Juan has a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Petroleum and a Master of Engineering (Sustainable Energy). Currently working as Sustainable Community Lead with Southern Grampians Shire with over 6 years experience in Local Government , he has supported the delivery of the carbon neutrality goals for the Warrnambool municipality. Juan leads the delivery of Council’s waste management operations, policy development, renewable energy and energy efficiency programs. Juan is passionate about renewable energy and innovation to take action on climate change.

Elisha Nettleton is the R&D / Quality Manager for Sustainable Plastic Solutions (SPS). She comes to SPS with a biochemistry degree as well as being a qualified teacher. Having spent 12 years in the Education sector she made the decision to go back to her science roots and head up the laboratory side of SPS. Elisha focuses on trials for new products and formulations, maintaining the quality standards for incoming and outgoing goods, and developing the laboratory arm of SPS into a business of its own focusing on internal and external testing, creating Material Data Sheets for the recycled resin being shipped from SPS and qualifying supply streams from across our national networks.

Jamie is a beef and sheep farmer on his family farm at Tahara, near Hamilton, a job he has had since 2015. He is an alumni of Leadership Great South Coast, participating in the program in 2021. This program gave Jamie exposure to community, volunteerism and personal capacity building.

Away from the farm, Jamie is Deputy Chair of Food and Fibre Great South Coast and is a Council Member of the National Farmers Federation Young Farmers Council, a role he has held since it was formed in 2022. Through both of these roles, Jamie is able to couple his love of agriculture with passionate advocacy, policy development, stakeholder engagement and helping to shape the bright future of agriculture more broadly.

Jamie is involved with the World Farmers Organisation and was part of their delegation to COP28 in Dubai. He also represents the WFO on the UN Decade of Family Farming Steering Committee which reports directly to the FAO.

Jamie’s interests away from farming include sport (AFL and tennis), managing (along with his partner) their accommodation business in Halls Gap, winery tours, reading and planting trees.

Marty is the manager of the Biodiversity and Indigenous Partnerships team at the Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority. After studying ecology and working in environmental education she ran away to join the science circus but then got drawn back into academia. A research Masters in saltmarsh ecology and the impact of sea level rise, followed by a stint in antarctica where the lack of sea ice and some disturbingly skinny whales, led her to get involved in climate action and policy writing. For over 20 years she has alternated working in climate policy with working in conservation until finding her dream job. Back home in Southwest Victoria, Marty and her team support threatened species conservation and climate adaptation across the region. Marty strongly believes that the climate and biodiversity crises must be addressed together and that rebuilding the human nature relationship is the key to building a better world for everyone and everything.

Johnny is part of a family owned and operated sheep and beef operation run in the Southern Grampians. Maddie and Johnny, with a team of 3 are involved in the business. He is fourth generation and custodians of this land since 1910.

They are a specialist prime lamb and Angus beef operation over 1,800ha.

Their commitment is to operate a professional, and profitable business across the property aggregations involving prime lamb production and cattle whilst ensuring to improve PEOPLE, PLANET and PROFIT when considering decision making and PREPAREDNESS always. With the keys of continual improvement and adaptation of the business model and education of all involved in the business to achieve a top 10% business continually.

They see a huge opportunity in improving their emissions intensity, this is underpinned by improving the efficiencies within their production system. With targeting the implantation of a lucerne finishing system to support lamb turn off weights and deep-rooted perennials for resilience in a more variable climate. They also see building some robust data around our emissions that they produce and the biodiversity on farm. They see this as a big part of building on continuous improvement for our farm business as well data driven transparency for what they do on farm.

Angela Hewett is the South Coast of Victoria Employment Facilitator with Workforce Australia Local Jobs a program delivered through the Department of Employment Workplace Relations. Within the role she leverages her extensive knowledge of the regions labour market to collaborate on tailoring opportunities for reskilling, upskilling, and employment. Her proactive approach and understanding of emerging workforce trends enable her to facilitate meaningful connections that accelerate career progression, entry and advancement.

Residing in Moyne Shire, Angela’s work spans across five local government areas, demonstrating her commitment to supporting the diverse workforce needs and barriers to employment present to the region. Recognizing the importance of community engagement, Angela volunteers her time on the St John of God Consumer Committee, bringing a valuable disability perspective, and serves on the Leadership Great South Coast board.

Vicki’s professional life has been predominantly spent in client and financial service roles within the banking and aged care sectors.

Vicki established and became a director of Peter’s Project in Warrnambool in September 2008 after the death of her husband Peter, aged 49 years, from Oesophageal Cancer. The Victorian south west regional community embraced the Peter’s Project ethos and its goal to bring vital radiotherapy treatment to cancer patients in the local region.

Vicki and the Board of the Peter’s Project Foundation continue to financially support regional cancer services into the future.

Vicki was nominated and chosen as the Victorian Australian of the Year Local Hero in October 2016 and announced the 2017 Australian of the Year – Local Hero in January 2017.

In January 2018, Vicki was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the Australia Day Honours for significant service to Community health through the provision of access to radiotherapy treatments for people with cancer in South West Victoria.

In October 2020, Vicki was elected as one of 7 new councillors to Warrnambool City Council, and was duly elected as Mayor for 2 years and is currently Deputy Mayor.

Tyson is the Executive Officer of Loved & Shared. He returned to Warrnambool as a Teacher at South West TAFE, within the Hospitality and Business department, teaching VET in schools, and certificate programs, harnessing his skills and previous education, having completed a Bachelor in Business in Canberra and Guelph, Canada.

Prior to that he spent a decade studying and travelling around Australia working within the Hotel Industry, including management roles in Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland.

Tyson spent 6 years working for Coca Cola Amatil as a Business Development Executive, managing supermarket retail and relationships within the district.

