Our Board

Matt McDonald is a highly experienced executive in the tourism, transport and recreational industries with extensive experience on public and private sector boards.

Matt is the Chief Executive Officer of Searoad Ferries – Australia’s busiest car and passenger ferry service and was recently Chairperson of the Victorian Tourism Industry Council. He holds a Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Education and a Master of Business. In 2015 he was awarded by the Victorian Tourism Awards as Young Achiever of the Year.

Matt was appointed Chair on 9 December 2025.

Michelle Dickson is Director of Blue Sense Consulting, which provides strategic planning, collaboration and evaluation services to land and water managers across Australia. Michelle previously worked in various roles in Victoria’s water and catchment management sectors, including 10 years at West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority.

Michelle has held several board positions including Destination Gippsland, Gippsland Coastal Board and Gippsland Lakes Coordinating Committee and she was previously a member of the Wilsons Promontory National Park Advisory Group. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science Environmental Management, a Master of Evaluation, a Graduate Certificate in River Health, a Certificate of Governance Practice and a Certificate IV of Workplace Training and Assessment.

Michelle has been a Board Member since 1 July 2023.  

Dr Geoff Wescott was a member of both the Zoos Victoria Board and the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council. He is a distinguished academic and was an Honorary Principal Fellow in the School of Ecosystems and Forest Science (until September 2022) at the University of Melbourne. He is also an Honorary Research Fellow in the School of Life and Environmental Sciences at Deakin University.
Geoff holds a PhD in Environmental (Coastal) Policy and Management from Deakin University, a Master of Science (Zoology) from the University of Melbourne, and a Master of Science (Nature Conservation) from the University of London, among other qualifications. He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand and a Life Member of the Australian Marine Sciences Association and the Australian Coastal Society.

Geoff has been a Board Member since 1 July 2021.

Fiona Mellor has 25 years of commercial experience in media, advertising and sport administration. Until recently, Ms Mellor was the Chief Commercial Officer at Harness Racing Victoria. She was formerly the Executive General Manager, Communities and Executive General Manager, Real Estate at News Corp Australia. As a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), Ms Mellor has 5 years of non-executive directorship experience with the Australian Prostate Centre (Rule Prostate Cancer) and previously served on boards in the media and digital technology sectors.

Fiona has been a Board Member since 14 October 2024.

Yvonne Dickson brings over a decade of senior executive experience in global business management within the scientific testing, inspection, and certification sector. She previously served as Pacific Regional Director for Eurofins Scientific and Managing Director at SGS Australia, both of which are global industry leaders in this field. Yvonne has held numerous board roles, including with Westernport Water, where she chaired the People, Community, and Diversity Committee, and as Vice Chair for Biala Peninsula, a disability-focused not-for-profit. Yvonne holds a Graduate Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety, a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (Honours), and a Certificate IV in Frontline Management. Additionally, she is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Yvonne has been a Board Member since 14 October 2024.

Jacquie White is an accomplished executive and board leader with more than 25 years’ experience in marine, coastal, catchment and waterway management, governance and stakeholder engagement. She brings deep knowledge of Victoria’s environmental policy landscape as immediate past Chair of the Victorian Marine and Coastal Council and shaped through senior roles across government and industry. Jacquie is recognised for connecting science and policy to practical action, and for bringing diverse partners together to support clear, strategic and values-led decision making.
 
Jacqui has been a Board Member since 14 July 2026

Mr Mark Lucas is a senior executive with extensive board, management and leadership experience in public, private and Government organisations. His most recent role was as Chief Financial Officer at Zoos Victoria, his other previous roles include as the General Manager of the RACV Healesville Resort, Manager at Fosters, and the Chief Operating Officer at Brandcorp. Mr Lucas has a Bachelor of Commerce and is a Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand Fellow. Mr Lucas is a current Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority board member, he is also a current member on the Phillip Island National Parks board Tourism Subcommittee, as well as previous Audit Committee member for the National Museum of Australia.
 
Mark has been a Board Member since 14 July 2026

Terry Robinson has more than 25 years of experience across a diverse range of positions in the tourism and events industry including his current role leading the Gippsland Visitor Economy Partnership (Destination Gippsland). His previous roles include for the Indigo Shire Council, the role of Manager Tourism and Economic Development. He was also the Operations Manager at Phillip Island Nature Parks in 2007/08. Mr Robinson has a Bachelor of Economics, a Graduate Certificate in Marketing, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. His board roles include with One Gippsland as board Member and as the current Events Gippsland Chairperson. His other previous roles include as member of the Great Outdoors Taskforce and Wilsons Promontory National Park Advisory Committee. 
 
Terry has been a Board Member since 14 July 2026