Board Members

My passion is animal behaviour, animal welfare (captivity & natural environments), responsible tourism, and conservation. I have a PhD in Psychology (Animal Behaviour) from the University of Adelaide, am a lecturer at UniSA, and an adjunct on the science team at ZoosSA. I am developing the area of Conservation Psychology to change human behaviour to help save wildlife and natural environments, and minimise human-animal conflict (see an article I wrote with Dr Wendy Foster for International Zoo Educators). In 1994, I spent a year observing a community of wild chimpanzees in Uganda— the start of an ongoing commitment to the African great apes. The Australian Science Communicators awarded me the ‘Unsung Hero of Australian Science’ in 2000. I am the Vice President of ZoosSA, on the board of the United Nation’s ‘Great Ape Survival Project’ (GRASP- Australasia), and President of the Australasian Primate Society. I have written five books for children about animals (gorillas, chimpanzees, pandas, tigers & orangutans), to inspire a love for nature, science and conservation, and with practical suggestions about sustainable human behaviour. Part proceeds from my books support conservation projects in habitat countries through Conservation Ark (ZoosSA). I have led tours for ZoosSA and Peregrine travel to Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Borneo and India with proceeds going to conservation projects we visit. To find out more about me and my research interests, watch my TEDx Adelaide presentation. I am a life member of the society and look forward to a challenging but inspiring future.

• Life member of Zoos SA
• Zoos SA board member since 2007
• Member of the Board’s finance committee since 2007
• Member of the Board’s governance committee 2011

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Accountancy - University of South Australia
• Certified Practising Accountant - Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants

Employment 

• State Government since 1997.
• Twelve years - Department of Treasury and Finance (current)
• Two years - Department for Environment and Heritage
• Senior consultant - KPMG Management Consulting Services
• Contemporary Accounting Theory teaching - University of South Australia
• Finance and Administration Manager - Paraplegic and Quadriplegic Association of SA

Extensive experience in developing, managing and oversight of budgets and capital works.  These skills are vital to Zoos SA and integral to the continued development and growth of the Zoo.

I have been privileged to be a part of an exciting and historic era for the Society, a period of revitalisation where the Board and Executive have steered a rebuilding program.

As a life member, I am excited about the Zoo’s future and feel privileged to be given the opportunity to oversee, for the Society’s Members and the public of South Australia, the completion of the job that we have commenced. 

Board member 2000 – 2006 and 2008 – 2012 Vice President 2005 – 2006.  Chair of the Education Committee, 2000-2004.  Chair of Zoowatch 1990-1991. Chair of the Volunteers’ Coordinating Committee 2000-2004.  Previously, Adelaide Zoo guide and information centre volunteer.  Monarto zoo guide since 1992 and Mallee Minder since 2000.
Honorary Research Associate of the Society
Previously, lecturer in Biology Uni SA.

Policy statement
Developments at our properties must be appropriate and complimented by educational messages supporting conservation, sustainability and the wonder of the beautiful animals that inspire us.  My love of animals and plants and the wish to conserve them and their habitats, nationally and internationally, drives my passion.  A particular interest is the bush at Monarto that compliments the exotic animals we exhibit.  We are fortunate to have a property that combines a zoo with the natural scrub environment, an advantage that we must enhance.\

Long a support of Society membership and volunteers I feel they must never be taken for granted or simply viewed as a source of funds.  Members must be respected; increasing benefits while keeping membership affordable is my aim.

As a long serving zoo volunteer it has been my privilege to be involved in and have an insight into many aspects of the Zoos day to day workings.  This knowledge and my previous experience on the Board will ensure that I will make a valuable contribution to the future of the zoos and the strength of our successful Society at this challenging time.

First and foremost a zoologist, Graeme Crook is also a strategic thinker and an R&D project manager, skilled and experienced way beyond his tertiary and professional ‘first love’, being the study of the animal kingdom and the behaviours of all creatures great and small.

Today, based at Adelaide University’s Roseworthy Campus, as Research Manager of the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for High Integrity Australian Pork (Pork CRC), Graeme manages a $138million portfolio of Research Projects in the pig industry.

Aged 56, married with two adult children and residing in One Tree Hill, Graeme Crook is excited by the challenge and prospect of joining the Board of the Royal Zoological Society of South Australia Inc (RZSSA).

With the recent, July 2012, appointment of Elaine Bensted as the new CEO of RZSSA, it is an exciting time to join the Board of RZSSA and make a positive contribution to its future.
Graeme Crook has the business skills, contacts and academic and professional expertise to help direct, guide and deliver on Ms Bensted’s publicly stated aim, when she was appointed, that RZSSA needs to connect with the local community and have a business model in place that builds on the organisation’s conservation and education achievements.

