Environment Protection Board

The Environment Protection Board comprises three members – a president and two members appointed by the Governor-in-Council on the recommendation of the minister.

The board is responsible for providing advice to the minister and the chairman of EPA Victoria on administration, corporate planning, strategic direction and policies, and on national and international trends in environment protection.

It was established under section 8 of the Environment Protection Act 1970 and oversights the administration and policies of EPA Victoria but has no regulatory role.

Members are independent, non-executive directors, appointed on a part-time basis for up to three years and are eligible for reappointment.
During the reporting period, the board members were Mr Bob Welsh (president), Mr Mike Hill and Ms Barbara McLure. The term of office for all board members ended 13 May 2009.

Mr Bob Welsh, Board President

Bob is Chief Executive of VicSuper, and was one of the early leaders in the investment industry to recognise the emerging risk of climate change on long term investment returns. In 2001 he wasthe driving force behind VicSuper’s adoption of sustainability as its central operating principle.

Since that time Bob together with the directors and staff of VicSuper have been building VicSuper as a sustainable super fund seeking to create value for members and all stakeholders through sustainability investing, education and personal superannuation advice.

Bob’s work in sustainability in an investment setting has been recognised internationally.

In September 2005 Bob’s pioneer work in fostering sustainability principles in the superannuation sector of the financial services industry was recognised internationally when he was awarded the annual Sustainability Leadership Pioneer Award at the International Sustainability Leadership Symposium in Zurich, Switzerland.

In October 2007 Bob received a Carbon Leadership Recognition Award for Executives in Financial Markets award by the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative for his outstanding contribution within the pension funds sector. 

Bob is a Chartered Accountant and holds a degree in economics and politics from MonashUniversity and a diploma in financial planning from the Financial Planning Association.  Bob has 20 years experience in managing superannuation funds. 

As well as President of the Environment Protection Board Victoria, Bob is also Director Ecotrust Australia, former founding Chairperson of the Investor Group on Climate Change Australia/New Zealand and inaugural Chairperson of Sustainability Victoria.

He is also a member of Woolworths Corporate Responsibility Panel and the Victorian Premier’s Climate Change Reference Group.

Diane James

Diane James was an inaugural member of the Victorian Coastal Council and Chairman from 1996 until 2007, during which time she oversaw the development and implementation of the Victorian Coastal Strategy, the State Government’s policy for the planning and management of the coastline.

Over two decades, Diane held various roles on State and Commonwealth Government boards, presenting papers on coastal planning and management internationally and throughout Australia.  She chaired a number of committees for the National Oceans Office, involved in implementation of Australia’s Oceans Policy.

She has been an active campaigner for the introduction of marine protected areas in this State and received an award from the State Government in 2003 for her “significant contribution to the development of a system of marine national parks and sanctuaries”.

Diane is a former Chairman of the Geelong Economic Development Board and former Chair of Judges for the Banksia Environmental Foundation.  Currently, she is a Director of Barwon Water.   In the private sector, Diane runs a company involved in marketing, and export.

Mike Waller

Mike is currently a founding director of consulting company, Heuris Partners Ltd. His earlier work experience includes appointments as Director of Public Policy and then Chief Economist and head of Environment and Community Relations Policy with BHP Billiton.

Before joining BHP Billiton, Mike held senior positions in both the UK Treasury and a number of Australian government departments, including head of the microeconomic division of Prime Minister and Cabinet and deputy head of the Department of Transport.

Mike holds an honours degree in economics from the University of Reading and has undertaken senior executive training at the LondonBusinessSchool.

Top