What we do

Dr Jim Turnour has been a Director for Cape York NRM since October 2022 and was elected Chair in October 2024. He has been working in Cape York Peninsula for more than 30 years. As a Queensland Department of Primary Industries Landcare and Property Management Planning Extension Officer, he worked to develop a sustainable grazing industry in the 1990s. He represented the region in the Australian Parliament as the Member for Leichhardt between 2007 and 2010 and has been the Chief Executive Officer of Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation and the General Manager of Wuthathi Aboriginal Corporation, both Registered Native Body Corporates with land and sea country in Cape York Peninsula.

He is currently working for The Cairns Institute, James Cook University researching regional development and natural resource management. Jim has a PhD (Economics) from James Cook University and undergraduate degrees in Agricultural Science and Economics from the University of Queensland.

Dr Hurriyet Babacan joined Cape York NRM’s Board of Directors in April 2022 and is currently our Vice Chair. Hurriyet is a passionate advocate for services to the planet, people and the environment. She has applied her philosophy in both her personal life and her career in senior roles as an academic, public servant, trainer and researcher. She currently holds the position of professor of economic and policy development at James Cook University with a focus on regional/rural economic development. She takes a holistic approach to economic development, one that is sustainable and inclusive.

Hurriyet has been involved in numerous projects relating to the environment in Australia and overseas. Her recent work includes gender, livelihoods and climate change transitions, disaster resilience, regional drought planning, water security, Reef governance and waste management. She has over 10 years of working in Cape York on numerous research and development projects including sustainability, livelihoods, digital connectivity, economic development and well-being. Hurriyet has extensive experience in cultural responsiveness.

Hurriyet has served as Director on numerous Boards over the last two decades. She has been recognised for her work through several awards including the Order of Australia (AM) in 2014, the Bi-Centenary Medal awarded by the Prime Minister, the Telstra Business Women’s Award and the Multicultural Services Award by the Premier of Queensland. She is listed in the Australian Women’s Archives in recognition of women leaders who have contributed to Australia and has been listed in the top 100 influential people in Far North Queensland (Cairns Post, 2024).

Sally was re-elected to the Cape York NRM’s Board of Directors in October 2024. Her journey in conservation and natural resource management (NRM) has been both diverse and rewarding in scope and geography.

From 2013 to 2023, Sally was a manager of Piccaninny Plains Wildlife Sanctuary for the Australian Wildlife Conservancy in far northern Cape York. Before this role, she worked with the Queensland regional NRM body in Mackay in freshwater and marine habitat conservation with a particular interest in conservation planning and communications. In rural Queensland, Sally partnered with Aramac, Booringa and Bungil Shires conducting an on-ground biodiversity survey, on foot, of the travelling stock routes in central outback Queensland. From the survey she developed assessments and GIS mapping of biodiversity hotspots throughout the 800 kilometres of travelling stock routes she walked in this part of the country.

Before moving to Queensland, Sally founded her own environmental, sustainability and total catchment consultancy in NSW. She was recruited as a community representative to the NSW State Board for Southern Catchment Management Authority and the Southern NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Planning Committee.

Sally has worked in conservation management in the USA and Nepal and studied wildlife documentary filmmaking in South Africa. Prior to her transition to NRM, she was an art curator and holds a Master’s degree in Museum Studies and Fine Arts. Foundational to everything Sally does, is a passion for film and photography that creates an overlay of conservation communication in all that she takes on.

Sally now devotes her time to her ongoing work as a Director for Cape York NRM and maintains her strong connection with the Cape York Peninsula community.

Marilyn joined Cape York NRM’s Board of Directors in October 2020. She was born and raised near Hope Vale where the family property was a pilot site for tropical pasture development in the early 1960s. It later turned to cattle breeding and fattening. Family members also opened up the Cooktown raw milk dairy which serviced Cooktown and surrounds for 30 years before being bought out by a consortium. In 2020, Marilyn was elected as a Local Government Councillor for Cook Shire. In 2024, she was re-elected and appointed Deputy Mayor. Linking up regional communities to work and grow together has been a driving force throughout Marilyn's life and says that the charter given to Cape York NRM by the community is a perfect fit.

Jason joined the Cape York NRM Board of Directors in October 2024. As a finance professional with significant experience in the public sector spending 10 years in local government, he has held Director and business manager roles for NRM bodies and liaised with Australian and State government Ministers and their adviser, and has worked closely with Traditional Owners in various capacities. Jason recently held the position of Secretariat for UNESCO Great Sandy Biosphere reserve and was a Director with the Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG). He brings high level finance and communication skills and experience identifying strategies and activity to enhance NRM services. Having spent considerable time in Cairns and Cape York, Jason is cognisant of the region’s unique challenges and opportunities. 

Keron was elected to the Cape York NRM’s Board of Directors in October 2024. Keron is the Chairman of the Wuthathi Aboriginal Corporation and Director of the Bromley Aboriginal Corporation, both Cape York Registered Native Title Body Corporates. In these roles, he has developed a deep understanding of corporate and Aboriginal tribal governance systems, native title, cultural heritage and land and sea management legislation in Queensland. Keron is also a member of the Regional Protected Area Management Committee for Cape York and the Indigenous Reef Advisory Committee (IRAC).

Cameron was elected to the Cape York NRM’s Board of Directors in October 2024. He is a member of the Ankamuthi, Alnigith & Kaantju Traditional Owner Group and has a strong understanding of cultural heritage and associate legislative requirements. Cameron has held positions with Old Mapoon Aboriginal Corporation, Torres Cape Indigenous Council Alliance Inc (TCICA), Western Cape Communities Coordinating Committee (WCCC) and the Rio Tinto Ely Coordinating Committee.

Margaret was appointed the Company Secretary of Cape York NRM in 2023. She is an experienced non-executive Director, Company Secretary and corporate leader with a passion for good governance. Margaret is a proud North Queenslander who understands regional Queensland, its issues, opportunities, and people. She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia and a Chartered Governance Professional.