The first University graduate in Zoology employed at the Adelaide Zoo as a zookeeper, where he spent three and a half years (January 1983   July 1986), Graeme Crook subsequently worked for a decade with Animal Services at CSIRO Division of Human Nutrition, managing a breeding colony of Common Marmosets.

David is a partner in the Adelaide Assurance practice of Ernst & Young and is a qualified chartered accountant and registered company auditor.   With over 20 years in auditing, David has had exposure to a wide range of industries and organisations ranging from small businesses to large corporates.   David is also very active in the community – he has been the Treasurer of the Operation Flinders Foundation for the last 8 years (an organisation that works with youth at Risk), he is a current Board member and Treasurer of the Believe Foundation (an organisation supporting people with Mental Illness) and the current Treasurer of Prince Alfred College.  David has recently joined the Finance Committee of Zoos SA and was previously the Deputy Chairman of Eldercare Inc, where he was a Board member for 11 years (Eldercare is a Uniting Church organisation that operates in the aged care industry). David is also the Chairman of Moo Premium Foods Pty Ltd, a private family business that operates in the food manufacturing and distribution industry.  David, his wife Dallas and three young boys have been members of Zoos SA for many years

Kevin McGuinness is a Chartered Accountant with over 25 years experience in senior finance and operations roles spanning ASX listed, private and not for profit sector.  Kevin has worked across a range of industries including professional services, development and construction and mining.  Kevin has strong experience at Board level having served on a number of public and private Boards with particular focus on strategy and planning and ensuring proper governance arrangements.

Kevin originally joined the Board of the Society in 2004 and following a period of 12 months as a co-opted Board member was appointed as a Government representative to the Board for a further 2 year period.  After an absence of 3 years Kevin re-joined the Board in 2010 and was elected President in November 2010.

Over the past 2 years Kevin has been instrumental in negotiating the restructure of the Society’s debt and the annual grant from the State Government as well as overseeing the development of the new 5 Year Business Plan.

Kevin is passionate about the Society both with respect to the role it plays within the South Australian community as well as the important work it undertakes in conservation, research and education.  As a volunteer Board member Kevin also has a deep appreciation for the role that staff and volunteers play in the future of the Society.

Following his graduation with a Bachelor of Visual Communication (Graphic Design) from UniSA, Bryce began his career working in the marketing departments for local and national retail businesses.  During this time, he moved from Graphic Design into management roles.

Bryce joined Clemenger BBDO Adelaide in early 2007 and quickly rose through the ranks to become the Head of Account Management and a Clemenger BBDO Adelaide Board Member. 

He works on some of South Australia’s biggest brands including SA Lotteries, WorkCoverSA, Adelaide Convention Centre, Palmers Cocoa Butter, Advantage SA, The University of South Australia, Great Southern Rail and the Department for Water.

In addition to his role with Clemenger BBDO Adelaide, Bryce is a board member of the CFS Foundation and a member of the Communications Council Executive Committee in South Australia.

Bryce lives in the Adelaide Hills with his wife Rebecca and 10 month old son Patrick.  He spends most of his time chasing Patrick around the house, and his wife spends most of her time chasing Bryce around the house.

Kate Thiele has over ten years Board and Executive experience with a Top 100 public listed company, in the private sector and with two of Australia’s leading not-for-profits.  She has wide-ranging experience across diverse industries including not for profit, community services, health, retail, disability and manufacturing. 

Kate is a proven business leader and recognised for her capacity to engage teams and build businesses.  Qualified with a Master of Business Administration and the Company Directors course, Kate is an active Board member with a strong background in leadership, cultural change, board governance, strategy development and stakeholder engagement.  Kate is currently CEO of Guide Dogs SA and the Northern Territory.  In joining Guide Dogs in 2009 Kate has sought to make a tangible difference in assisting people with sensory loss live independent and dignified lives.

In addition to her role at Guide Dogs Kate is a Board Member of Minda Incorporated, member of the Audit, Risk and Governance Committee and previously chaired both the Strategic Working Group, and Governance Committee.  Kate is also a Board Member of UniSA’s MBA Advisory Board.

Previous Board appointments include the Vocational Education, Employment and Training Board, Deputy Board Member of the Training and Skills Commission and member of the Training Regulation Reference subcommittee.

With a focus on delivering sustainable results Kate is passionate about working with organisations that require outstanding business development, marketing and communication skills in order to deliver their strategic objectives.  She enjoys building linkages between marketing outcomes and business objectives and is committed to effective stakeholder engagement.

Kate looks forward to helping Zoos SA continue to achieve its aspiration of becoming a leading conservation organisation.

The Risk and Governance Committee is established as a committee of the Royal Zoological Society of SA Inc Board (RZSSA). This document shall be read in conjunction with the RZSSA Board Charter.