Tyson also has spent time in local government at the Warrnambool City Council, within the Economic Development team and customer service departments since 2020.

His passion for service standards, and time in lock down, lead to the inception of The Lawn Bar in 2020, which he currently owns and operates as a seasonal pop-up venue at the Warrnambool Lawn Tennis Club, Lake Pertobe with his partner Katharine.

Co-founder of One Day Studios and The F Project, Community Development Coordinator with Warrnambool City Council and LGSC Alumni, Gareth is a passionate advocate for community arts and has 30 years of experience in the field. Highlights of his volunteering work include serving with The F Project, the South West Film Festival, Port Fairy Winter Weekends, the South West Community Foundation, and representing the local arts community in Malaysia and China with the Kanawinka Global Geopark.

B.Sci (Hons), PhD, GAICD

Bernadette’s professional career and community roles span a diverse and unusual range of fields. Bernadette acknowledges that instead of specific career goals, she has always been guided by a passion for learning and a focus on community impact. 

Bernadette has a PhD in genetics of desert fish. A qualification that has led to senior management and executive roles across health, family violence, emergency and disaster response, volunteerism, aquaculture and currently Manager Land Health with the Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority.

Bernadette has 25 years experience in corporate and community governance and is currently the Chair South West Healthcare, Deputy Chair Victorian Fisheries Authority, Board Director Victoria State Emergency Service. 

Bernadette (GAICD) loves volunteering and is involved in a range of volunteer roles from 20 year commitments to annually supporting the clubs and activities her children are involved in. She has been an SES volunteer for 22 years and is the Deputy Controller of Warrnambool SES, Committee Member Loved and Shared Inc, Chair SWH Human Research Ethics Committee and volunteers with Surf Life Saving and Warrnambool Motorcycle Club. Bernadette was also a founding Committee Member of both Leadership Great South Coast and South West Community Foundation.

A historian by training, Emma is passionate about how history might help us think about building a different future. At The Australia Institute, Emma works in the International & Security Affairs program, where she researches the history and future of Australia’s role in the world. She is also an affiliate of RMIT University, where she was a Lecturer from 2018 – 2023.

Emma became a Leadership Great South Coast alumni in 2023, and was part of the Community Climate Network Scoping Project.

Emma moved to the Great South Coast with her young family in 2022. Her husband Nick, a winemaker, is currently planting 4,000 vines at their small property in Scotts Creek.

Cr Kate Makin was elected to Corangamite Shire Council in November 2020 and elected Mayor in 2023 

Kate ran for council, as a new personal challenge, and an opportunity for her to give back to the community. At the time of running for council, she saw the major challenges being COVID-19, getting tourism back into the region, and businesses back onto their feet. She hopes that council can make the Corangamite Shire a desirable place to live and visit. During her term, Kate hopes that council can upgrade major arterial roads to safe and acceptable conditions.

Kate lives with her husband Matt and sons Jasper, Oliver and Leo near Scotts Creek where they run a small agricultural business. Kate is passionate about giving back to her local community and has been an active volunteer at various sporting clubs across the Shire. As a mum of young children she hopes to bring that point of view to the Council table.

Aaron is a planning manager in local government with extensive experience working in south-west Victoria over the past 13 years. He has strong interests in leadership, strategy and organisational and people development, with experience working in areas including policy analysis and development, strategic planning, renewable energy, development investment and sustainability.

Aaron is passionate and committed to the opportunities and future in regional Australia, including promotion of agricultural needs to meet long-term food security and sustainability requirements.

Aaron holds a Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning, both from the University of South Australia, and is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is a proud father and in his spare time, he enjoys helping out and changing the nature of work on his family’s dairy and beef farm.

Tim is an entrepreneurial luminary, with a deep affinity for his hometown of Timboon, renowned for his roles in founding the Timboon Railway Shed Distillery, and Timboon Fine Ice Cream.

Tim and his wife Caroline established the brand Timboon Fine Ice Cream in October 1999, using their own dairy products to make their delicious premium ice cream. They started to attend festivals and events where they would sell their products. Tim established the Timboon Railway Shed Distillery in 2007 where visitors were invited to sample the art of small batch whisky, gin and liqueur production, indulging in the tastings of award-winning libations.

Tim built their new Ice Cream facilities in 2016, continuing to source quality local ingredients.

It is through Tim’s entrepreneurial spirit that has not only elevated Timboon’s profile, but also made it a destination, not to be missed on the Great Ocean Road. His visionary leadership and commitment to excellence continue to drive the success of these iconic establishments, ensuring that the flavours of Timboon are celebrated and savoured by all who visit.

Helga is the host of the Take on Board podcast, and a connector who revels in assisting individuals, organisations and communities to engage effectively and gain clarity on their role in making the world a better place.

Helga specialises in strategy and planning, governance and stakeholder engagement. Building on her extensive leadership roles in government, not-for-profit and membership organisations, Helga is a dynamic facilitator, a supportive and challenging coach and an engaging speaker.

She is the Chair of the Victorian Asbestos Eradication Agency and a board member of the Workplace Injury Commission. She is also on the Boards Ministerial Advisory Committee for the Department of Health, and the nominations committee for Greenpeace Australia Pacific. She is the former Co-Chair at the Centre for Sustainability Leadership and former Board member of the Royal Women’s Hospital, YWCA Victoria, Social Housing Victoria and the Community Services and Health Industry Training Advisory Board. Initially trained and practising as a lawyer, her previous roles include Chief Executive Officer of Hotham Mission Asylum Seeker Project, Assistant Secretary of the Australian Services Union and Facilitator at Sustainability Victoria.

She has also founded two group coaching programs for women – Board KickStarter and Board Accelerator to encourage women into, and on, Boards.