing South Coast has to offer.
Karen Timmins is our Digital Engagement Coordinator. Karen has lived in Albany for more than ten years, working with organisations including the City of Albany, Great Southern Grammar and various small businesses in communications, incorporating graphic design, photography and community liaison services. Prior to that, she roamed much of the southern part of WA as a freelance Farm Weekly correspondent.
Karen is a great addition to the team, bringing a genuine interest in writing, photography, sustainable and ecologically responsible regional development, and in keeping kids and adults active.
It’s quite likely she will try to introduce you to her number one passion – sailing the extraordinary waters of the Amazing South Coast.
Kaysanne is a Project Officer assisting with the implementation of the Great Southern Trails Master Plan. She has a background in urban and regional planning, with four years’ experience working in local government as a statutory and strategic town planner. Kaysanne previously worked in the adventure tourism sector in New Zealand, as the Manager of Sales and Marketing for River Valley Adventure Lodge (a white water rafting and horse trek destination).
After moving away from the Great Southern for several years, Kaysanne has been drawn back to the region for all of the opportunities that it provides – ample access to the great outdoors and a passionate and creative community. Walks on the beach with her dog, wood whittling and landscape painting are favourite pastimes.
Greg Mair works for the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. He has had a long career with State government agencies, including as the South Coast Regional Manager for the Parks and Wildlife Service in Albany, and postings in Walpole, Kirup, Manjimup, Busselton and Bunbury. While the area manager at Walpole Greg was a member of the project team involved in the development of the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk. Greg has been actively involved in athletics and yachting and has State and National achievements in both sports. He was the Commodore of the Walpole Yacht Club and Secretary of the Geographe Bay Sailing Club at Busselton. These days the fitness pursuit is more aligned to walking the many trails around Albany.
“I strongly believe that getting people out into the natural environment has beneficial outcomes for both their well-being and their greater appreciation, respect and valuing of it”.
Matthew is an experienced corporate lawyer and company secretary with over 25 years’ legal experience. Matthew has a strong corporate governance background and has worked for a number of companies, including Alcoa, Bankwest and Shell. Having just moved to Albany he is now a Special Counsel with the HHG Legal Group.
Matthew also loves the outdoors. He is a keen fisherman, camper and golfer and, after a 30 year hiatus, has also recently made a cricket comeback in Albany with the Many Peaks C-Grade cricket team.
After many years living and working overseas in Senior Management roles for the likes of the UN, APT and Qatar Airways, Kristen has recently launched her own Business Coaching practice in Albany. Kristen holds a B.Comm in Sports Admin and Commercial Law, a Graduate Certificate in Migration Law, Masters in Business Leadership (MBL), Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and a Graduate Certificate in Applied Coaching. Her passion lies in leadership development and in making leaders and organisations the best possible places they can be for their employees.
Kristen is a keen sports person and loves being in the great outdoors. From abseiling and rock climbing to camping, SUP-ing or heading out on one of the many beautiful trails around the region, there is no end to the exploration.
Ricky has had a distinguished career in the public and not-for-profit sectors. Her most recent roles was as CEO at Albany Youth Support Association. Prior to that she was CEO of WALGA, Director General of the Department for Culture & the Arts, Chief Executive Officer of Perth Zoo and the Director of Human Resources at the WA Tourism Commission. Ricky has a Masters in Leadership and Management from Curtin University, a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Development, a Certificate in Psychotherapy, and Diplomas in Coaching. Ricky sits on the Senate of Murdoch University, the Board of Nudge (formerly the Roads Foundation) and has been a member of various State and Local Government Committees and Boards. Ricky is a past President of the Australian Institute of Management and the Board of the Art Gallery of Western Australia. She was the Western Australian Businesswoman of the Year in 1997 and was awarded a Public Service Medal in 2007.
Having grown up loving the sea and the coastline of Western Australia, Ricky is deeply appreciative that she has been able to find somewhere to live where she can see the sea every day from her back veranda: “I feel blessed to live in Western Australia with access to national parks, bushland, and our fantastic coastline. I am attracted to the natural flora and fauna and feel very fortunate that I can contribute to bringing more people to the beautiful environment in the Great Southern in a responsible and caring way. Whilst I am not as able these days to take up activities that require physical strength I can enjoy the wonderful walks and trails around Albany that more than satisfy my need to be part of the natural environment”.
Chris is the Great Southern Regional Manager Sport and Recreation within the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC). Chris has academic qualifications in recreation and leisure studies and has worked across both local and state government in his thirty two years in the sport and recreation industry. A keen outdoor enthusiast he is passionate about outdoor recreation and the potential of the Great Southern region of WA to capitalise on the myriad of adventure based outdoor recreation pursuits that can be harnessed through its natural environment.