About Us > Profiles

Management Committee

Alan Dennings - Chairperson & Newsletter Editor

Jessica van der Waag - Vice Chairperson

I have been involved with the Malleefowl Preservation Group since 2002 when, as a third year university biology student, I carried out a project examining the stomach content of road-killed Malleefowl from Western Australia and South Australia. This lead onto a field based Honours project in 2003 which studied the behaviour of adult Malleefowl at the breeding mound. The work was based in remnant bush in Ongerup, WA, which strengthened my links to the MPG. Further research was carried out from 2004 to 2007 radio-tracking chicks and young birds in remnant bush. This work relied heavily on the assistance of local MPG volunteers. My work with the Malleefowl, the MPG and the local community have given me a particular interest in working with landowners to achieve best practice management of their remnant bush.

Don Sclater - Secretary/Treasurer

I am a Rural Contractor who has worked around the Borden and Ongerup Districts for the past 35 years.

I have always been very interested in nature and conservation and enjoy spending time in the bush. Through my wife's volunteer work for the Malleefowl Preservation Group I also became involved. I have been a Committee Member for the last 8 years and I look forward to continue working for this very worthwhile cause.

Committee Members

Len van der Waag - Coordinator for the Community Conservation Trust Fund

Rod Smith, Birds Australia - Survey & Monitoring

Blair Parsons - Science Advisor

I am an ecologist currently working with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy. I recently completed a PhD (based at the University of Western Australia and CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems) researching the distribution of Malleefowl in the Western Australian wheatbelt and threats to their persistence. My interests include the conservation of threatened mammals and birds, habitat and distribution modelling and the role of communities in conservation.

Project Coordinator

Susanne Dennings

As an inaugural member of the Malleefowl Preservation Group, I have held many volunteer committee and 'worker' portfolios. I am a fourth generation living on our family wheat and sheep property in Ongerup, am very much committed to malleefowl and total biodiversity conservation. Since retiring from the MPG committee in 2003 I have continued to maintain a keen interest and strong link with our group through working with a wonderful team of volunteers in partnership with state NRM groups and the corporate sector. My second passion is delivering the 'Malleefowl Magic' education program to rural schools in Western Australia. The rewards from these projects are many and I look forward to an exciting future for nature conservation in WA

Staff

Claudine Deering - Office Manager

As a city girl from Switzerland, I caught the "travel bug" which first brought me to beautiful Australia and its extraordinary bushland. A few years later I came to live in Ongerup, the hometown of my husband Brenndon where we have a small farm and have raised two children. The last 6 years working for the MPG have been an exciting journey and I look forward to the future with the group and its dedicated Committee.

Volunteers

May Sclater - Administrative Support / Membership Manager

I joined the Malleefowl Preservation Group eight years ago. As a volunteer it has opened up a whole new world to me. I enjoy helping in the office and being part of a very dedicated team that works together on the important task of protecting our endangered Malleefowl. My husband Don and myself especially love going on the Malleefowl Surveys. Camping out in the bush, miles from anywhere, amongst amazing fauna and flora. We have seen, and walked over some magnificent country, and met a lot of wonderful people from all walks of life.

Glenda Palmer - Filing Officer

MPG Representatives to:

Yongergnow Board: Alan Dennings

Yongergnow Ordinary Members: Claudine Deering, Debbie Thomas, Neil Banks

Conservation Council of Western Australia (CCWA): Alan Dennings, Blair Parsons

National Recovery Team: Blair Parsons