Phillip Island Nature Parks was created by the State Government of Victoria in 1996 and comprises over 1,980 hectares of Crown Land set aside under the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978 “for the conservation of areas of natural interest or beauty or of scientific, historic or archaeological interest.” The Nature Parks is a self-funded organisation and is overseen by a Board of Management appointed by the Victorian Minister for Environment. The Nature Parks reports to the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).

Responsible Minister
The Hon Steve Dimopoulos MP, Minister for Environment

 

Kevin Love operates his own advisory business, specialising in project management, policy advice and governance. For over 20 years, Kevin worked at the Department of Agriculture in regional Victoria, including 12 years at Leongatha. He also worked with the Department of Premier and Cabinet as the executive with principal responsibility for advising premiers Kennett and Bracks on policies, programs and major projects related to resources and infrastructure. Kevin then moved to the Department of Sustainability and Environment as deputy secretary. He led significant institutional and organisational reform, had responsibility for the state’s public land estates and assets and established himself as a national leader in natural resource and marine and coastal management policy.
Kevin has a Master of Agricultural Science, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Australia and New Zealand School of Government Executive Fellows’ Program and is a Victorian Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia.

Kevin has been a Board Member from 9 August 2013.

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 Beverley Munro is currently the co-chair of the Nature Parks Reconciliation Advisory Committee, co-chair of the Bass Coast Reconciliation Network and was previously the chair of the Indigenous Advisory Committee with Bass Coast Health. She has extensive experience in people and culture roles including previous roles of director, workforce health and safety at Monash Health, assistant director of health, safety and wellbeing at Victoria Police, and manager, equal employment at the Department of Community Services.

Beverley has Wiradjuri heritage and has previously been a member and chair of the First Peoples Advisory Committee with Bass Coast Shire Council and the Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group with Westernport Water. She has completed a PhD in Cultural Economics and holds a Master of Public Health, a Diploma of Applied Science in Occupational Health and Safety and a Bachelor of Social Studies.

Beverley has been a Board Member since 1 July 2023.

Michaela Salvato is the owner and operator of a local accounting and financial services firm where she has provided accounting, taxation and business advisory services for over 25 years. She was formerly the treasurer of Destination Phillip Island, the regional tourism board for Phillip Island (Millowl). Previously, she held positions as national taxation manager for SmithKline Beecham, treasurer of Bass Coast Landcare Network, chair of the Bass Coast Landcare Network Public Fund and is a founding member of the Three Creeks Landcare Group Inc.
Her involvement with these organisations has fuelled a strong passion for the environment, particularly the impact that can be made at a grassroots and community level, as well as the importance of sustainable tourism models. Michaela has a Bachelor of Business (Banking and Finance), Certificate in Risk and Governance and a Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning and is a chartered accountant and registered tax agent.

Michaela has been a Board Member since 1 July 2018.

Jane Jobe is the co-founder of Southern Sustainable Developments, a land development business that incorporates sustainable development principles. Before that she held several administrative, communications and public relations positions with the Australian Department of Defence. Jane is an experienced board member and currently is a board member of the Penguin Foundation, committee member of the Phillip Island Conservation Society and a member of several community groups. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Environmental Science) from Charles Sturt University and a Bachelor of Business (Communication) from Queensland University of Technology.

Jane has been a Board Member since 1 July 2021.

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.

 

BoardOutlook

Phillip Island Nature Parks uses BoardOutlook to conduct an annual evaluation on the performance of the Board.