Since its creation in 1987, the Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (PAHSMA) has been responsible for preserving and maintaining one of Australia’s most important heritage sites and major tourism destinations, the Port Arthur Historic Site on the Tasman Peninsula, approximately 100km south east of Hobart, Tasmania.

In 2004 the Authority was also given responsibility for the Coal Mines Historic Site, located near Saltwater River, about a half hour drive from Port Arthur on the Tasman Peninsula. During 2011, the Authority was also given management responsibility for Cascades Female Factory Historic Site, in South Hobart.

All three sites under PAHSMA’s management are included on the World Heritage List as three of the eleven sites that constitute the Australian Convict Sites World Heritage Property, inscribed in 2010.

Due to its responsibility for multiple sites, reference is often made to the Port Arthur Historic Sites.

PAHSMA is a Government Business Enterprise and operates under the provisions of the following principle acts of Tasmania’s State Parliament:

PAHSMA is committed to the aims and objectives of the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2002 (the Act). It does not tolerate improper conduct by its employees, officers or members, or the taking of detrimental action against those who come forward to disclose such conduct.

To connect people with a complex history to inspire, engage and shape the future.

To be the leader in conserving, creating and sharing our extraordinary Australian convict places, experiences and stories.

To enrich the lives of our communities by providing cultural, social, environmental and economic benefit.

Our Values give us our sense of identity as an organisation, describing the core qualities that underpin how we work together to support the goals and future success of PAHSMA:

  • Respect – We care for each other with fairness.
  • Accountable – We all take responsibility for our decisions, actions and words.
  • Together – We work together to achieve our shared purpose.
  • Voice –  We are willing to be open, to listen and to learn from each other.

Members of the Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority’s Board are appointed by the Tasmanian Government.

Members bring a wide variety of skills and knowledge from across a range of disciplines and arenas of business, heritage management and public life to the organisation.

Dr Jacqueline Jennings, Chair

BMet; MMgt; PhD: GAICD

Dr Jacqueline Jennings was appointed as Chair to the PAHSMA Board in May 2025. Jacqui has worked as a non-executive director for more than a decade on both Government and member-owned, for-purpose boards. In these governance roles she has participated in diverse, regulated industry sectors including Health, Education, Finance and Tourism. Jacqui’s focus is on trust, accountability and risk, both operational and financial and on exceptional stakeholder engagement leading to enhanced mutual understanding and superior decision making. This perspective is complemented by her previous senior executive experience as Vice President Marketing and Business Development for BHP Steel ensuring she brings a vision that is commercial, strategic and sustainable.

Jacqui commenced her professional life as a Materials Engineer with BHP where she worked for 23 years traversing a variety of technical and production as well as sales and marketing roles nationally and internationally. She was formally Chair of Mt Buller and Mt Stirling Alpine Resorts and Director of People care Health Insurance. Jacqui is currently an Independent Director of Darwin Waterfront Corporation and Campaspe Business Enterprise. Jacqui is also an Independent Director with Injalak Arts & Culture Aboriginal Corporation, Latrobe Health Services and Deputy Chair of Futurity Investment Group.

The Board recognises Jacqueline as an Independent Director.

Kristal Buckley AM

BA (Hons), DipSocSci, MPubPol, GradCertHigherEd

Kristal Buckley AM is an experienced cultural heritage practitioner with more than 40 years’ professional experience in academia, teaching, consulting and government roles. Her research focuses on the practical implementation of international heritage regimes, and her work includes Indigenous and non-Indigenous cultural heritage assessments, teaching and management projects, with an emphasis on community involvement, cultural landscapes and the cultural values of nature.

Kristal is a former international Vice President of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and a past president of Australia ICOMOS. She has represented ICOMOS at the annual session of the World Heritage Committee since 2007 and was appointed a member of the Order of Australia in 2013 for services to cultural heritage and education. 

