The Hon Ralph Willis AO

Former Independent Chairman

The Hon Ralph Willis AO 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.

Professor Brian King

Victoria University

Professor Brian King is Pro Vice-Chancellor (Industry & Community) and Professor of Tourism Management. As Head of the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Marketing (1998 to 2007) he led the University to two Australian Tourism Awards. He is Chair of Mentors in the Victorian Tourism Awards.

He is a Non-Executive Director Board Destination Melbourne and was a foundation Director of Western Melbourne Tourism. He has consulted extensively to international development agencies in the areas of tourism marketing and human resource development.  He is a frequent media commentator on tourism related matters. He has published extensively on tourism and has authored several tourism books.

Brian is Founding and Current Editor-in-Chief of the international journal Tourism, Culture and Communication and a Fellow of the International Academy of the Study of Tourism (IAST).

Mr Mick O'Donnell

Nufarm Australia Limited

A Senior Manager with Nufarm Australia Limited, Mr 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.