The Biosphere Foundation’s team is based at the office in Hastings.
Mel Barker
CEO
Mel has worked across the private sector, consulting and government in management and leadership roles, including at EPA Victoria and Sustainability Victoria. Mel became the CEO of the Biosphere Foundation in May 2021. Passionate about environmental issues and a proud Biosphere Reserve local resident, Mel is committed to driving impactful outcomes at the Foundation. Mel has a Bachelor of Information Science from the University of Adelaide and a Master of Environment from the University of Melbourne.
Stephen Brend
Scientific Officer
Stephen is a qualified zoologist with over thirty years’ experience of wildlife conservation. A graduate from Melbourne University, his work has taken him to Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Stephen has worked with primates, carnivores and bats as well as marine species. Protecting Western Port, with its thousands of migratory birds, is one of his passions.
Lance Lloyd
Water Stewardship Program Adviser
Lance Lloyd has over 30 years practical experience across SE Australia, and the Pacific Islands, in freshwater, estuarine, coastal and inland environments in ecology and management requirements. Native fish ecology and water management are his passions and he has published widely in ecology, water and flow management, and wetland management in scientific papers and management reports. He has substantial expertise and experience in fish biology, general fauna ecology, and habitat assessment of freshwater, estuarine and coastal ecosystems across SE Australia (Qld, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia).
Jessica Brady
Communications and Engagement
Jess is passionate about local connections and community. Working across a variety of sectors, the common thread – people and nature. With lived and work experience in Conservation Land Management, Horticulture and Nature Based Therapy for children and adults. Her academic journey was complemented by hands-on experience through various field projects. Jess currently leads the communications and engagement components of the Foundation, further igniting her interest in community-driven environmental initiatives and collaborations. Jess is currently studying Sustainability at the University of Tasmania.
Kelly Smith
Wildlife Ecologist
Kelly has completed a Bachelor of Environmental Science with Honours Degree from Federation University. She began working with Koalas about 10 years ago with Parks Victoria on the French Island koala Management program. Whilst studying she would always choose to focus on koalas and wildlife corridors. For her final research project at University, she chose to do some genetic research of koala scats on the Mornington Peninsula. This project became an Honours Project. After she finished studying, she began working for the Western Port Biosphere where she continued to do genetic research of koala scats in the Western Port Woodlands. Her work in koala scat genetic research led her to lead the koala scat collection program for DEECAs Great Victorian Koala Survey. Kelly continues to work for Federation Universities Koala Genetic Research Team as a consultant. Kellys primary role at the Western Port Biosphere involves managing the Western Port Koala Corridor Project.
Lucy Kyriacou
Program Manager
Lucy holds a B.Sc. (Hons) in Environmental Science and an M.Sc. in Nature Conservation. With a career in the not-for-profit and education sectors, she is passionate about delivering inspirational projects that engage the Western Port community in the unique ecology and wonder of Western Port, and teaching about what we can do to mitigate the threats posed by the climate crisis, habitat degradation, and biodiversity loss.
The Board of the Foundation, led by Geoff Brooks, is skills-based and includes a Councillor nominated from the five local governments overlapped by the Western Port Biosphere Reserve.
Geoff Brooks
CHAIR
BA, GAICD, MICDA
Geoff brings perspectives and communications expertise founded on a multi-sector career as a senior executive, consultant and specialist in corporate communications, public affairs and marketing. This included several years’ pro bono consulting to the World Wildlife Fund, which allowed him to support globally significant campaigns like the establishment of the Southern Ocean Sanctuary for Whales. He has served on several not-for-profit boards and advisory committees. An enthusiastic kayaker and photographer around the Mornington Peninsula, he is a keen advocate of sustainable development that is sensitive to the region’s great natural attributes.
Appointed 2020
Isabelle Higgins
SECRETARY
M Sc Chem Eng, M Env Sci, GAICD
Isabelle is an experienced director who brings to the Board expertise in strategy and business planning, projects & risks management, stakeholder engagement and environmental and sustainability consulting. She has worked for large multinational corporations and runs her own consulting agency that aims to help develop safe, profitable and sustainable businesses. Isabelle has a passion for social justice and the environment.
