Our People
Patron
Governor of VictoriaThe Honourable Margaret Gardener AC
Read MoreGovernor of VictoriaThe Honourable Margaret Gardener AC
Committee for Melbourne’s Patron is The Honourable Margaret Gardener AC, Governor of Victoria.
Professor Margaret Gardner was the 9th and first woman President and Vice-Chancellor of Monash University from 1 September 2014 until 4 August 2023.
Prior to joining Monash, Professor Gardner was Vice-Chancellor and President of RMIT from April 2005 until August 2014. She has extensive academic experience, having held various leadership positions in Australian universities throughout her career, including at the University of Queensland and Griffith University.
She attained a first-class honours degree in Economics and a PhD from the University of Sydney. In 1988, she was a Fulbright Postdoctoral Fellow, spending time at MIT, Cornell and Berkley. In 2018, she was elected a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia.
Professor Gardner was Chair of the Group of Eight Universities in Australia from 2020 to 2023. She was also a Director of Infrastructure Victoria from 2015 to 2023, the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG) from 2015 to 2023 and Chair of CASE Asia-Pacific Regional Council from 2019 to 2023.
Professor Gardner was Chair of Universities Australia from 2017 to 2019 and Museum Victoria from 2008 to 2016 and chaired the Strategic Advisory Committee and the Expert Panel of the Office of Learning and Teaching (Federal Government Department of Education and Training). She has also been a member of various other boards and committees, including the Australian-American Fulbright Commission, the ANZAC Centenary Advisory Board and the International Education Advisory Committee, which led to the Chaney Report.
In 2007, Professor Gardner was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in recognition of service to tertiary education, particularly in the areas of university governance and gender equity, and to industrial relations in Queensland. Subsequently in January 2020, Professor Gardner was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for her eminent service to tertiary education through leadership and innovation in teaching and learning, research and financial sustainability.
Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC was inaugurated as the 30th Governor of Victoria on 9 August 2023.
Board
Mr Scott TannerChair
Read MoreMr Scott TannerChair
Chair
Director since 2013
Chair – Nominations Sub-Committee
Scott Tanner is the current Chair of Committee for Melbourne, having been appointed in February 2014.
Scott is Executive Chairman of leading real estate group Kay & Burton, Chairman of creative and digital agency GrowthOps, Chairman of embedded finance start-up Neeon, Chairman of robotic surgery training company RSE, and Managing Director of corporate advisory firm SMT Advisory Services which he founded in 2018.
Scott was previously a Director of the Melbourne Business School and a Director on the Advisory Board of the Faculty of Business and Economics at Melbourne University. He was also a Trustee of Melbourne and Olympic Parks Trust and a Director of Tennis Australia.
In his corporate career, Scott was most recently Chief Digital Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Westpac Group’s Consumer Bank division. Prior to this Scott was Chief Executive of Bank of Melbourne. After relaunching the Bank in July 2011, he grew its presence throughout Melbourne and regional Victoria. It has been heralded a local banking success story.
Before this Scott was a Director at global business consulting firm Bain and Company for 15 years. Scott opened Bain’s Melbourne office in 2000 and led the firm’s Asia Pacific Financial Services Practice for six years.
Scott has an MBA from Melbourne Business School and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Ms Feyi AkindoyeniDirector
Read MoreMs Feyi AkindoyeniDirector
Director since 2022
With over 20 years’ experience in strategic communications, working on some of the most challenging briefs in Australia, Feyi is one of the country’s most sought-after communications consultants. Feyi has a deep understanding of the nexus between policy, politics and business having spent 15 years in public affairs including five years in Canberra leading a bi-partisan team of top government relations experts.
Feyi is particularly effective in facilitating successful strategy development processes that map a clear path for clients, be they technology, education, regional sustainability, health, energy infrastructure or finance. Her counsel is valued by some of Australia’s leading organisations including Google, Bunnings, Officeworks, Uber, CBA, RMIT, Life Without Barriers, the National Farmers Federation, and the federal departments of Health and Ageing, NDIA, Defence, Home Affairs and Education, who look to her for reputational, strategic messaging and engagement counsel around crisis, advocacy, effective stakeholder engagement, public affairs, and digital communications.
