Nature NSW Spring 2026

Gary Dunnett, CEO NPA NSW

I began drafting this introduction intending another whimsical reflection on a wildlife encounter. It was going to be a beauty—Kelp Gulls dropping seemingly indestructible Turbo shells onto reef rock, determined to reach the gastropod goodness within. If that sparks your curiosity, you can find the images at Turbo-charged-Gulls.

A nice idea, but one that ultimately sidestepped the unavoidable truth: this is my final introduction for Nature NSW. Soon after this edition is published, I’ll be joining the retired contingent of NPA’s membership.

It’s a change I’m genuinely looking forward to, not least the chance to finally focus on long-delayed personal projects in the original “National Park”, now known as Royal. With luck, I’ll be able to share that work as we approach the park’s 150th anniversary in 2029.

So, what will I carry with me from these past eight years with NPA? Above all, gratitude. The friendships, the shared experiences, and the privilege of being entrusted to lead one of Australia’s most storied and impactful conservation organisations. This role has been the pinnacle of a long and deeply satisfying career in conservation, and I remain profoundly thankful for the confidence and support you have shown throughout. Thank you.

People often say that if you enjoy what you do, it never feels like work. I’d go further: happiness comes when your personal values align with those of your workplace. In that sense, I have been extraordinarily fortunate. NPA’s mission, to expand the lands and seas protected for nature, and to help people connect with those places, aligns perfectly with what I hold most dear.

Without descending into a CV of achievements, I do want to acknowledge a few threads that have meant a great deal. One has been the visual storytelling of Far South Coast president David Gallan, whose work evokes the same emotional connection that first drew me to conservation through Dombrovskis and photography peers. My appreciation of art’s role in conservation has only deepened through the graphic design, poetry and creative contributions of so many NPA members and supporters.

Another source of pride has been the opportunity to harness growing national and international recognition of protected areas as essential responses to the biodiversity and climate crises. The ambition of 30by30 catalysed a step change in NPA’s approach, from modest proposals to landscape‑scale visions spanning hundreds of thousands of hectares. I will always be grateful for the chance to contribute to the Great Koala National Park and Great Southern Forest proposals, and remain hopeful that the groundwork we’ve laid for more meaningful marine protected areas will bear fruit.

I am equally proud of the growth in our organisational capability. Across conservation assessment, mapping, campaigning, project management and member services, our collective expertise has risen to the level required of a credible, professional and impactful conservation voice. These strengths now run through our staff, branches, head office and local teams across the state.

And so, back to the gulls. Common birds, familiar and often despised. Yet a few Saturdays ago I watched one perform a behaviour so unexpected it stopped me in my tracks. It hovered above a shallow reef, stared intently into the water, then plunged beneath the surface to emerge with a large Turbo snail. Three times it climbed, circled, and dropped the shell from twenty metres until a fracture appeared. Only then did it wedge the shell into a crevice and extract its prize.

A small moment, repeated countless times across our coasts. Yet it shattered any illusion that I already knew all there was to know about Kelp Gulls. A reminder that we share a world of endless wonder, and that our collective duty is to safeguard the chance for future generations to experience that same sense of discovery and connection.

Thank you, NPA. Your work matters deeply, and it has been a privilege and a joy to serve alongside you.

In this edition