Our Organisation
Board of Management
Geelong Sustainability is governed by our Board of Management. Our highly skilled Board Members are elected by members annually at the Annual General Meeting. Board positions include Chair, Treasurer, Secretary and up to four General Board Directors.
Geelong Sustainability is governed by our Board inline with the requirements of the rules of our incorporated association. Read more about Our Governance
Meet the Geelong Sustainability Board
DAVID SPEAR - CHAIRPERSON
David is a strategic designer and social innovator who has dedicated his career to helping organisations and communities navigate complex challenges and build regenerative futures. He is Principal of Spearhead Strategic Design & Innovation and is leading the rollout of the Give Where You Live Foundation's Social Innovation Lab.
David has established, led and transformed organisations across Victoria, Queensland and Canberra, earning multiple awards for enterprise leadership, community impact and regional development — with work spanning government, industry, philanthropy and social enterprise. He holds an MBA, a Bachelor of Design (Hons) and advanced training in Human-Centred Design.
David is a co-founder of the Geelong Design Leaders Forum and has played a key role activating The Paddock, the Give Where You Live Foundation's seven-acre regenerative social innovation precinct. He is also a Director of clean-tech enterprise, Rhino Instruments and sits on the GeelongPort Community Liaison Committee.
Drawn to Geelong Sustainability because of the urgency for leading local action on climate change, David has served as Chair since 2022.
EMMA CONNAN - DEPUTY CHAIR
Emma is a sustainability leader and strategist who is firmly committed to performance excellence. As Head of Strategy and Performance at Barwon Water, she oversees strategy development, pricing and regulation, capital portfolio governance, performance insights and business improvement.
Prior to this, Emma spent over two decades at Deakin University, most recently as Director of Sustainability, Environments and Logistics, where she championed the university's sustainability efforts and led it to become a recognised sector leader in climate mitigation and adaptation, integrated water management and biodiversity management.
As Deputy Chair, Emma is deeply passionate about governance and sustainability, having joined the Board of Geelong Sustainability to help build meaningful change across the region.
MARIAH CHANG - SECRETARY
Mariah is a lawyer, consultant and public servant who is passionate about using her skills to deliver positive environmental and community outcomes. Her professional experience spans the renewable energy regulatory space, energy and decarbonisation strategy, sustainability and circular economy initiatives, product stewardship scheme design, and co-design of effective operating models across government and industry.
Mariah holds a Bachelor of Laws and Economics and is an admitted lawyer and officer of the Supreme Court of Victoria. Driven by a deep appreciation for nature and the ocean, she is particularly motivated by work that supports the transition to a more sustainable and regenerative economy, and was moved to join Geelong Sustainability to support this vision.
Outside of her professional life, Mariah is committed to living more consciously — reducing her environmental footprint, being a more ethical consumer, and supporting organisations that are making a genuine difference.
GLENN GARNAUT - TREASURER
Glenn believes that building a sustainable future is one of the most important things he can do for the next generation. A finance professional and grandfather, he brings international leadership experience in financial reporting, controllership, operational excellence and risk.
On returning to Australia in 2018, Glenn spent over six years in senior roles and as Company Secretary for ZEN Energy — Australia's first energy retailer to commit to a 1.5-degree science-based emissions target by 2030. His three young grandchildren are a constant reminder of why this work matters.
Glenn is a Certified Practicing Accountant and graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
NEIL PLUMMER- GENERAL BOARD MEMBER
Neil is a climatologist and community advocate who cares deeply about tackling climate change and inequality at every level. He joined Geelong Sustainability as a volunteer in 2020 and became a Board member in 2022, drawn to an organisation committed to real action on the world's greatest challenges. Neil chairs the organisation’s Audit, Finance and Risk Subcommittee.
A former Head of Climate Services at the Bureau of Meteorology, Neil developed climate products and services for the water, agriculture and emergency management sectors, leading programs that generated significant additional revenue for both Australian and international markets.
Neil now sits on the board of Wannon Water Corporation, chairs its Audit and Risk Management Committee, and chairs the Advisory Board of Climate Communications Australia. Neil is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds Masters degrees in both Business Administration and Science, a Graduate Diploma in Computing, and a Diploma in Meteorology.
FRED RITMAN - GENERAL BOARD MEMBER
An educator, technologist and nature lover, Fred has spent his career finding ways to make complex organisations work better for the people they serve. With over 30 years' experience across government, schools, universities, TAFE and the not-for-profit sector, he has held Executive roles in the Victorian State Government and private industry, building a strong grounding in leadership and governance.
Fred currently serves as Director of Information Services at Geelong Grammar School. He joined the Geelong Sustainability board to support practical, community-led sustainability initiatives and to contribute his experience to making a positive local impact. Fred continues to work to align his understanding of sustainability with everyday decisions and personal action, and continues to indulge his passion for the natural environment.
Fred is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and member of the Audit, Finance and Risk Subcommittee.
STEPH MCDONALD - GENERAL BOARD MEMBER
A sailor, ocean lover and community advocate, Steph believes that climate action works best when it is local, practical and driven by the people closest to it. What began as concern for the health of our bays and waterways has grown into a commitment to create real, lasting impact for the people and places she loves.
With experience across government and not-for-profit sectors, Steph brings expertise in governance, media, strategy and sustainability, and continues to deepen her knowledge through postgraduate studies. Time on the water with her children inspires her dedication to restoring local ecosystems and supporting programs that make a tangible difference in the community.
Steph joined the Geelong Sustainability board because she knows that change starts close to home.
STUART MKOJERA-THOMSON - GENERAL BOARD MEMBER
Stuart is an environmental thinker and community builder who has spent many years exploring the intersection of environmental sustainability, community development and practical action. Having studied environmental science at university and worked across many countries, he has seen both the scale of the climate challenge and the power of local solutions.
As co-founder of the Good Business Foundation and Good Business Network, Stuart holds a strong conviction that creating impact and building strong local economies should go hand in hand. He was inspired to join Geelong Sustainability’s board because he believes its programs reinvest their success back into the community, furthering its goal of climate justice.
Stuart is energised to be part of an organisation that is ambitious in its goals while remaining grounded in real change for its own community.
DR EVAN CENTER - GENERAL BOARD MEMBER
Evan is an environmental leader and climate governance specialist committed to aligning business with a sustainable and just future. He serves as Head of Environment and Climate for the Australian Country Network of the UN Global Compact, working with nearly 400 cross-sectoral Australian businesses and investors to drive progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals in alignment with the UNGC Ten Principles.
Evan holds a PhD from the University of Kansas and directs private-sector projects, thought leadership, policy engagement and partnerships across net-zero, nature-positive, sustainable finance, circular economy, ocean and just transition initiatives.
He joined the board of Geelong Sustainability to help accelerate community-led climate action across the region — in keeping with Article 12 of the Paris Agreement — and is committed to supporting practical, inclusive solutions that strengthen Geelong's resilience and advance an equitable transition to a net-zero future. Evan serves on the Audit, Finance & Risk Subcommittee.