Respected hydrologist and natural resource management scientist Cecilia (Cec) McConnell has been appointed as Western Australia’s new Soil and Land Conservation Commissioner.
Ms McConnell brings 25 years of experience working in leadership roles in government and the private sector to the position.
The Commissioner’s role, which is responsible for administering the Soil and Land Conservation Act 1945, includes preventing land degradation, promoting soil conservation and educating landholders and the general public about sound land management.
The position has been reclassified and elevated in rank within the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
This includes providing strategic, scientific and policy leadership on soil, water and land conservation, with a special focus on soil health and related farming systems.
Ms McConnell, who will be based with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, will sit on the recently re-established Soil and Land Conservation Council, which provides direct policy advice to the Minister for Agriculture and Food.
She succeeds Andrew Watson who served as Commissioner for 16 years before his retirement earlier this year (2020).
Source: WA Government