Regional Fire Manager Dale Tucker

Welcome to ‘Meet the People of AWC’, a captivating series dedicated to unveiling the heart and soul of our organisation through the stories of the incredible individuals who make it all possible. In this series, we’ll take you on a journey to uncover the unique stories, passions, and expertise of the incredible individuals that make Australian Wildlife Conservancy who we are.

Dale Tucker is our Regional Fire Manager for the Kimberley. His role is based out of Broome but sees him travel across 4.3 million hectares of northwest Australia to oversee and deliver our large-scale prescribed burning program.

The program, which runs year-round, focuses on early dry season burning from January to August and shifts to mitigating the extent of larger late-season wildfires from September to December. All work is done in collaboration with our partners at Wilinggin Aboriginal Corporation (WAC), Dambimangari Aboriginal Corporation (DAC), and other stakeholders in the Kimberley.

The region Dale manages has a footprint of 4.3 million hectares and includes some of the most ecologically significant areas in Australia.

“Before joining AWC, I had a few positions, from landscaping to bush regeneration… I came across an advertisement for a land management position with AWC in the Kimberley, applied, and within two months found myself living at Mornington Wildlife Sanctuary. That was 8 years ago, and the adventure has continued ever since. My life would be very different if I hadn’t taken the leap.”

Matt Lynn/AWC

“I began as a Land Management Officer in 2018 at Mornington Wildlife Sanctuary, where I worked for a year and a half before a brief stint at Paruna Wildlife Sanctuary near Perth. I then returned to the Kimberley to take on a Senior Land Management role at Charnley River-Artesian Range Wildlife Sanctuary for two years.”

“After I moved again into a fire-focused position as a Fire Program Mentor in Arnhem Land, working with the Yirralka Rangers for a year and a half. Two years ago, I returned to the Kimberley as the Regional Fire Manager. The Kimberley is a very special place and has always drawn me back.”

Matt Lynn/AWC

“The most challenging part of working in the Kimberley is the remoteness. Operating in such an isolated region requires a high degree of self-sufficiency and adaptability. Accessing some wildlife sanctuaries and partnership areas can be logistically complex, particularly during the wet season when roads can become impassable.”

“Additionally, coordinating resources, teams, and stakeholders across vast distances while addressing ecological and fire management priorities demands careful planning and problem-solving.”

Matt Ellis/AWC

“The best part of the job though is being immersed in the unique and stunning landscapes of the Kimberley.”

“The opportunity to work closely with traditional owners, rangers, stakeholders and other AWC staff in the region to develop and implement sustainable fire management practices is deeply rewarding. It’s especially satisfying to witness the positive ecological impacts of prescribed burning programs, such as improved biodiversity, habitat health and reduced emissions.”

Our “Meet the people of AWC” series will continue to introduce you to the dedicated individuals who contribute to the conservation and protection of Australia’s wildlife. Stay tuned for upcoming spotlights, where we’ll uncover the passions and expertise of our diverse team.