Mr Joseph BarbaroDirector
Read MoreMr Joseph BarbaroDirector
Director since 2022
Joseph is the Partner in Charge of the Melbourne office of Corrs Chambers Westgarth. Joseph is a Monash alumni, has been with Corrs for over 23 years and is dual qualified in law and science (biomedical). He practices in the areas of project construction and infrastructure delivery, outsourcing and dispute resolution. He advises both government and the private sector (including financiers, sponsors, principals and contractors) on all aspects of project and infrastructure delivery across a range of sectors, including energy and natural resources (including water and renewable power), education, health, transport (road, rail and ports), as well as real-estate development.
Having such a broad practice and range of clients means Joseph has a depth of sector knowledge across the industries in which his clients operate – including their immediate challenges. He has developed a deep understanding of private commercial drivers and behaviours, as well as appreciating the connection to and role of government in supporting and facilitating outcomes that deliver benefits both for private enterprise and the broader community. His clients include a number of the Committee for Melbourne’s members.
Joseph has been an active participant in Committee for Melbourne activities for over 10 years. Over this time he has promoted and facilitated the active engagement of his firm (Corrs) and its partners and staff with the Committee and its various activities. This has ranged from hosting numerous events, through to active participation in numerous sub-committees and written contribution to various papers.
Most recently Joseph has welcomed the opportunity to join and participate in the Infrastructure and Sustainability Standing Committee, where he hopes to actively deploy his and the firm’s broader expertise to the committee’s objectives and pursuits.
Dr Joseph CorrenzaDirector
Read MoreDr Joseph CorrenzaDirector
Director since 2023
Joseph is a Principal and Australasian Regional Board Member at Arup. He leads Arup’s Excellence, Design and Innovation Executive and chairs Arup’s Australasia Ethics Committee. As a building engineer and design director with over 25 years’ experience, Joseph has delivered a portfolio of significant city-shaping projects. Joseph has held numerous leadership roles managing the firm’s Victoria and South Australia offices and teams in London.
The industry recognises him as a collaborative and innovative designer and exemplar leader, acting ethically and with integrity. He understands and advocates across industry for quality projects that will elevate city’s the sustainability, resilience, and liveability.
He is a Chartered Professional Engineer; Engineers Australia Fellow; Board Member of the Committee for Melbourne and Member of Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Mr Matthew Hibbins
Read MoreMr Matthew Hibbins
Director since 2023
Matthew is an experienced corporate and mergers & acquisitions lawyer, with a successful track record of providing counsel to organisations in Australia and across the Asia Pacific for over two decades.
Matthew is the Managing Partner of the Melbourne Office of MinterEllison. In addition to his roles as a Director of the Law Council of Australia and of the Law Institute of Victoria, he is also actively involved as a Director of the Peter & Lyndy White Foundation.
Through his leadership roles, Matthew is committed to making a meaningful impact and driving positive change.
As a proud Victorian, Matthew is committed to working with business and community leaders to identify how we best meet the challenges and seize the opportunities necessary to shape our State’s future growth and prosperity.
Ms Jacqueline SavageDirector
Read MoreMs Jacqueline SavageDirector
Director since March 2017
CEO and Founder, MedCorp Technologies
BEng (Hons) (Biomedical)
Jacqueline Savage is the Founder and CEO of MedCorp Technologies; a medical device company developing wearable technologies for the healthcare industry. The applications for MedCorp’s core body temperature sensing technology is widespread, seeing adoption in consumer healthcare, critical care monitoring and the agricultural sector.
Jacqueline maintains an active role in innovation, entrepreneurship, med-tech, commercialisation and digital health. In addition to her directorship at the Committee for Melbourne, Jacqueline is a member of the La Trobe University’s Council, with additional roles including; member of the investment committee for the Strategic Innovation Fund and the Chancellor’s Industry Advisory Committee for Healthcare.
In addition to her role as CEO of MedCorp, Jacqueline is Founder and Director of international award-winning consumer infant health and development brand Mioplay. Jacqueline’s experience in product development, manufacturing and commercialisation, has seen the global brand establish distribution channels across 14 countries, including a network of greater than 4000 pharmacies.
Jacqueline’s success has been celebrated through her multiple achievements and her continuing desire to create technology that assists to save lives, including; 2016 Telstra Victorian Entrepreneur of the Year Award and 2016 Emerging Women in Leadership Award, BioMelbourne Network. Voted Top 100 Global Engineering Innovations of 2014 (NASA Tech Briefs)
Mr Peter KonidarisDirector
Read MoreMr Peter KonidarisDirector
Director since 2020.
