Governance

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’) voluntary position was created by the Board in early 2018. The EO is appointed by the Board and takes  overall direction from the Board. The EO is empowered by delegation from the Board to operationally manage HikeWest and to drive and implement the current Strategic Plan set by the Board. The current President is also Acting EO.

President (& Acting Exec. Officer)	Dave Osborne Read More Dave had a career in oil and gas exploration and production, initially as a field geologist, then for many years he headed up the Australia office of a successful explorer and producing company, as General Manager and President. He has had a long behind-the-scenes involvement with HikeWest (previously the 'Federation...') since 2005 and has devoted much of his energies to sharing his love of bushwalking, partly through his website, WalkGPS, founded in 2003, and also through his membership since 2001 of Perth Bushwalkers Club. He has been a walks leader for many years and was President of that club 2013-2016, and is a life member. He was elected to the HikeWest Board in 2017.
Vice-President	Neil Gibson Read More Neil is a Director and Production Manager of a digital agency and has 20+ years’ experience in web development, online marketing, graphic design and publishing. He is a founding member of a local business support initiative and has an extensive network of business professionals. Neil is a keen bushwalker, walk leader and a walk organiser of the Redtails Walking Group. Through his membership of the HikeWest Board, Neil is excited to be able to contribute to the furthering of hiking in WA while also networking with like-minded individuals. He was elected to the HikeWest Board in 2019.
Treasurer	Amber Kaur Read More Amber is a CPA-qualified accountant with extensive experience in business accounting, project planning, systems implementation and maintaining organisational prudential compliance. She has an M.Acc from Curtin University and has worked in health care, employment services, not for profit and disability services. She is passionate about being outdoors and is a keen bushwalker who enjoys exploring new walking trails. Amber is enthusiastic about HikeWest's mission of fostering and promoting bushwalking/hiking in WA. She was elected to the HikeWest Board in 2022.
Secretary	Kirsty Peddie Read More Kirsty has worked in administration/personal assistant roles for over 15 years, with experience in governance and policy, most recently with a local government authority. Kirsty's qualifications include law degrees and certificates in business and legal administration. Kirsty is a keen outdoors person, and enjoys hiking and trail running, and is keen to contribute her passion for hiking and the natural environment. She was elected to the HikeWest Board in 2022.
Director (elected)	Mark Pybus Read More 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 (appointed)	Hecate Jay Read More Hecate is a past President (2014-2015) of HikeWest (as ‘Bushwalking WA’) and a previous Bushwalking Australia Council Secretary for six years; also a past Perth Bushwalkers Club member 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)	Karen Tyson Read More <>Karen's professional background includes administration, finance, commercial accounting, and human resources. Karen is a recent past-President of Western Walking Club, with prior committee experience. She has diplomas in management and accounting. Karen is keen to continue contributing to the hiking community in WA. She was appointed to the HikeWest Board in 2022.

The current constitution or Rules of Association for HikeWest Incorporated (known as ‘HikeWest’) were lodged in the office of the Commissioner for Consumer Protection on 13 Nov. 2019.View: “Rules of Association for HikeWest Incorporated“.

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.

 

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.

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.

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