Board members are responsible for the effective management of natural resources in the Catchment.
About the Board
Board members are drawn from within the region and are appointed by Victoria’s Minister for Water.
Collectively, the Board has extensive experience and knowledge of primary industry, land protection, water resource management, waterway and floodplain management, environmental conservation, local government, food processing, and business and financial management.
Current Board Directors
Sarah Parker - Chair
Sarah holds a Masters in Agriculture and Rural Development and a Bachelor of Leisure Management.
She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, National Farmers Federation Diversity in Agricultural Leadership Program, and the Victorian Climate Smart Agriculture Fellowship Program.
She has experience in executive and management roles in agriculture, extension and research, community development, and education. Sarah has been a partner in an irrigated dairy farm at Undera, in the Goulburn Valley, since 2004.
Sarah holds board and committee positions with Australian Women in Agriculture, National Rural Women's Coalition, Australian Dairy Collective, Victorian Farmers Federation, and National Farmers Federation.
Sarah values a sustainable future for agriculture and the environment and is enthusiastic about the next generation becoming more involved in natural resource management.
Adrian Weston - Deputy Chair
Adrian, who previously ran a dairy farm, owns and operates an irrigated prime lamb and cropping farm enterprise at Rushworth. He is also a Campaspe Shire councillor, representing the Waranga Ward.
Adrian has a long-standing interest in natural resource management and believes the greatest challenge facing the catchment community is balancing the demand for the increased productive use of land (soil) and water resources with protecting and improving the condition of the region’s unique natural environment.
He says the key to building the Catchment’s environmental and social resilience relies on the willingness of business, industry and communities to embrace and adapt to change.
Leanne Miller AM
Leanne is a Dhulanyagen Ulupna woman of the Yorta Yorta people. She is an experienced director with a history of working in government, non-government and social organisations.
She is skilled in governance and leadership in non-profit organisations, corporate social responsibility, program evaluation, conflict resolution and culture change. Leanne is a Senior Atlantic Fellow for Social Equity and works as Principal Adviser Indigenous Workforce Development at RMIT University.
She has extensive experience advocating for and building opportunities with women in business including in environmental management and tourism.
Leanne is chair of the Outback Academy Australia, a Victorian Women’s Trust board member, a Victorian Women's Benevolent Trust – Dugdale Trust for Women and Girls trustee, a member of Koorie Women Mean Business.
She was the Inaugural elected. North East Member of the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria (2019-2023).
Les McLean
Les is an experienced board director and executive with a strong financial background as CFO with more than 20 years management and leadership experience in the Victorian water industry and health sector.
Les holds particular expertise in finance (FCPA), governance (GAICD), strategic planning, risk management and stakeholder engagement.
He was previously a board director of the Port Phillip and Westernport CMA and currently holds the position of Executive Officer of the Natural Resources Conservation League of Victoria and its associated environmental philanthropic trust.
Amanda McClaren
Amanda is passionate about regional development, community leadership, regenerative agriculture, youth and their education.
Amanda holds an Honours degree in Applied Science and is completing a Masters of Teaching (secondary) with La Trobe University. Amanda is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and the Australian Rural Leadership Program LARC Rivers to Plains.
As former chair of Regional Development Australia for the Hume Region and an emeritus mayor of Strathbogie Shire, Amanda values the role of agriculture and natural resource management within our Goulburn Broken Catchment.
Having lived on her farm at Graytown since 2005, Amanda and her husband Ian have built a small-scale poultry business supplying their pasture-raised chickens to discerning customers throughout Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Jodie Smith
Jodie is a Senior Assessor for CPA Australia and previously worked as an accountant in public practice for the past 16 years. She holds qualifications in economics, accounting, agriculture and animal science, is a Fellow Certified Practising Accountant (FCPA) and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).
Jodie maintains an affinity to rural communities, being a board director of Rochester and Elmore District Health Service for the past five years and is a part of an irrigated cropping farm with her partner Nathan, in the Catchment area. Jodie has an interest in how we can better maintain our environment and the role that agriculture plays in ensuring our natural resources are maintained for future generations.
John Merritt
John has led large and complex government organisations for over twenty years. He was the Chair of the Board of WorkSafe Victoria, the Chief Executive of VicRoads, and the Chief Executive of the Environment Protection Authority. John was also the Executive Director of WorkSafe, the Chief Executive of the National Safety Council of Australia and held senior management roles in the Fletcher Challenge organisation.
Today, John is a Non-Executive Director, and an advisor and public speaker on leadership, culture and strategy. He is a Non-Executive Director of the Transport Accident Commission, a member of the Advisory Councils for the Monash University Accident Research Centre, and the Monash Sustainable Development Institute, and a supporter of the St Kilda Football Club, as a member of the club’s Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee, and Chair of the Danny Frawley Centre. He was a Lead Evaluator for Victoria’s Biodiversity 2037 Strategy and conducted the independent review of SafeWork SA for the South Australian Government.
Damien Gerrans
Damien was raised in the upper Goulburn catchment where his family farmed beef cattle.
Damien gained experience in environmental regulation and major project delivery before returning to the Goulburn Broken catchment in 2013. With his wife Jess, and sons Arthur and Toby, he runs a farm at Lima East working to improve the ecological health of the property.
Recently Damien has worked in local government and Landcare. Damien also holds a degree in Environmental Engineering and a Masters in Sustainable Agriculture.