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 waller and Ms Diane James. The term of the previous board members expired on 12 May 2009, this new board was not appointed until 18 August 2009.

Mr Bob Welsh, Board President

Mr Bob Welsh has served as Environment Protection Board president since his appointment to the board in May 2006.

Bob is the chief executive of VicSuper Pty Ltd, the inaugural chairperson of Sustainability Victoria, the founding chairperson of the Investor Group on Climate Change, Australia/New Zealand and director of Ecotrust Australia. He is a member of the Premier’s Climate Change Reference Group and Woolworths Limited Corporate Responsibility Panel. Bob also serves as director of VicSuper Ecosystem Services Pty Ltd, which is a subsidiary of VicSuper.

He has a bachelor of economics and a diploma in financial planning. He is also a chartered
accountant.

Diane James

Ms Diane James was also appointed to the board in August 2009. Currently Diane is a director of Barwon Water and is a former chair of judges for the Banksia Environmental Awards.

Over the past 20 years she has chaired a number of state and federal bodies involved in coastal and oceans management, including the Victorian Coastal Council, which she chaired for 11 years. In the private sector Diane runs a marketing, distribution and export company.

She was deputy chair of the 2009 Australian Masters Games and is a director of St Laurence Community Services. Diane is currently studying for a graduate certificate in innovation and entrepreneurship.

Mike Waller

Mr Mike Waller was appointed to the board in August 2009.

Mike is a director and co-founder of Heuris Partners Ltd, a consultancy specialising in the minerals and energy sectors. He is a member of Board of Australia 21. Mike has been director of public policy, chief economist and head of environment and community relations policy with BHP Billiton.

Before joining BHP, 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 London Business School.

Top