M E N T A W A I   S A N C T U A R Y 

SUPPORT TEAM

Damon Young - Financial Advisor to the group  
Damon is a Chartered Accountant and principal at AllState Partners with over fifteen years experience in accounting and business in both Australia and Asia.

 

Based on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, Damon has extensive experience in property developments and in the tourist and hospitality industries. He also has an extensive client list in the surfing industry, covering manufacture, clothing, accessories and boardriding professionals.

 

Rob Wuillemin  - Marine Logistics
As owner operator of Sanssouci II, Rob has operated more charters in Mentawai than any other expatriate skipper. Rob owns a fleet of live lobster boats in West Australia and he pioneered whale shark tours in Exmouth and Kimberley coast cruises before bringing his purpose built charter boat to the Mentawais.

 

Chris Willcox - Willcox & Associates - Architects
Chris runs the one of Australia's  leading Architectural practices based in Margaret River, West Australia.

 

Vance & Nancy Burrows - Production Advisors
Vance is a talented chamber musician and live performer. Nancy specializes in filming wild dolphins and under water life. Both are core investors with a keen interest in a hands-on role as the project reaches operational status.

 

John DeJose - The Nature Consultancy, Managing Director 
John's specialty skills include; Consulting in nature-based tourism and nature conservation; Client acquisition and liaison; Project management; conceptual exhibition design; Strategic and corporate planning; Business development and fundraising; Stakeholder consultation; Program review and evaluation.

 

His career path led to taking over as Chief Executive Officer of the Zoological Gardens Board of WA from 1984 to 1995. John found himself in charge of 107 staff, a $7.5 million operational budget and a $2-4 million capital works budget. Over a 9 year period John & his team transformed the institution from public liability to a community asset and:

  • Established 25 year strategic Master Plan setting a shared vision for the institution. Initiated the Perth Zoo Society, a voluntary fundraising support organization.
  • Doubled visitor numbers, creating Australia's most popular Zoo.
  • Forged an institutional reputation as a leader in conservation, research and education excellence.
  • Heightened public awareness of conservation issues & motivated people to conservation action.
  • Attained senior offices in international conservation organizations.
  • Founded, with Queensland DPI, Menaki Whenua (NZ CSIR), Sydney and Macquarie Universities, Australia's first international Cooperative Research Centre (CRC for Marsupial Biology).
  • Won institutional awards for design, conservation, landcare, education, corporate reporting.


Peter Rigby -
Electric Cicada Productions

Marketing and trans-media consultancy. Specializing in strategic marketing plans, print, electronic media and video production, copywriting, media liaison and national and international media placement. Other areas of operation: Corporate marketing strategies, development of partnership alliances and corporate profile enhancement.

 

Marketing Manager, Margaret  River Tourism Association

Current duties include management of all regional promotions and marketing activities for the Margaret River Wine Region; strategic planning; staff management; design and writing of all publications and media material; media liaison and familiarization; developing strategic alliances; on-line marketing, events conceptualization management; report writing; tourism feasibility consulting; prom &mark strategy advising and implementation; budgeting; public & corporate liaison; and other relevant activities

 

Media Contributions

Staff Positions

 

   News Ltd of Australia (Australia)

     News Group (U.S., U.K.)

     Murdoch Magazines (U.S., U.K.)

Globe Communications (Canada, U.S.)

News Limited, New York

    

Freelance Work (Contacts)

 

   Sunday Times (London)

     Wine Magazine (Australia)

     Gong Publications (Frankfurt)

     New York Post (New York)

     National Enquirer (Florida)

     Herald & Weekly Times (Melbourne)

     Mirror Group Newspapers (London)

     The Sun (London)

     Time-Life (New York)

     News Group of Aust. (New York &      London)

Murdoch Magazines (New York & London)

Western Contractor (Perth)

 Countrywide Publications

 Gourmet Traveler

 Conde Naste Traveler

 Business Directions

 Getaway

 Channel 10, Australia

 Sundella Travel, Australia/South Africa

 ABC Radio, Australia

 Globe Communications (Montreal)

 

David Willcox - Film-maker & Web Page development 

 

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