Ric De Santi

Ric De Santi has extensive public sector experience in management, financial and performance audit and reporting. He is Deputy Chair of the Catholic Education Commission and an Audit Panel Member for Glenorchy City and Sorell Councils and Chair of Launceston City Council’s Audit Panel. Mr De Santi serves as a Divisional Councillor on the Tasmanian Division of CPA Australia, is Chair of the Public Sector Committee and is a member of CPA Australia’s External Reporting Centre of Excellence. He is also a member of the Local Government Board undertaking the Future of Local Government Review and a casual academic with the University of Tasmania.  Mr De Santi served as the Deputy Auditor-General for the Tasmanian Audit Office for 15 years and, prior to finishing in 2021, he was also a member of the Australasian Council of Auditors-General (ACAG) Financial Reporting and Accounting Committee and Chair of the ACAG Heads of Financial Audit Group.  He was also a Director of CPA Australia from 2017 until 2021 and served as the Deputy President and Chair of the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee in 2021.

Mr De Santi holds a Bachelor of Business in Accounting, is a CPA Fellow, a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Registered Company Auditor.

Ric is the Chair of the PAHSMA Audit, Risk & Governance Committee.

Melinda Percival

Melinda Percival is an experienced leader having worked in multiple sectors including aviation, tourism, energy and telecommunications. She has held a number of executive positions including the General Manager Product and Marketing at Aurora Energy, Manager National Markets at Tourism Tasmania and General Manager Corporate Affairs and Aviation for Hobart Airport focusing on areas of business development, strategy, customer experience, marketing and corporate affairs.

Melinda has held board positions for the Australian Airports Association, Tourism Industry Council Tasmania, and Antarctic Tasmania. Melinda is a member of the PAHSMA Audit, Risk & Governance Committee.

Richard Mulvaney

Richard Mulvaney has over 35 years’ experience in the cultural sector and is a strong advocate for museums and heritage sites.

He is a past Director of the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, past CEO of NSW Rail Transport Museum and a Director of Bradman Museum and Foundation. Mr Mulvaney was also the former president of Museums Australia, Tasmania and has held Board roles on the Tasmanian Arts Advisory Board, Theatre North, Churchill Memorial Trust, Southern Highlands Arts and Museums Arts and Advisory Board.

Richard is a member of the PAHSMA Audit, Risk & Governance Committee.

Statutory Management Plan (currently under review)

Management of the Authority and of the Historic Sites is guided by the Port Arthur Historic Sites Statutory Management Plan.

This plan provides a framework for the effective use, development and management of the Port Arthur Historic Sites, particularly in relation to their heritage values.

This management plan acts as an overarching policy document under which operate a number of secondary and tertiary plans, and various management documents and policy guidelines.

It sets out a summary of the Historic Sites’ heritage values, examines current management issues and provides strategies for effective conservation, tourism operations and visitor management.

 

Annual Report

PAHSMA publishes an annual report detailing its key achievements, activities and performance for the year.

 

Keeping children and young people safe is the responsibility of the whole Tasmanian community.  PAHSMA is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people and has zero tolerance for child harm of any kind.  If a child or youth is at immediate risk, call 000 or contact Strong Families, Safe Kids Advice and Referral Line on 1800 000 123.

The PAHSMA Child and Youth Safe Organisations Policy reinforces our commitment to protecting children and young people and providing an environment where children and young people are safe and feel safe. 

Report concerns or complaints
Any parent, carer or member of the community who has observed behaviour by a PAHSMA worker that causes concern should report it to us via the report link below.  This includes reports of physical violence, sexual misconduct, sexual offences, grooming or other reportable conduct committed against, or in the presence of, children and young people.

All children and young people have the right to be safe and to feel safe.  If you are a child or young person who doesn’t feel safe, talk to an adult you trust, like a parent, carer, teacher or a friend’s mum or dad.  This could be about the way our staff have behaved or if you’re unhappy with the way you’re being treated.  You can make a complaint on your own or ask someone to support you to do it.

Support services
If you are worried about yourself or someone you know, contact the support services listed here.