Peter is a Consultant with KordaMentha. He provides advice for clients across the firm’s service lines and works with Executive teams and Boards to develop strategy.
Peter has more than 20 years’ experience advising corporate clients and government. He is passionate about leading and inspiring teams.
Peter is a Fellow of the Tax Institute of Australia and a member of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. He holds Commerce and Law degrees from the University of Melbourne as well as a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance. He has also been admitted to practise Law in Victoria.
Peter has been a dedicated supporter of the city’s homelessness projects, the Melbourne Arts Precinct and Melbourne’s post-COVID recovery. In addition to his directorship of the Committee for Melbourne, he was formerly Deputy Chair of the Melbourne Arts Precinct Corporation.
Mr Cameron McIntyreDirector
Read MoreMr Cameron McIntyreDirector
Director since 2022
Cameron is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Carsales.com Ltd (ASX:CAR) since 2017.
Top ASX100 Company and one of the original disruptors of traditional advertising and the No1 online automotive classified company in Australia and equivalent businesses in South Korea, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and Chile with a market capitalization in excess of ~$7billion AUD.
Cameron is responsible for leading a large (~1,600 employees), dynamic, innovative and fast paced organization of highly engaged professionals in multiple geographic markets and in an industry of constant change and disruption.
Carsales is an organisation with a strong sense of its culture and purpose, executing on its strategy to develop digital marketplaces in both Australia and across global markets, building adjacent market opportunities and preparing for the potential and disruption that future of mobility will one day bring.
Cameron is a passionate and focused leader of a highly talented and experienced executive team and knowledgeable, engaged and collegiate Board of Directors.
Mr Ishaan NangiaDirector
Read MoreMr Ishaan NangiaDirector
Director since 2020
Ishaan is a Partner in McKinsey & Company’s Melbourne office. He leads McKinsey’s Infrastructure and Real Estate practice in Australia and New Zealand.
Ishaan chairs the Committee for Melbourne Transport Taskforce and has led a number of research initiatives on transport and infrastructure.
Ms Genevieve Overell AM FAICDDirector
Read MoreMs Genevieve Overell AM FAICDDirector
Genevieve Overell AM FAICD is an independent non-executive director on a portfolio of Boards. Her career spans leading executive and non-executive roles in Financial Services, Infrastructure projects, cross-border trade and investment, Professional Services, Government, Property & Construction, Healthcare, not-for-profits and the Arts.
An experienced Board Chair, Genevieve brings significant commercial, legal, governance and advocacy skills. Formerly Deputy Secretary, Victorian Government and prior to government, KPMG Partner advising on Infrastructure projects, Genevieve is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Institute of Public Administration of Australia (Victoria). In the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours, Genevieve was made a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of her service to the community.
Current Board appointments: Chair, State Revenue Office Audit Committee, Victorian Government, Chair, Australian Institute of Architects, Non-Executive Director, Cladding Safety Victoria, Non-Executive Director, NW Melbourne Primary Healthcare Network.
Honorary roles: Chair, Victorian Opera, Deputy National Chair, Australian British Chamber of Commerce, Non-Executive Director, German Chamber of Industry and Commerce
Team
Mark MelvinChief Executive Officer
Read MoreMark MelvinChief Executive Officer
Mark Melvin was appointed to the role of Chief Executive Officer at Committee for Melbourne in May 2022.
Mark has a broad and international background having worked in 7 industries and across two continents.
With 30 years’ experience in executive roles across Australia and Europe, Mark has a background in retail banking, franchising, oil and gas, and retail.
Since coming to Australia from his role overseeing franchising for Abbey National’s retail banking business, Mark has held senior distribution roles at ANZ, National Australia Bank and Westpac’s franchised mortgage network RAMS.
In Mark’s previous role as Chief Executive, Bank of Melbourne and State General Manager Westpac Retail & Premium Victoria/Tasmania, he led a team of more than 2,000 passionate Victorians and Tasmanians who serve over 2 million customers through a network of more than 230 branches and business banking centres.
Having made Melbourne his home in 2003, Mark is a proud Melburnian and enthusiastic Collingwood fan!
