Board members
The Board consists of seven members, of whom:
(a) Four are to be Islanders
(b) One is to be a person appointed by the Minister to represent the interests of business and tourism;
(c) One is to be a person appointed by the Minister to represent the interests of conservation; and
(d) One is to be a person employed in the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.
The members referred to in (a) are to be appointed by the Minister following an election conducted in accordance with Division 3 of the Lord Howe Island Act, 1953.
The members referred to in (b), (c) and (d) are to be appointed by the Minister for the Environment, and are not to be Islanders.
For more information, please view
Current Board Members
Appointment: 01 January 2021 to 31 December 2023
Chairperson of the Lord Howe Island Board.
The Board Chair is appointed from the members by the Minister and is currently Atticus Fleming AM. He is the Deputy Secretary, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) where he leads a team of more than 2,000 staff managing 7.2 million hectares. Prior to joining the NSW Government, Atticus was the inaugural Chief Executive of the non-profit Australian Wildlife Conservancy, where he oversaw its growth to become the largest private owner of land for conservation in the world. AWC pioneered a new non-profit business model for conservation, protecting some of the largest remaining populations of many of Australia’s most threatened species.
Prior to AWC, Atticus worked as an advisor to Australia’s longest serving Federal Environment Minister, the Hon Robert Hill, and as a constitutional lawyer (Federal Attorney-General’s Department) and a corporate lawyer and commercial lawyer (Mallesons).
In 2020, Atticus was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to the conservation of endangered wildlife. In 2016, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Canberra and was named by Australian Geographic as one of 30 people who have had the greatest influence on the conservation of Australia’s wildlife over the last 30 years. In 2014, he was listed as one of four WA finalists in the 2014 Australian of the Year awards. Atticus has a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce from UNSW.
Appointment: 08 March 2018 to 28 February 2024
The Board’s Deputy Chair, Therese Turner, was born on Lord Howe Island. She has lived on the island apart from the years she spent completing her education in Port Macquarie and Sydney and a number of years working and educating her own children on the mainland.
Therese has worked in the tourism industry for all of her working life and enjoys the interesting guests and insights this affords.
Over the years, she has been involved in many community-based groups including the Parents and Citizens Association and Seventh Day Adventist Church.
This is Therese's second term as an elected islander. Therese looks forward to contributing to the Lord Howe Island Board and Island community.
Appointment: 08 March February 2018 to 28 February 2024
Gary Crombie was born on Lord Howe Island and has resided here for most of his life. He has been married for over 30 years with four children and four grandchildren.
Gary is a self-employed businessman in the Island's tourist and service industry for 40 years. He is now a semi-retired fishing guide.
Gary served for three years as an elected member of the former Lord Howe Island Committee. He has also previously served nine years as an elected islander of the Lord Howe Island Board.
Gary is strongly committed to maintaining the original intent of the Lord Howe Island Act, to financial viability for our community and to our unique environment.
Appointment: 08 March 2018 to 28 February 2024
Matthew Retmock was born on Lord Howe Island and has lived here continuously apart from periods of schooling and his apprenticeship.
Matthew attended Hurlstone Agricultural College as a boarder.
He completed a carpentry apprenticeship in Sydney, during which time he worked on a number of National Trust buildings. He worked as a carpenter for the Lord Howe Island Board for 20 years. He is now a self-employed carpenter.
Matthew is a member of the Lord Howe Island Bowling Club and Lord Howe Island Golf Club.
Matthew has served on the Committee of the Museum and Historical Society.
Matthew previously served as an elected islander from 1994 to 2000, he has now been re-elected as an island member after an 18-year break.
Appointment: 15 April 2021 to 28 February 2024
James Lonergan is a fifth generation Islander and attended school at Lord Howe Island Central and on the mainland.
James worked in the NSW Public Service for more than 35 years as an officer of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). James worked for 20 years in the Lord Howe Island Board administration in various positions including Board Secretary and Executive Officer. James also served as Local Controller of the State Emergency Service and in various capacities on the Lord Howe Island Bowling Club committee.
While supporting his children attending school on the mainland, James worked as Manager, Fire Management Unit and Manager, Planning Unit for NPWS and has represented NPWS on the NSW Bush Fire Coordinating Committee and subcommittees, the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council, the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre and the Forest Fire Management Group (FFMG) which is a body established under COAG. James has also represented FFMG on the Wild Fire Advisory Group which is a subgroup of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation.
James left the public service and fulltime work in 2020. This is his first appointment as member of the Lord Howe Island Board
Appointment: 29 November 2021 to 28 November 2024
Appointment: 29 November 2021 to 28 November 2024