Hon Ralph Willis

Independent Chairman

Ralph Willis is a life long resident of Melbourne’s West and represented the federal seat of Gellibrand in the Federal Parliament for 26 years. For 13 of those years, he was a Cabinet Minister in the Hawke and Keating Governments, holding the portfolios of Employment and Industrial Relations, Transport and Communications, Finance and Treasurer.

Mr Willis is also Chair of Western Health, Chair of the Construction and Building Industry Superannuation Fund (CBUS), Director of Melbourne City Opera, Director of the Mietta Foundation and a member of the United Nations High Level Panel on Youth Employment.

Anne Barker

Managing Director City West Water Ltd

Ms Anne Barker was appointed Managing Director of City West Water Ltd on 6 November 2002. Her earlier career spanned diverse areas including law, retail, banking and energy industries. City West Water supplies water, trade waste and sewerage services to Melbourne’s West. The company is also working hard to develop recycled water as a major component of the water supply to the West. Ms Barker currently is a member of Victoria’s Plumbing Industry Advisory Council.

Professor Peter Creamer

Pro Vice Chancellor
(Industry and Community)
Victoria University.

Peter spent much of his early career working within the aerospace field for companies such as Rolls Royce, Lucas Aerospace and the European Gas Turbine Co. Following this, Peter moved from industry into academia and worked for two periods amounting to 7 years in Singapore during an era of intensive development of two new major Polytechnics.  Peter also had a short spell of working in Sth Africa as a Director for a medium sized company working during a period of intensive political change.

More recently, Peter has spent 7 years working at the University of Portsmouth focussing on the development of mutually beneficial industry/academia partnerships.  Prior to joining Victoria University, Peter spent 3 years at Anglia Ruskin University as Pro Vice Chancellor (Corporate Development).  At Anglia Ruskin Peter had particular responsibility for building business partnerships, developing research and development activities as well as being responsible for all marketing, international, IT and business engagement activities.  Additionally, Peter has also managed a number of joint venture partnerships with local further education colleges to deliver higher education into the region.

Peter joined Victoria University in July 2007 as Pro Vice Chancellor (Industry and Community) within the Research and Region portfolio.  He is also a founding Director of LeadWest Ltd.

Cr P. Giuliano

Councillor Paul Giuliano was first elected as Mayor of Moonee Valley in 2008 and was re-elected again in 2009.  He has been a resident of Moonee Valley all his life and is heavily involved in supporting the business community, local sporting and community groups.

During his Mayoral terms, he focused on advocating for better transport and infrastrcuture, the environment and water saving initiatives and innovative revenue stream options other than rates.

Cr Kim McAliney

Wyndham City Council

Cr. Kim McAliney is a passionate advocate for the ongoing development of Melbourne's West.  Prior to being elected to Wyndham City Council for the Truganina Ward, Kim lobbied for improvements to Wyndham's rural roads with great success. Kim was first elected to Council in 2005 and is currently serving her second term on Council having represented the City of Wyndham as Mayor in 2007/8.

In addition to her role on the Board of LeadWest, Cr McAliney represents Wyndham City on the Audit & Ethics Committee, the Local Government Women's Assoc., Municipal Emergency Mgt Planning Committee and the Yerambooee Community Centre Committee.  She is also a Director of the Westgate General Practice Network.

Cr. McAliney is a CPA qualified Accountant and Justice of the Peace and is Gen.Mgr for Sunrise Supported Living for 5 retirement villages (Vic and NSW).  She is also the Deputy Mayor of Wyndham for 2009/10.

Mr Peter Lewinsky

Mr Peter Lewinsky is the Chair of the Panel of Administrators for Brimbank City Council.  Peter provides consultancy services to the private and public sector on corporate governance, business planning, auditing and risk management.  He has worked with all tiers of government on major projects and strategic plans in a range of portfolios from human services, to major utilities and sport.

He has particular experience as an Administrator in reforming troubled organisations such as the Cheltenham and Regional Cemetries Trust and the Fawkner Crematorium and Memorial Park.

Over the last 15 years Mr Lewinsky has been a member of public company boards and chair of Government audit committees.

Brian Masters

Manager - Operations, Mooney Valley Racing Club

Mr Brian Masters is a Senior Manager responsible for Operations at the Moonee Valley Racing Club, an organisation which is a proud and active participant in Melbourne's west and hosts many racing events, corporate functions and the world renowned Cox Plate 
 
A former Company Secretary with a varied business background along with specific interest in community and strategic planning, Brian is actively involved in local government issues in the Moonee Ponds area as a member of the Moonee Ponds Activity Centre (MPAC) working group.
 
Brian is a resident of Point Cook in the Wyndham City Council.

Mick O'Donnell

Australian Operations Manager, Nufarm Australia Limited

A Senior Manager with Nufarm Australia Limited, Mick O’Donnell currently holds the positions of Australian Operations Manager and Global Information Systems Manager for Nufarm Limited based at the company’s global headquarters in North Laverton. Mick has held many positions during his 29 years with Nufarm in areas of Operations and Information Systems. Mick holds a Bachelor of Science and Graduate Diploma in Chemical Engineering.

His previous involvement in industry and community groups includes Kwinana Industries Council, CCIWA Manufacturing Council & Environment Committee, Chemical Industries Association (UK), and a governor of a UK primary school. Mick currently resides in Point Cook and is enthusiastic about this opportunity to positively contribute to the future of the west.

Cr Garry Stock

Melton Shire Council

A councillor of the Shire of Melton since 2001 and a past Mayor, Cr Garry Stock resides in Caroline Springs. 

He chairs the Melton Learning Board and the culturally and linguistically diverse Advisory Committee to Council.

Cr Stock, a long-term public servant, is also responsible for employment strategies in the Department of Sustainability and Environment.

Issues around jobs, learning, youth, transport and recycled water are high on his agenda.  He has a vision that through rapid growth of the west, aligned with appropriate jobs, services, transport and facilities that 'the west will be best'!

Kerry Thompson

CEO Marribyrnong City Council

Ms Kerry Thompson was appointed as Maribyrnong Council’s Chief Executive Officer in September 2003. Key achievements at Maribyrnong so far have included the successful management of the financial recovery of the City, the development of the award winning Aquatic Centre, the ongoing revitalisation of the Footscray CBD and key policies and advocacy projects related to improving the wellbeing of the residents of Maribyrnong.

Prior to taking up this position she worked at the City of Melbourne for four years as Director of City Assets and Services and Acting Chief Executive Officer. In her role as Director of City Assets and Services, Kerry was responsible for Parks and Recreation, Community Services, Engineering Services and Facilities Management, and managed a budget of $85million.  Some of her key achievements included a review of various recreational and community services and partnership projects including the World Masters Games and the MCG and Melbourne Zoo redevelopments.  She also reviewed, developed and implemented a range of key policies, strategies and services including a three year Drug Action Plan, City Safety Strategies.

Before starting at the City of Melbourne, Kerry was General Manager, Business Performance at the City of Geelong which included major Capital Works Projects.  During this time Kerry was also Acting CEO for the City of Geelong for five months.

Kerry has held various positions in local government for more than 20 years.  She is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, LGPro (Local Government Professionals) and the Institute of Municipal Management, an independent member of the Police Operational Standing Committee, a Board Member of LeadWest and Chair of the Western Transport Alliance.

Ms Thompson has two young children and lives 'proudly' in the west.  She holds a Bachelor of Business (RMIT), a Graduate Diploma in Management (RMIT) and a Diploma from the Australian Institute of Company Directors.