Leanne EdwardsDirector, Policy & Advocacy
Read MoreLeanne EdwardsDirector, Policy & Advocacy
Leanne Edwards joined the Committee for Melbourne in July 2019. Leanne’s role at the Committee spans issues that contribute to the future of Melbourne such as skills, artificial intelligence, transport, arts and culture, affordable housing and planning.
Leanne is a marketing, policy and communications specialist, having come from Master Builders Association of Victoria where her role of General Manager in each of those disciplines spanned topics ranging from training, building and planning regulation to insurance and industrial relations. During her time at the Master Builders, Leanne rebranded the 140-year-old organisation, implemented successful branding and sales campaigns and saw the introduction of the trades registration Bill into Parliament.
Leanne has also worked as a Senior Brand and Strategy Manager at Coles supermarkets; Assistant Director – Regulatory Affairs at the Business Council of Australia; and as a corporate lawyer at law firms Herbert Smith Freehills and Arnold Bloch Leibler. Leanne is very interested in arts and culture and currently sits on the Board of Gasworks Arts Park, where she is Company Secretary and sits on the Finance and Strategy committees.
Leanne holds a Master of Business Administration from Melbourne Business School majoring in strategy and marketing. Leanne also holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Law (Hons) from Melbourne University and a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance and Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia. Leanne likes to travel and completed a semester of her MBA in New York at Stern Business School (NYU) and a semester of her undergraduate degree in Ireland at University College Dublin.
Matt GaffneyGeneral Manager, Future Focus Group
Read MoreMatt GaffneyGeneral Manager, Future Focus Group
Matt Gaffney is responsible for the Future Focus Group business leadership program conducted by Committee for Melbourne. His role includes program leadership, design and facilitation of key events, support of project teams as well as interactions with nominators of the participants from within member organisations.
In addition to running his own practice, Matt has over 20 years’ experience with leading international professional services firms.
Brett Van DuppenSenior Policy & Advocacy Officer
Read MoreBrett Van DuppenSenior Policy & Advocacy Officer
Brett Van Duppen provides the Committee with strategic policy development, advocacy and analysis on a wide range of issues that affect the Committee’s agenda for change. Brett is also working on the Committee’s flagship taskforce, Melbourne 4.0.
He joined us from the Whitehorse City Council and has experience in the private and government sectors.
He has a Bachelor of Arts in History and Politics from Monash University and is studying for a Master of International Business at the same university.
Julieanne CarsonEvents Coordinator
Read MoreLeah BunneyMembership & Engagement Officer
Read MoreLeah BunneyMembership & Engagement Officer
Leah has over 16 years’ experience in Corporate Hospitality and Events across Cricket (WACA), Racing (VRC), Tennis (TA) and the Grand Prix (AGPC), as well as various contracts in Health and Defence.
Leah’s love of travel started from a young age having moved abroad at the age of 2 to follower her father’s career as an air traffic controller. Born in Perth WA – she has lived in Kuala Lumpur, Queensland, Perth and has resided in Melbourne since 2016.
As part of Committee for Melbourne’s engagement team, Leah works closely with members to discuss the growth and development of Greater Melbourne.
Jacqui deKievitProject Manager - Melbourne International Student Week
Read MoreJacqui deKievitProject Manager - Melbourne International Student Week
Jacqui is an experienced executive with a demonstrated history of working in not for profit and government. She brings an extensive and successful record of achievement in marketing, communications, event management, fundraising, stakeholder engagement, business planning, strategy and governance.
Jacqui has joined the Committee for Melbourne team to lead the planning for the 2024 Melbourne International Student Week.
She holds a Masters in Business (Marketing) and is a Graduate of the AICD Company Directors Course. Jacqui is also a graduate of the Future Focus Group.
Chloe OstlerCommunications Coordinator
Read MoreChloe OstlerCommunications Coordinator
Chloe joined the Committee for Melbourne in November 2023 as our Communications Coordinator, where she oversees the management and coordination our communications.
Graduating from La Trobe University with a degree in Media and Communication and having a background in marketing, Chloe brings a wealth of experience to the team and works on ensuring that the Committee continues to thrive in its mission and engagement efforts.
