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.

Michaela Salvato has operated and worked in the small business accounting and financial services sector locally for over 25 years providing accounting, taxation and business advisory services to a range of clients. She was formerly the treasurer of Destination Phillip Island, the regional tourism board for Phillip Island. 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 was a founding member of the Three Creeks Landcare Group Inc. Michaela’s 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.

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.

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.