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About AWEAG
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (the department) recognises the significance of forming partnerships with First Nations people because of their profound cultural knowledge and connection to Country and living waters.
In alignment with the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, particularly Priority Reform One – Formal Partnerships and Shared Decision Making, the department established the Aboriginal Water and Environmental Advisory Group (AWEAG). This group ensures the integration of First Nations people’s traditional worldviews, knowledge and values into water and environmental regulation.
AWEAG provides strategic counsel to the department to promote procedural fairness and equity in sustainable water and environmental practices. This includes offering strategic input, feedback and analysis on departmental strategies, programs, projects, and legislation.
AWEAG is co-chaired by the Director General of the department and an Aboriginal community member, nominated by the group. There are presently seven members, with a membership drive underway to recruit an additional seven to eight members, aiming for gender balance from each region and broad regional representation.
AWEAG meets quarterly for two full days, during which previous meeting minutes and actions are reviewed, followed by a curated list of agenda items compiled by internal and external staff.
See the meeting schedule for 2025.
AWEAG Members’ Biographies
Show moreCo-Chairs
Alistair Jones
Alistair Jones joined the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation as Director General in January 2024 and was formally appointed in the role in October 2024. He is passionate about protecting Western Australia’s environment and water resources and is excited about using innovative thinking and data analytics to continue to achieve this outcome.
He arrived from the Department of Treasury, where he was Assistant Under Treasurer of the Economic Business Unit, and before that, Assistant Under Treasurer of Strategic Policy and Evaluation. Over 15 years in State Government, his leadership roles included a stint as Acting Director General of the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation in 2023.
He strives to build strong relationships with Aboriginal organisations and community leaders to ensure the department builds on its reconciliation journey and explores how Aboriginal teachings can be embedded into the work of the department.
Alistair was born in Nottingham, England and moved to regional WA when he was nine. He has a Bachelor of Commerce and Master of Communication and spends much of his spare time happily acting as a taxi driver for his two daughters.
Anthony Bellottie
Anthony is a Yamatji man from Shark Bay. He is a board member of the Shark Bay World Heritage Committee and the Malgana Aboriginal Corporation.
He is a Director of Ikad engineering and has a background in project management in mining and marine industries.
Anthony joined the AWEAG Board as one of our Mid-West members in September 2022.
He is Managing Director of Western Australia based company Saltwater Bay Services, a 100 per cent owned Indigenous business division of the Saltwater Bay Pty Ltd.
Shark Bay’s proud Indigenous fishing heritage at the company’s heart and the organisation strives to deliver valued service and generational change.
Saltwater Bay have established a highly experienced and competent team in construction, maritime operations, maintenance sustainment and pastoral. The Saltwater Bay team can manage anything from facility management, marine sustainment, mobile assets, minor civil construction projects and pastoral property.
Recent projects have included:
- Environmental and Research
- Marine Environmental Management
- Seagrass Monitoring
- Benthic Area Survey
- Marine Logistics and Transport
- Oil Spill Response and Recovery
Members
Anthony Bell
Anthony Bell is an Eastern/Central Arrernte from Alice Springs and Garrawa from the South of the Gulf of Carpentaria. He has significant cultural responsibility through his great-grand father who was regarded as the King of the caterpillar dreaming. He also has significant cultural connections to the MacDonnell Ranges in Central Australia.
Anthony has family ties to the Bray/Perkins families. From an early age, Anthony began his involvement across many Government programs due to being in contact with politicians through his family connections early in life. His grandfather’s younger brother is Charlie Perkins, and his great-grandmother is Mary Perkins, sister to Hetti Perkins (Charlie Perkin’s mother).
Anthony moved to Western Australia from Alice Springs in November 2021. He is employed as the Program Director of the Aboriginal Communities Water Services program which includes overseeing Aboriginal Community Engagement at the Water Corporation in Perth, Western Australia. In his role, Anthony leads a functional team required to deliver business functions of the program. Anthony manages all program functions, including the Aboriginal Community Engagement component of the Essential Municipal Services Upgrade Program and Regional Essential Services Program, providing expert input into the development, implementation, and promotion of effective high-quality community engagement strategies, initiatives, and programs.
He works collaboratively across the business to inform, consult, and provide expertise in delivering a supported approach to the newly developed Aboriginal Engagement Strategy and provided valued input to strategic business plans and the Reconciliation Action Plan.
Anthony joined the AWEAG as a Perth member in September 2022. He brings a high level of understanding of key issues facing Aboriginal people in remote areas to the group, having spent 27 years working in the Central Australia region.
Shawn Councillor
Shawn Councillor has worked in technician roles in the mining and onshore/offshore oil and gas industry since 2005.
