Our Purpose
Enhanced appreciation and understanding of the natural and cultural values of Sydney for all visitors, through the remediation, conservation and adaptive reuse of, and access to, Harbour Trust lands on Sydney Harbour.

Vision:
To create and share extraordinary places on Sydney Harbour and amplify their stories.

Mission:
To bring to life our natural and cultural heritage and provide a lasting legacy for all Australians through conservation, remediation and the adaptive reuse of places in our care.

Values:
Open, accountable, collaborative, entrepreneurial, creative, act with integrity.

Objectives
Our objectives, as set out in the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Act 2001 are:

1. To ensure that management of Trust land contributes to enhancing the amenity of the Sydney Harbour region.

2. To protect, conserve, and interpret the environmental and heritage values of Trust land.

3. To maximise public access to Trust land.

4. To establish and manage suitable Trust land as a park on behalf of the Commonwealth as the national government.

5. To co-operate with other Commonwealth bodies that have a connection with any Harbour land in managing that land.

6. To co-operate with New South Wales, affected councils and the community in furthering the above objects.

Functions

  To hold Trust land for and on behalf of the Commonwealth;

  To undertake community consultation on the management and conservation of Trust land;

  To do the things referred to in section 38A of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Act 2001 (SHFT Act) before plans take effect for an area of Trust land;

  To develop draft plans in respect of Trust land and any other Harbour land in furthering the objects, and performing other functions, of the Trust;

  To rehabilitate, remediate, develop, enhance and manage Trust land, by itself and in co-operation with other institutions or persons, in accordance with the plans;

  To make recommendations to the Minister on plans and the proposed transfer of any Trust land;

  To promote appreciation of Trust land, in particular its environmental and heritage values;

  To provide services and funding to other Commonwealth bodies in furthering the objects, and performing other functions, of the Trust;

  Anything incidental to or conducive to the performance of its other functions.

Legislation and Minister

The Harbour Trust was established under section 5 of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Act 2001 (SHFT Act), which commenced on 20 September 2001.

The Minister for the Environment is responsible for the Harbour Trust. During the reporting period this role was held by the Hon. Sussan Ley MP.

Organisational structure

The affairs of the Harbour Trust are managed by an executive team under the leadership of Ms Mary Darwell as the Executive Director. In 2019–20, the organisation continued to operate from its head offices at Georges Heights at Headland Park in Mosman, Sydney.

The Harbour Trust is the sole member of Sydney Harbour Foundation Management Ltd (previously known as the Sydney Harbour Conservancy Ltd) (ACN 141 006 975). See Appendix 4.

Harbour Trust Organisational Structure

Members of the Trust

Joseph Carrozzi

Joseph Carrozzi (Chair)

Joseph is a lawyer and financial advisor with more than 25 years’ senior leadership experience in the professional services sector. He is Managing Partner of PwC, Sydney and has advised numerous private sector businesses and governments on infrastructure, tax and policy matters.

A Member of the Trust since 2016, Joseph also plays an active role in the wider community. He is the Chair of the Centenary Institute for Medical Research in Sydney and the Deputy Chair of the NSW Institute of Sport. Joseph also serves on the Boards of Football Federation Australia and Western Sydney University.

NSW Recommended Member.
Appointed April 2016; and appointed as Chair July 2018.

Jean Hay AM

Jean Hay AM (Deputy Chair)

A lifelong resident of Manly, Jean has spent her career serving the local community, including as an elected Councillor and later as Mayor.

Following three terms as Mayor of Manly (1999–2004, 2008–2012 and 2012–2016), Jean was appointed Chair of the Implementation Advisory Group for the Northern Beaches Council, and served in that role until August 2017.

Jean is a recipient of the Centenary Medal and the NSW Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government (Metropolitan Elected Representative). For her service to the community, including through local government and community groups, Jean was named a Member of the Order of Australia. Jean played a major role in the realisation of Bear Cottage, the only children’s hospice in the State. Her contribution to this project resulted in her being bestowed as Benefactor of the Children’s Hospital at Westmead.

Appointed June 2013; appointed as Deputy Chair August 2014 and April 2017; reappointed July 2020 to 30 June 2021.

Garth Callender

Garth Callender

Garth served with distinction in combat, intelligence, training and strategic roles through a 20-plus year military career, where he received numerous commendations. He went on to lead the NSW Veterans Employment Program, and under his leadership, the program employed over 500 veterans — exceeding its target by 162 per cent, 18 months ahead of schedule.

He is a now a sought after non-executive director and management consultant. He leads Trebuchet Pivot, a consultancy firm specialising in preparing and guiding business leadership teams through turbulence and crises. In this role, he works with boards and executive teams across government and industry.

Garth holds a Master of Business Administration and remains an active part-time member of the Australian Army at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and is a leader in the veterans community.

Appointed April 2017; reappointed July 2020 to 30 June 2021.

Josephine Cashman

Josephine Cashman

Josephine is a Warrimay entrepreneur from NSW. She is the founder, Executive Director and Managing Director of Big River Consulting Pty Ltd, Big River Impact Investments Pty Ltd and the Big River Impact Foundation Ltd. Josephine is a lawyer, businesswoman, orator and media commentator with more than two decades of experience working on rapid business and socioeconomic growth for Australia’s Indigenous communities.

