Who we are

Gillian has a distinguished career that spans executive and non-executive roles across the private, public and not for profit sectors having worked three decades in industries that interface with the environment and community, before senior public service. Gillian has held senior roles with both the Australian and Victorian Governments including Deputy Secretary Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment, Chair Sustainability Victoria and was Victoria’s Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability – an independent statutory role that reports and advises government and the community on the environment – for a decade, before stepping down in June 2024.  Gillian is also the ministerial appointed Member of the Monash University Council, Deputy Chair of the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation, a board member of the Industry Capability Network, Victoria and a Trustee of the Royal Society of Victoria.

As Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability Gillian transformed the impact of the role to enhance Victoria’s environmental monitoring, management, policy settings, reporting and ultimately outcomes. Including advocating for better use of spatial information, data analytics and citizen science, and has been instrumental in key improvements in how the Victorian Government pursues its digital transformation agenda for better environmental outcomes. Gillian has a PhD in Applied Science, a Master of Business Administration, is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a National and Victorian Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia, has an Honorary Doctor of Science from Swinburne University of Technology and is an Honorary Fellow of Monash University. Gillian was recognised as one of the Top 50 Victorian Public Sector Women in 2020 and appointed as a Member of the Order (AM) in the General Division of the Queen’s Birthday 2021 Honours for significant services to environmental sustainability, and to public administration.

Chair since December 2018.