Former Department of Premier and Cabinet director general and government special advisor Darren Foster has been appointed chair of the state’s Heritage Council.
Former Department of Premier and Cabinet director general and government special advisor Darren Foster has been appointed chair of the state’s Heritage Council.
Mr Foster, who also joined board of the troubled Western Australian Institute of Sports in September, will step into the chair role having served as a councillor since June.
He previously held special advisor roles at the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation and the Department of Treasury and was DPC director general from 2017 to 2020.
Mr Foster also has a keen interest in WA history and heritage, according to a government release, with academic qualifications in local history which have led him to produce oral histories and biographical papers capturing WA stories.
He will take over from Element Advisory architect Nerida Moredoundt, who will leave the council alongside deputy chair Lloyd Clark and councillors Sally Malone and Erika Techera.
Public servant Graeme Gammie; Element Advisory architect Flavia Kiperman; outgoing state government architect Rebecca Moore and structural engineer Martin Silk will join the council.
Current councillor Leigh Barrett will step into the deputy chair position, with Richard Offen reappointed as a councillor.
Heritage minister David Templeman thanked the outgoing board members and said the Heritage Council was important to the ongoing cultural heritage of the state.
“Our state’s heritage is rich and diverse, and the Heritage Council of Western Australia plays a vital role in identifying, conserving and sensitively developing our cultural heritage places,” he said.
“I congratulate Darren Foster on his appointment as chair and welcome all of the new councillors who will each make a significant contribution to the conservation, adaptation and celebration of places of state heritage significance.”
The Heritage Council is responsible for advising government on heritage issues, setting the state’s heritage strategy and policies, making recommendations on the places entered into the State Register of Heritage Places and providing specialist advice on the development of heritage places.