Shawn was previously employed as an Aboriginal Liaison Officer, covering Southwest, South Coast and Pilbara regions by the former Department of Conservation and Land Management and worked the early stages of Aboriginal/CALM joint management of the parks in those regions.
He has conducted Aboriginal engagement, heritage consultation and provided advice to native title claimants.
Shawn is also a qualified Primary School Teacher and was the year 6/7 teacher at Burringurrah Remote Aboriginal School in the Gascoyne Region.
Shawn is dedicated to his local community and is a member of several local advisory groups, including:
- Member of Karri Karrak (old Southwest Boodjarah) Native Title group
- Chair of the Djimbarl Aboriginal Corporation
- Member of the Walgenup Aboriginal Corporation (Manjimup)
- Member of Naaguja Native Title Group (Murchison).
Through his early work experience as an Aboriginal Programs Coordinator Pilbara Region and an Indigenous Liaison Officer in the South West, he worked effectively with both Aboriginal organisations and individuals, including mentoring youth in the community.
Shawn recently joined AWEAG, attending his first meeting in February 2023 as a member representing Southwest region.
Jason Dimer
Jason Dimer is a Wongutha, Ngadju, and Mirning man from Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. An internationally recognised artist and cultural educator, Jason draws on his deep ancestral ties to Wangkathaa Country and his mother’s Country to share Dreamtime stories through his art and community work.
The son of the late Mr. Neil Dimer — a respected leader and artist in the Goldfields region — Jason continues a strong family legacy of cultural leadership. His work spans mural and street art, public art installations, and cultural consultancy for schools, all grounded in a commitment to preserving and promoting Aboriginal knowledge systems.
Jason’s paintings reflect traditional stories passed down through generations, including the Rainbow Serpent and men’s stories, and serve as powerful expressions of connection to land, water, and spirit. As a Board member, Jason brings a creative and community-focused perspective to environmental stewardship, advocating for culturally informed approaches to water and land management across Western Australia.
Leanne Evans
Leanne is involved in policy and planning in her role as board director of Robe River Kuruma Aboriginal Corporation.
She is also a Jajiwurra ranger conducting heritage surveys on Country. In this role she mentors junior rangers and engages with non-Indigenous employees.
Leanne has worked with companies in mapping out areas for roads, camps, drilling pad and water sources. She has also provided advice to companies and workers where and why they cannot go to certain areas. On occasion, this might include stories, meeting camps and burial sites.
She has a strong understanding of Native Titles claim and agreements and family connections and genealogy. Leanne also delivers cultural awareness and public speaking training.
Leanne represents the Pilbara region and has been a member of AWEAG since September 2022.
Dean Mathews
Dean is a descendant of the Yawuru People from Broome with in-depth cultural knowledge coming from a strong traditional connection to Yawuru saltwater Country.
Dean’s relationship with the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation started 15 years ago as a trainee in the Kununurra office. In that role, he gained experience in each regional program of water, land use planning, licensing, and measurement.
He works at Nyamba Buru Yawuru Ltd as a Senior Project Officer in the Yawuru Native Title and Environmental Service Unit, where he draws on his 25 years of experience and knowledge in government, Non-Government Organisations, and private industry sectors.
Dean is a Director of the Yawuru Prescribed Body Corporate and the Chair of the Jointly Managed Yawuru Nagulagun Roebuck Bay Marine Park Board (managed by Yawuru and the State Department of Biodiversity Conservation Attractions) and currently Co-Chair of the Kimberley Indigenous Saltwater Advisory Group. He also contributes as a member of the Parks Australia North-west Marine Parks Advisory Committee.
He is committed to advocating for Indigenous people’s rights in collaborative land and sea management frameworks and applying their voice in the use and collection of Indigenous Knowledge within Western Science policy practice.
Dean has been a member of AWEAG since March 2020 and represents the Kimberley region. He brings strong board and committee experience to the AWEAG, extensive knowledge and experience in water resource and saltwater Country management.
Marika Oakley
Marika is a proud Malgana woman from Malgana Country, located on the coast of Western Australia and includes the small community of Shark Bay.
For the last 15 months Marika has been employed as the Land and Sea Management Project Coordinator at Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation.
Marika's journey started as a Malgana Ranger under the Aboriginal Ranger Program where she engaged with the local community through talks about aspirations and cultural priorities. She also completed Certificates of Conservation and Land Management.
She was the Chairperson of the Prescribed Body Corporate. In this role she was responsible for providing information to Malgana people in a way that would be easily understood to allow for more effective decision making.
Marika is passionate about her people and looking after Country, both from a conservation and cultural perspective. With the increased numbers of visitors to the Shark Bay region there is additional pressure on Traditional Owners to look after and care for Country.
Marika who lives and works in Geraldton is a newly appointed member to AWEAG bringing a Mid-West perspective to the group.
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