Board and Executive
The HikeWest Board comprises five elected Directors and up to two appointed Directors. The Board may also appoint advisors. The five elected Directors must be members of the Association (either a member of a Member Club or an Individual Member), and are elected for an initial term of three years. Appointed Directors are not required to be members and are eligible for re-appointment annually after an initial twelve month term. An Executive Officer (‘EO’) is appointed by the Board and is empowered by delegation from the Board to operationally manage HikeWest and to drive and implement the current Strategic Plan set by the Board.
| President | Peggy Leung Peggy previously served on the Board during 2025 as Treasurer. As President, Peggy brings to HikeWest extensive experience across both public and private sectors, including building strategic partnerships, driving operational excellence, and delivering outcomes that make a difference. Peggy loves the outdoors and especially values the health and happiness benefits of hiking and the deep connection and respect it provides for the natural environment. |
| Vice-President | Jessica Strauss Jessica's professional background is in journalism and communications. She has a passion for getting out in nature for physical health, social connection, and adventure. Spotting native plants and flowers, as well as birds and other critters is also a highlight of a good hike. She hopes to use her skills and passion to help promote hiking through her board position at HikeWest. Jessica was elected to the HikeWest Board in 2025. |
| Treasurer | New appointment pending. |
| Secretary | Mark Pybus  Mark is a Test Analyst and has been working in the finance industry for over 13 years. He is a keen hiker, mountain biker and trail runner, always exploring the trails and nature spaces of Western Australia. As the founder of The Life of Py, Mark has been an advocate for trail use through his website and photography. He was elected to the HikeWest Board in 2020. |
| Director (elected) | Sean Hefferon Sean is MBA-qualified; is also currently a Director on another not-for-profit which is focused on protecting land, flora, fauna, and creating healthy environments in the wheatbelt. He has also served on other boards. He also has an interest in peer support for mental health through one of his past board roles. He is Toodyay-based and is an avid walker on local trails and has hiked and camped throughout WA. Sean was elected to the HikeWest Board in 2025. |
| Director (appointed) | Hecate Jay Hecate is a past President (2014-2015) of HikeWest (as ‘Bushwalking WA’); currently President of Bushwalking Australia (BAI) ; and previously BAI Council Secretary for six years. She was also a member of Perth Bushwalkers Club for 12 years and served on that club's committee. Her career has included several years as a commercial bushwalking guide. Hecate is keenly interested in assisting in protecting our bushwalking environment. She was appointed to the HikeWest Board in 2022. |
| Director (appointed) | New appointment pending. |
| Executive Officer | Andrew Stanbury Andrew has previously had a range of leadership roles in the not-for-profit (NFP) sector in WA including managing organisations such as Tennis West and Swimming WA through significant periods of development and growth. He is MBA-qualified and brings to HikeWest strong financial and commercial skills and extensive strategic and operational experience in the sport and recreational environment, also building on skills initially developed in a first career in fund management. He looks forward to leading HikeWest into our next phase of impact and growth. |
| Board Advisor | Dave Osborne Dave is a past President, past Acting EO, and life member of HikeWest, and also a life member and past-President of Perth Bushwalkers Club. Qualified initially as a geologist, he had a long and successful business career in the oil and gas exploration and production industry. As a keen bushwalker he has long been a passionate advocate for bushwalking in WA and over the past 20 years has encouraged awareness of many traditional bushwalking opportunities through his WalkGPS website and recent guide books. |
| Board Advisor | Neil Gibson Neil is a Director and production manager of a web development and design agency with over 25 years’ experience, including marketing, graphic design and publishing. He is currently also a committee member of a business network. He is also a keen bushwalker and walks leader. |
| Programs Coordinator | New appointment pending. |
Rules of Association
The current constitution or Rules of Association for HikeWest Incorporated (known as ‘HikeWest’) updated in November 2024. View: “Rules of Association for HikeWest Incorporated“.
Strategic Plan
The Plan explains how HikeWest is embracing our vision: To see more people hiking in Western Australia more often. An annual Operational Plan also provides the Board and EO with a checklist of the strategies and key tasks outlined in the Strategic Plan to help identify the near-term priorities and monitor progress toward the overall goals.
View: Strategic Plan 2023-2026
Policies
HikeWest aims to always conduct itself through its policies and in practice in a manner that is true to its core values and behaviours as a peak body as espoused in our Strategic Plan:
HikeWest Code of Conduct
| Core Values | Core Behaviours |
|---|---|
| Open, ethical, professional & accountable in all that we do | Operate proactively as a leader in the bushwalking community |
| Inclusive and respectful of diversity | Respond to stakeholder needs & aspirations |
| Respect & love of our natural bushwalking environment | Advocate for the community |
| Commitment & pride in HikeWest | Maintain best practice governance & management |
| Active in embracing change | Build an effective sphere of influence |
Policies and positions reflected in HikeWest’s advocating and submissions on issues affecting bushwalking and the environment, and in our Risk Management Guidelines, Minimum Impact Bushwalking Code etc are consistent with the principles above and also with the objectives outlined in the constitution (also see ‘What we do’). Our Privacy Policy Statement summarises how HikeWest respects your privacy and embraces the principles contained in the Privacy Act.
AGM Minutes & Reporting
Funding
HikeWest is an independent not-for-profit organisation. Our financial base relies on the generous support of our several official Sponsors and from other sources, including advertising income and member club levies.
We are also grateful for the support of the State Government who, via DLGSC have provided funding for specific projects, including the inaugural WA Hiking Expo in 2021, and Lotterywest who provided a grant in 2018 to assist HikeWest with the costs of developing this current website.
Media & Disclaimer
HikeWest communicates regularly with our members and the broader community through this website, via a regular eNews publication and Facebook. Board policies, including our Privacy Policy Statement, provide guidelines on HikeWest’s use of these media.