The Indigenous Reef Advisory Committee provides advice to the Marine Park Authority Board through the Reef Authority on the management of the Great Barrier Reef.

Appointments to the Indigenous Reef Advisory Committees is competency-based, and members are appointed taking into consideration their experience, knowledge, skills, relationships and networks with Reef Traditional Owners or relevant groups or sectors.  

All Committee members are expected to adopt a broad perspective on Committee business that is raised.

Purpose

• The Committee’s purpose is to provide objective advice, insights and recommendations on:
• legislative, policy, and guideline review and development, directly related to the management of the Marine Park 
• strategic plans and programs that give effect to the objects of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975
• actions that can be taken to address risks to the Marine Park identified in the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report (released by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority every five years)
• emerging or unfamiliar issues occurring within the Marine Park and the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

The Committee is not a decision-making body. Advice and recommendations provided to the Board are non-binding.

Each Reef Advisory Committee will operate in accordance with the Charter of Operation, and the relevant Terms of Reference. 

The Chairperson and members for the IRAC term 2024–27 are:

• Mr Shayne Blackman – IRAC Chairperson
• Mr Troy Johnson (Northern Great Barrier Reef)
• Mr Keron Murray (Far Northern Great Barrier Reef, TUMRA representative)
• Mr Jacob Cassady (Far Northern Great Barrier Reef)
• Mr Matthew James (Torres Strait, Far Northern Great Barrier Reef)
• Ms Karrell Ross (Queensland Government and Olkola People, Cape York)
• Ms Marie Shipton (Far Northern Great Barrier Reef)
• Mr Quinn Ross-Passi (Torres Strait, Far Northern Great Barrier Reef)
• Ms Madeline Jones (Central Great Barrier Reef).