GRAZ VAN EGMOND

Graz is a passionate innovator, disruptor and changemaker currently leading the Banksia Foundation team to communicate inspirational solutions and promote optimism and action. She has extensive experience working in the Health, Tourism and Telecommunications Industries, creating the Telstra Business Women’s Awards and heading up Telstra’s Small Business Development division. Her skills, experience, determination, and panache contribute towards making meaningful, memorable and valuable events and campaigns from conception to delivery.

ESTELLE O'CALLAHAN

Estelle is an author, expert facilitator, podcast guest and Churchill Fellow. She is the founder of 3P Delivery Authority, specialising in strategic initiative review, implementation and training. Estelle is passionate about the difference her clients want to make. She largely consults to government and the Not-for-Profit sectors to achieve desired project outcomes for advancing strategic mission further and faster. In addition, Estelle has senior management experience in government, including delivery of significant and strategic policy, legislation and infrastructure projects.

 

RICK FINLAY

Rick has over 22 years’ experience in the CRM and Customer Data Management industry and is one of the leading solution architects at Oracle. He has in-depth knowledge of the needs when structuring complex data models, particularly in the areas of complex application processing, financial services, telecommunications and complex case management.

Rick is an active public speaker through his membership of Toastmasters and is a founding member and director of the Banksia Environmental Foundation.

JO CAIN

Jo is currently Chair of the Banksia Awards Governance Committee and has previously served as a Banksia Foundation Chair and board member. She successfully operates her own business, Materiality Counts. With her wealth of experience, Jo is a trusted advisor on sustainability, stakeholder engagement, materiality, strategy, integrated thinking and reporting with major organisations in Australia and New Zealand.

JOHN VALASTRO

John Valastro is a Non-Executive Director of Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria which works with volunteer groups and regional councils to create vibrant and enduring local community sustainability and resilience outcomes.

As the previous Head of Environment at Qantas John saw that the Banksia Awards offered a unique opportunity to elevate the environmental standards of corporate Australia, and he is excited to bring his experience across the corporate, local government and community sectors to the Banksia Foundation team.

PETER OLSEN

Peter Olsen is an inspirational leader who helps people to think and act differently. His expertise is in driving change in complex businesses to achieve outstanding results. 

Prior to founding his own business, Neslo Solutions, Peter was a senior executive at Serco Asia Pacific, Thiess, Leighton Contractors and Bechtel where he led functional teams in the complex contractor environment across construction, mining, industrial and social services. With workforces from under 200 to over 22,500 people and annual overhead management managing budgets up to AUD 250 million, Peter’s breadth of knowledge is significant.

As a founding Director of Australian Green Infra Structure Council and a champion of organisational sustainability and environmental management, Peter has been at the forefront of contemporary thinking in maximising organisational futures through minimising their carbon footprint.  

MELISSA SCHULZ

Melissa has nearly 25 years’ experience in leading ESG strategy development and execution across large corporates. She currently holds the position of General Manager, Sustainability at QIC Real Estate, and is a key member of the Real Estate executive committee. Before joining QIC, Melissa was General Manager of Sustainability at Vicinity Centres, and has previously held senior positions at ANZ Banking Group, Transurban Group and ExxonMobil.

Melissa holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) from The University of Melbourne, a Master of Corporate Sustainability Management from Monash University, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors’ Company Directors Course. She is based in Melbourne.

PETER WOODS

Self-employed consultant specialising in corporate governance and ICT. Currently a member of the ACIC/AIC and OAIC Audit and Risk Committees and the ACFID Code of Conduct Committee. Previously a senior executive in the Australian Government Environment Portfolio and the ACCC; Australian Government Representative/Counsellor, Japanese Institute for Global Environmental Strategies; Member, National Environmental Education Council; Chair, National Environmental Education Network; past board member of Banksia and the Centre for Environmental Education; AFR MIS magazine’s inaugural Green CIO of the Year.

TERENCE JEYARETNAM

Terence is the APAC Leader, Climate Change and Sustainability Services at EY in Melbourne, and has been a Partner at EY for 8 years.  An environmental, climate and sustainability specialist with over twenty-five years’ experience, previously, Terence was the Founder and Director of sustainability firm Net Balance until its acquisition by EY in 2014.  Terence holds a degree in Environmental Engineering (UWA), is a Chartered Professional Engineer and a Fellow and Engineering Executive of the Institute of Engineers, Australia. He is also an Clean Energy Regulator accredited Category 2 Auditor.

WILL RAYWARD-SMITH

Dr Will Rayward-Smith is a leading climate policy advisor to government and climate strategist to corporates. His robust techo-commercial analysis of different clean technologies supports his clients to embark on optimal decarbonisation pathways and unlock new value pools.

Will works closely with multiple ASX100 clients, advising on their climate strategies and supporting portfolio implementation of decarbonisation initiatives, investments and clean growth opportunities.

With government, Will has helped design practical and impactful climate policies, and supported successful business cases for over $2.7bn of funding allocation towards renewable energy infrastructure, decarbonisation and low carbon industries.