Tia STEVENS

Tia Stevens, Branch Head – Strategy and Indigenous Protected Areas 
Parks Australia – Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) 

Tia is an experienced Senior Executive of DCCEEW with current responsibility for delivery of Australia’s Indigenous Protected Areas Program and broader strategic support for Parks Australia in jointly managing Commonwealth National Parks alongside Traditional Owners. She has more than 20 years’ experience in natural resource management and biodiversity policy, and more recently has overseen operations for both Uluru-Kata Tjuta and Booderee National Parks. 

During her career, Tia has led major national reforms in Australia, including: 

• resetting the national Strategy for Nature in 2019, 
• establishing the National Soils Strategy with state and territory governments
• reforming fisheries assessment guidelines under the Commonwealth environment legislation; and
• reforming the National Landcare Program. 

Tia played a key role in the early implementation of Indigenous Protected Areas Program and secured support for its expansion into Sea Country. She has also represented Australia internationally, leading engagement in the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity and implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework alongside state and territory governments.