Appointed 2020
Dr Paul Whitelaw
TREASURER
PhD MBus (Finance) BBus
Paul is an academic with formal qualifications in accounting and finance. He has extensive experience as a practicing academic, leading competitively funded projects and programs. Additionally, he has academic leadership experience and has similarly extensive experience as a board member, treasurer and chair of a range of commercial and not for profit organisations in the education, social justice, tourism, arts, and volunteer sectors.
Appointed 2024
Karen Hook
BA (Education) GAICD
Karen is a marketing and communications specialist with a background in education with extensive experience that spans industries and regions. She brings to the board 15 years’ experience in building brand awareness, customer engagement and stakeholder support. Karen has previous experience serving on a variety of community and board committees and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).
Appointed 2020
Alistair Phillips
MSc, Grad Dip (App Sci), BSSc
Alistair brings 25+ years of experience in NSW and Victorian governments, the not-for-profit environmental management sector, local government and private consulting. He enjoys the energy of project design and implementation in the service of innovative strategic planning, broadly envisioned policy reform and integrated co-investment opportunities.
Alistair is committed to bringing science into community engagement and strategy development and believes that while climate change holds great challenges for people and our landscapes, it also opens opportunities to recast policy thinking and investment across all sectors of society.
Appointed 2022
Helen Steel
Helen is a circular and impact economy expert with global experience across corporate, government and the not-for-profit sectors.
Helen is CEO of SECCA (South East Councils Climate Change Alliance) and believes in and promotes the use of shared value principals to shape positive change for society. She also serves on a number of boards including the Shared Value Project and Good Thing Australia and is an active member of Birdlife Australia.
Appointed 2022
Clare Baker
Master of Archives and Records Management BA
An experienced not-for-profit leader, Clare has over 17 years’ experience working with local and international organisations to deliver social and environmental change. She currently leads strategy for Climateworks Centre, part of the Monash Sustainable Development Institute. She brings a strategic mindset, systems thinking and fundraising expertise to the board, and has managed cross-sector initiatives for community-led climate action and to transform food, farming, and energy systems. Clare lives in Frankston and often hikes and swims in the Western Port Biosphere. She feels privileged to be part of a local organisation that is ensuring the long-term future of this special place, and the communities that call it home.
Appointed 2024
Amy Richards
LLB BComm (Human Resources) Grad Dip Legal Practice
Amy is a member of the Executive team at Yarra Valley Water. She is a legally qualified senior executive in the areas of Human Resources and Safety gravitating to for purpose industries which provide essential services to local communities. Her experience spans multiple industries including water, public transport, hospitality and entertainment FMCG, retail, manufacturing and pharmaceuticals. Amy is passionate about leveraging the collective power of people working in organisations as a vehicle to enhance collective wellbeing of our people & planet. She enjoys holidaying down in Phillip Island where she bought a holiday home during COVID 19.
Appointed 2024
Jonathon (Jon) Temby
Grad Dip OHM, Grad Dip Ed Admin, Dip Ed, Assoc Dip Fine Arts, Cert 4 TAE and graduate of several leadership development programs including AVCLP. GAICD, CFAIHS, ARMIT.
Jon has worked in secondary teaching, leadership and counselling roles, consulted to several state government departments, held senior management roles with Tier 1 multinationals, owned and operated a risk management consulting business and held numerous volunteer leadership roles in the environmental, emergency services and social justice NFP sectors. Jon is currently a Councillor for the Bass Coast Shire Council.
Jon has been involved with environmental organisations and campaigns since my teenage years and currently jointly own two bush blocks with Trust for Nature covenants on them. Jon is keen to see evidence based decision-making and strategies based on long term planning.
Jon is married, has two adult children and seek environmental changes that future generations will thank us for.
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PO Box 261, Hastings VIC 3915
Australia
Ph: (03) 5979 2167
Photography credits: J Harrison (eastern curlew).
Unless otherwise stated all content, including the logo, are copyright © Mornington Peninsula and Western Port Biosphere Reserve Foundation Ltd.
The content and logo must not be used without the Foundation’s written consent.