Josephine was an inaugural member of the Prime Minister’s Indigenous Advisory Council and served as the Chair of its Safe Communities Committee until 2017. In recognition of her notable expertise, Josephine was selected as a Friend of the Commonwealth Treasury. Josephine worked for a decade as a lawyer in Australian courts, and has undertaken consultancy and voluntary roles for a variety of private, public and non-profit organisations. Additionally, Josephine was an invited speaker at a special session of the United Nations Human Rights Council addressing violence against Indigenous women and girls.

Representing the interests of Indigenous people.
Appointed June 2015; and reappointed July 2018.

Sandra Hook

Sandra Hook

Sandra has a track record in driving customer-centric business transformation and transitioning traditional organisations in rapidly evolving environments. She has extensive operational, digital, financial management and strategic experience built over 25 years as a CEO and in senior executive roles for some of Australia’s largest media companies. These include News Limited, Foxtel, Federal Publishing Company, Murdoch Magazines and Fairfax.

Since 2000, Sandra has also served as a non-executive director on listed, public and private companies and government bodies. Sandra is currently non-executive director of technology companies RXP Services Ltd, MedAdvisor Ltd, IVE Group Ltd, the Sydney Fish Market, Redhill Education and Fight Food Waste CRC. She is a Director of the Sydney Harbour Foundation Management Ltd.

Appointed December 2011; and reappointed December 2012, June 2013, April 2016 and April 2019.

Jessica Keen

Jessica Keen

A 20-year veteran of the tourism industry, Jessica holds a Bachelor of Arts in Tourism Management from the University of Technology, Sydney as well as a Diploma in Social Studies from Oxford University.

Jessica’s career includes roles in private and public sector tourism organisations, both here and abroad, including Tourism Australia. During her time at the Australian Tourist Commission/Tourism Australia, Jessica worked as Business Tourism Marketing Assistant, Dreamtime Coordinator, Marketing Development Executive (Western Hemisphere) and Project Manager Segment Development — Food and Wine.

Most recently, Jessica has been working as National Industry Development and Capability Manager with the Australian Tourism Export Council. Jessica was elected to North Sydney Council in 2017.

Representing an affected council.
Appointed July 2018.

Tim James

Tim James

Tim is a strategic advisory leader who has held leadership roles in industry, government and professional services. A lawyer with qualifications in business, law and finance (including an MBA), he currently serves as Executive General Manager at the Menzies Research Centre. Tim was earlier the CEO of the national pharmaceutical industry body Medicines Australia and held leadership roles at Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson.

Tim’s experience in government encompasses more than three years as a Minister’s Chief of Staff in NSW and six years in the Howard Government, including in the Prime Minister’s Office. In a community context, Tim is a Director of Mosman Rowers, Life Education NSW and Life Education Australia. He previously served as the President of the Headland Preservation Group. Tim also helped found the Friends of Sydney Harbour in 2013.

Appointed April 2019.

Michael Rose AM

Michael Rose AM

Michael is the Chair of the Committee for Sydney, an urban policy think tank that advocates better policy outcomes for Sydney. He is also Chairman of Greater Sydney Parklands, a NSW Government body responsible for several significant urban parks in Sydney.

Michael has served on the boards of a number of corporate, government, arts and not-for-profit organisations. He is Chairman of NRT Group and also sits on the board of the Westmead Institute for Medical Research. He served three terms as Chair of Sydney Living Museums before stepping down in December 2018. He has a senior advisory role at University of New South Wales and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

NSW Recommended Member.
Appointed September 2019.

Harbour Trust Annual Snapshot

HARBOUR TRUST: ANNUAL SNAPSHOT

Statistics taken from July 2019 – June 2020

NUMBER OF VISITS 1,814,299

NUMBER OF TENANCIES 177

$15.8M ANNUAL REVENUE

145ha ICONIC LAND ON SYDNEY HARBOUR

394,486 UNIQUE VISITS TO OUR WEBSITES

10 SITES IN TOTAL

77% ADAPTIVE REUSE OF BUILT ASSETS^(b)
(b) Of built assets with potential for adaptive reuse.

22,004 VOLUNTEER HOURS

Clockwise from top left:

Walking path, Headland Park; Tunnel, Cockatoo Island; Northern Wharf, Sub Base Platypus, photography by Ben Guthrie, The Guthrie Project; Barracks Precinct, North Head Sanctuary; View of the city, North Head Sanctuary; Chowder Bay, Headland Park; Convict Precinct, Cockatoo Island.

Centre:

SUNA (Middle Ground), Eric Bridgeman, 2020, multimedia, featured at the 22^nd Biennale of Sydney: NIRIN, Cockatoo Island.

Harbour Trust Sites

Sites

The Harbour Trust protects and manages a network of sites on Sydney Harbour.

Harbour Trust Sites:

Woolwich Dock and Parkland

Cockatoo Island

Sub Base Platypus

Mosman Drill Hall

Headland Park

Middle Head

Georges Heights

Chowder Bay

North Head Sanctuary

Marine Biological Station

Macquarie Lightstation

Yet to be formally transferred from the Department of Finance: Snapper Island