Management Team

The Central West CMA Management team leads the day-to-day operations of the organisation. The General Manager is responsible for implementing strategy, policy and management and reports directly to the Board. He is supported by three branch managers who assist with leading and managing the operations through efficient use of human, financial and information resources.

Chris Ambler, Acting General Manager, BA (Hons), PGCE

Chris joined the Central West CMA from the Western CMA in February 2008.

He has gained extensive experience in financial, administration and employee services management through a variety of roles in the public and educational sectors.

Chris has a Bachelor of Arts with Honours (Geography and Economics) and a Post
Graduate Certificate in Education.

Chris’s focus is on providing effective financial and administration processes to enable the Central West CMA to achieve it’s goals efficiently.

Tracey MacDonald, Program Manager Strategy and Planning, BSc (Hons), PhD (Wetland Ecology)

Tracey joined the Central West CMA in October 2009 as a Coordinator responsible for statutory reporting and for securing additional investment into CMA programs. She came to the CMA with extensive natural resource management experience gained from a variety of educational and public sector roles.

Tracey has been responsible for the development and implementation of several strategic planning instruments for the CMA and will continue to provide this role, particularly with regard to the implementation of the CMA’s revised Catchment Action Plan commencing in the 2013-14 financial year.

Tracey’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Science majoring in environmental biology (Honours – Ecology) and a PhD in wetland ecology from the University of Newcastle.

Tracey has a passion for community involvement in NRM decision making and onground actions. She hopes to demonstrate this by encouraging collaboration between government, research, community groups and land managers in the implementation of the Catchment Action Plan.

Jane Chrystal, Program Manager – Implementation, BSc (Hons), MComm, PhD (Biology), PGC Public Sector Mgt

Jane came to the Central West CMA in 2006 as a knowledge broker and joined the Management Team in May 2008.

She has extensive experience in agriculture, environmental management and business development, gained through a variety of roles in the public and private sectors.

Jane has a Bachelor of Science with Honours (Microbiology and Ecology), a PhD in Biology, a Master of Commerce (Economics and Organisational Behaviour), and recently completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management.

Jane’s focus is on maximising the potential of all staff, and ensuring we work together to achieve the goals of the Central West CMA.