Sonya Stewart
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (WA)
About
Sonya Stewart is a Wadandi Noongar yorga from the south‑west of Western Australia and currently the Coordinator of Policy and Projects at the Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA). She brings more than 20 years of experience across environmental management, Aboriginal partnerships and complex project delivery, including currently leading the state’s flagship partnership investment, the Aboriginal Ranger Program. Sonya also currently provides central coordination of DBCA’s commitments under the South West Native Title Settlement and leads the development of the department’s Aboriginal Cultural Safety Framework.
Sonya focuses on connecting the dots between people, culture and systems, helping DBCA shift in ways that genuinely support Aboriginal staff and communities.
She has a long history of working alongside Traditional Owners to protect Country and embed cultural knowledge in planning and policy. She contributes lived experience and strategic insight to the Colonial load and cultural conflict project.