Advisory Board Member

Ms Donna Petrachenko
First Assistant Secretary, Marine and Biodiversity Division

Donna Petrachenko is the First Assistant Secretary of the Marine and Biodiversity Division (MBD) within the Department of Environment and Water Resources (DEW). The Marine and Biodiversity Division provides central coordination and policy advice to the Australian Government on the marine environment and implements national programmes aimed at biodiversity conservation and improving the ecological sustainability of natural resource management.

The MBD is responsible for implementation of Australia's Oceans Policy and the Marine Bioregional Planning programme. It undertakes programmes and advises on marine species conservation, Marine Protected Areas, marine science research and the development of Australia 's international oceans environmental objectives. The Division is also responsible for conservation of terrestrial biodiversity, including developing policies relating to forests, rangelands and threatened and invasive species.

Ms Petrachenko came to the then Department of the Environment and Heritage in 2003 from the Canadian Public Service as Assistant Deputy Minister – Special Envoy for Asia Pacific. Ms Petrachenko formerly held senior positions within Fisheries and Oceans Canada including Regional Director General, delivering all Fisheries and Oceans programs in British Columbia and the Yukon Territory . Previously she held senior positions within Parks Canada, Department of Canadian Heritage including Director General and Regional Executive Director – delivering all aspects of programs with Parks Canada for 25 national parks, national park reserves and 25 national historic sites which included the Rocky Mountain World Heritage site. Ms. Petrachenko is currently Australia 's Commissioner to the International Whaling Commission.

Ms Petrachenko has a Master of Arts, Public Administration from Carleton University , Ottawa and is a Professorial Fellow at the University of Wollongong 's, Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS). She is well known for novel policy development and leadership in natural resource and protected areas management. Her research interests surround marine biodiversity conservation; oceans law, policy and governance; integrated marine and coastal planning and sustainable fisheries management.