Who we are

Ms Jacquie White has over 20 years’ experience working in the environment sector across coastal management, catchment management, integrated water management, community and stakeholder engagement, organisational change and capacity building, and social research and evaluation. She is currently the Executive Officer of the Association of Bayside Municipalities and runs a consultancy providing event management and stakeholder engagement services.

Jacquie's previous professional roles include: General Manager of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand, Manager Community Programs at Melbourne Water, Director at the Office of Living Victoria, and Manager of Organisational Transformation with the Country Fire Authority.

Mr Martijn Gough is an economist and public policy expert with approximately 12 years of executive and management experience in climate change adaptation, natural resource management and resilience. He is currently an Associate Director at Ricardo where he leads the Resilience, Adaptation and Nature business area. He was formerly a policy manager at the Municipal Association of Victoria, a Climate Adaptation Associate at the United Nations Development Program and a Senior Economist at the Victorian Department of Treasury and Finance. Martijn has 3 years of non-executive directorship experience as a former member of the NSW Coastal Council. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics) and a Bachelor of Arts (Human Geography).

Dr Rebecca McIntosh is a Marine Scientist at Phillip Island Nature Parks. She has over 20 years’ experience specialising in marine mammals and avian ecology, anthropogenic change, wildlife monitoring and threatened species management.

Dr McIntosh is a former Senior Researcher at South Australian Research and Development Institute and Lecturer at Southern Cross University. DrMcIntosh has worked on the ecology and demography of marine predators for over 20 years, with a focus on Australian seals. She holds a Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in population biology. Dr McIntosh demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of climate change adaptation, the costal and marine industry, conservation, marine science and policy, risk management and community and stakeholder engagement.

Ms Mikaela Power is in an experienced senior leader in the public and private sectors in Gippsland, Melbourne and overseas. She is an Associate Director Partnerships and Growth at Federation University and a former senior executive at Gippsland TAFE. Ms Power was a Baw Baw Shire Councillor from 2012 to 2020, and Mayor in 2019 and former Deputy Chair of the Periurban Group of Rural Councils.

Ms Power brings skills and experience in local government, town planning, public sector governance and administration, an understanding of the law, policy and obligations in relation to Traditional Owners, community and stakeholder engagement and strategic planning. She is Chair of the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority.

Dr Anna Grage has a background in marine environmental law and planning, and statutory (urban/environmental) planning. She has a Bachelor of Laws, a Bachelor of Planning and Design (Hons), and a PhD (University of Wollongong) that focuses on Australian legal frameworks for marine environmental impact assessment. Anna has worked as a lecturer at the Australian Maritime College/University of Tasmania, teaching in the areas of international ocean governance, environmental advocacy, and marine environmental and fisheries law and policy.

Anna has worked in Victoria and Western Australia as a statutory planner for local government, and as a solicitor in the areas of planning and environmental law; with her most recent local government role being with Mornington Peninsula Shire. Anna is currently a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Adelaide, Principal Consultant of Earth-Sea Planning, and a volunteer for the Sea Search (Parks Victoria) program/Friends of Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary, and the Country Fire Authority.

Professor Gerald Quinn is former Head of the Warrnambool Campus of Deakin University (2012–2015) and former Chair in Marine Biology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, retiring in 2020. He is a current Chairperson in Marine Biology at Deakin University and has served on several statutory bodies, advisory committees and government public entities.  He has extensive research experience in coastal marine ecology, freshwater ecosystems and the effects of flow change on rivers and wetlands. He is a current board member at Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority.

Professor Quinn holds Bachelor of Science in Zoology, a Doctor of Philosophy in Marine Biology and has completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course. Professor Quinn demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of climate change adaptation, the coastal and marine industry, conservation, marine science and policy, risk management, community and stakeholder engagement, strategic thinking and planning.

Ms Kylie Steel is the founder and director of SCB Consult, a consultancy specialising in climate change, bushfire science and emergency management. She has been a board director on Southern Rural Water since 2019, and on Barwon Health Foundation since 2017.  She was a board member and Deputy Chair on the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee from 2013 to 2020.

Ms Steel holds qualifications in business, company directorship, bushfire planning and management and science.  Ms Steel demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of climate change adaptation, the coastal and marine industry, conservation, local government, town planning, marine science and policy, public sector governance and administration, risk management, community and stakeholder engagement and strategic planning.

Marianne Atkinson professional working history capturing and stems the area of Government, Human Services, Education & Training, Family Violence Policy, Systems & Reform, Aboriginal Affairs, and community organisations. Ms Atkinson is expert in developing policy and strategy, providing advice to government, regional and strategic partnerships. Working with community members as well as levels of professionals to codesign and develop effective processes for the evaluation and validation of programs, systems, and structures.

She has broad experience leading, coordination and liaising with community groups and preparing and facilitating state-wide strategies in response to community needs, working towards improving outcomes to adapt new practices and system of change progressing ideas and transforming thoughts into action driven solutions.

Ms Atkinson is currently employed at RMIT University Melbourne in a part-time casual role as VE Tutorer Diploma of Community Services. Her fields of study include Business, Business Analytics, Education, and Data Analysis.

She is currently the Co-Chairperson Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group (National representatives), Australian War Memorial and the Gunaikurnai Traditional Owner Land Management.

Dr Torok is the Director and co-Founder of Scientell Pty Ltd, and an Honorary Fellow with the University of Melbourne's School of Earth Sciences. He has worked in science communication for 30 years, including 13 years managing climate and marine communication for the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). Dr Torok has co-authored 20 popular science and climate change books, and made numerous appearances on television and radio. He has a Graduate Diploma in Science Communication from the Australian National University, and completed a PhD in climate change science at the University of Melbourne.