Lily StephensAdministration Assistant, Engagement
Read MoreLily StephensAdministration Assistant, Engagement
Lily joined as the Administration Assistant to the Engagement Team in early 2022, a complimentary role to her studies. Currently studying full-time at Swinburne University, Lily is undertaking her double Bachelor’s degree in Psychological Sciences, Criminal Justice and Criminology.
Outside of study and work, Lily is an avid member of the Rover Scout section, taking on roles such as Secretary of her unit and Chair of the Melbourne Region Rover Council.
Laura Kerr SurahProject Manager - on maternity leave
Read MoreLaura Kerr SurahProject Manager - on maternity leave
Laura Kerr Surah is responsible for specific Committee for Melbourne projects, working closely with stakeholders on Presenting Partnerships, sponsorship and networking opportunities.
Laura joined the Committee after successfully launching the Parks Victoria CANOPY Eco Sleeper Pod pilot – an Eco-Tourism initiative developed as a key outcome of the Victorian Visitor Economy Strategy Action Plan 2016-2020.
Laura has worked in marketing and communications in both private and government sectors, including Tennis Australia, Victoria Racing Club and the London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Laura studied a Bachelor of Commercial Law and Marketing and was recently appointed to the Board of Directors on the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) APAC region, a vibrant global association with thousands of members from around the world, representing many of the Global Fortune 500 companies. Laura is serving as the Partnerships Director for the APAC region.
Standing Committee
Future Economy
Read MoreFuture Economy
Prof John Dewar AO – SC Chair | Vice Chancellor, La Trobe University
Jacqui Savage – SC Deputy Chair | Founder / Director, MedCorp Technologies
Prof Bronwyn Fox | Chief Scientist, CSIRO
Sophia Grammenos | Chief of Staff, Blackmore Capital
Matthew Hibbins | Managing Partner – Melbourne, MinterEllison
Vishaal Kishore | Director – Impact, RMIT University
Peter Konidaris | Board Member, Committee for Melbourne
Michelle Loader | Managing Director, Fisher Leadership
Rohan Mead | Group Managing Director and CEO, Australian Unity
Christopher Whitefield | Executive Director, Communications, Plenary Group
Infrastructure and Sustainability
Read MoreInfrastructure and Sustainability
Dr Joseph Correnza – SC Chair | Principal – Member of Australasian Board and Arup University Councillor, Arup
Joseph Barbaro | Partner in Charge, Melbourne, Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Sarah Browne | Executive General Manager Corporate Relations, Port of Melbourne
Alison Leighton | CEO, City of Melbourne
Patrick McCafferty | Managing Director, Yarra Valley Water
Patrick Miller | Partner – Sustainability, EY
Ishaan Nangia | Partner and CfM Director, McKinsey and Company Ltd
Nigel Pugh | General Manager Corporate Strategy, NBN Co
Michael Sewards | Co-CEO, Kinetic
Neil Stonell | Managing Partner, Grimshaw
Liveability and Urban Optimisation
Read MoreLiveability and Urban Optimisation
Craig Shute – SC Chair | Managing Director, JLL
Julian Anderson | Director, Bates Smart
Dr Catherine Brown OAM | CEO, Lord Mayor’s Charitable Trust
Scott Chapman | CEO, Royal Flying Doctor Service (VIC)
Matt Cleary | Regional Director, Urbis
Mike Day | Partner, Urban Solutions VIC, Hatch Roberts Day
Genevieve Overell AM FAICD | Chair, Victoria Opera
Clive Scott AM | General Manager, Sofitel Melbourne on Collins
Geoff Ward | Group Head, Precincts, Development Victoria
Life Members
Mr George Pappas AO
Former Chancellor, Victoria University
Mr Roger Poole
Director, Roger Poole Architects
Mr Hugh Morgan AC
Principal, First Charnock Pty Ltd
Dr Janine Kirk AO
Former Chief Executive, The Prince’s Trust Australia
Mr Gary Morgan
Executive Chairman, The Roy Morgan Research Centre
Emeritus Prof. David Beanland AO
Professor Emeritus, RMIT University
Mr Jack Smorgon AO
Director, Escor Pty Ltd
Mr Bruce Teele
Life Member, Committee for Melbourne
Mr Tom Fricke AM
Executive Manager, GHD
Mrs Pamela Warrender OAM
Director, Melbourne Prize Trust
Mr David Miles AM
Life Member, Committee for Melbourne