MBA, BEc, Grad Dip (Applied Finance and Investments), GAICD (from 23 August 2017)

Binda is Chief Financial Officer with Wyndham City Council, having previously held senior finance, planning and treasury positions at Telstra. A certified public accountant, Binda currently chairs Trust for Nature’s Audit and Risk Committee after serving on this committee as an external member since 2008. Binda also participates across a number of other organisations in a board and governance capacity including as a board member of the Satellite Foundation; a member of the CPA Public Sector and NFP Committee; and as Vice-President Professional Development at FinPro (representing finance professionals in the local government sector).

Nina is an Aboriginal woman from far north South Australia. Nina holds a Bachelor of Arts in Aboriginal Policy and Management and a Master of Management from the University of South Australia. She has eight years’ experience working in and with communities for conservation and environmental purposes as a Project Manager at the Indigenous Land Corporation. She also brings a wealth of experience from her roles with AFL SportsReady, Red Dust Role Models and National Indigenous Pastoral Enterprises, as well as the Australian Department of Health and Ageing and Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. Nina is currently working as an Aboriginal Partnerships and Business Development Manager with Yarra Valley Water.

BSc (Botany, Genetics), PhD (Zoology/Earth Sciences) (from 8 December 2015)

Charles is an ecologist and consultant with extensive experience in natural systems and conservation planning. After an early career in wildlife research, he founded Biosis Research, Australia’s largest ecological and heritage consulting firm. He was Chief Executive Officer there from 1984 until he retired in 2011. Charles is an inaugural Fellow of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand. He is Chair of the Melbourne Strategic Assessment Land Protection Advisory Group, a member of the Course Advisory Committee for Wildlife and Conservation Biology Degree at La Trobe University and a board member of the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council. He says Trust for Nature’s significant role in contributing to the conservation of privately held vegetation and habitat is critical to the long-term conservation of Victoria’s biodiversity. Charles currently chairs the Trust’s Conservation Committee.

BA (Media & Communications), Adv Cert App Language (Mandarin), Graduate AICD (from 8 December 2015)

Gayle is a communications specialist with extensive experience in strategic communications and community engagement. She has held senior executive positions at Seven Network, International CEO Forum and Fosters and was most recently Head of Marketing and Communications at ANZ Institutional. Her senior roles in journalism have been based in Australia, China and the UK including The Economist Intelligence Unit and The Age. She is currently Director of Gayle Austen Communications and a Director of Access Health and Community.

As a former journalist with specialties in environment and rural affairs, and being from a farming family, Gayle has a particular interest in the way agribusiness can help conserve the environment. She believes there are opportunities to energise and involve farmers, communities and corporations in safeguarding our natural heritage for future generations.