Our Board

Jan Fitzgerald

Chair of the Board

Jan has over 15 years’ experience as a non-executive director, including Board Chair, and Audit and Risk Committee Chair. In addition to her role as Chair of Destination Gippsland, Jan is currently independent director of the Think Water group of companies, and independent member on the Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority. She is a Board member of MND Australia, the South Gippsland Hospital and the Gippsland Regional Partnership. Previous board roles include the sectors of government, waste, health and sport.

Jan previously was the CEO of Sports Environment Alliance, where she worked with sporting communities across the country to help deliver positive environmental outcomes. Her executive career has encompassed roles in retail, banking, government, operations, finance and sustainability. Jan is a graduate of the AICD and CPA Australia.

Jan has a lifelong connection to Gippsland and divides her time between Melbourne and Metung. She is passionate about showcasing all that Gippsland has to offer and helping to make a difference in the lives and livelihoods of the people and businesses of Gippsland.

Neil Plumridge

Deputy Chair of the Board
Chair the Audit Finance Governance & Risk Committee

Neil has over 30 years of experience in management consulting, having worked in more than 20 countries. He provides strategic guidance to clients on complex strategy, policy, and transformation programs, and has held executive positions as CEO and Managing Partner in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region and served on Global Leadership Teams of different professional services firms. He is also a non-executive director for several private companies, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and has interests in agricultural and tourism related ventures in Gippsland.

Andrew Clark

Chair the Nominations & Remuneration Committee

Andrew’s extensive career in travel and tourism has spanned the UK, France, Asia and Australia, and includes senior management roles in both private businesses and government tourism agencies. A graduate of London University, Andrew worked for both STA Travel and Contiki in the UK. Since emigrating to Australia, Andrew’s experience includes positions with Destination NSW, as Regional Director, Asia; Northern Territory Tourist Commission, as GM Marketing; and the Hong Kong Tourism Board, as Regional Director, Australia and New Zealand.

Greg Box

Director

For over two decades Greg Box has provided leadership to multiple peri-urban and regional Councils covering a diverse portfolio from Economic Development, Tourism and Communications to Arts and Culture. Greg is the CEO of Bass Coast Shire Council. A well-known and respected leader and advocate in the Local Government, Greg is passionate and driven about the essential role of Culture in our lives. Greg is a director on the Cultural Development Network and Creating Australia Boards and has led international award-winning engagement programs and presented extensively both in Australia and overseas. A highly skilled engagement practitioner with considerable background in local government, and the university sector, Greg has a sharp understanding of how to develop meaningful infrastructure to enable the best long-term service outcomes for the community.

David Morcom

Director

David has been the CEO of Wellington Shire Council since 2012, having previously been in local government leadership roles in Victoria (Mildura), South Australia (Barossa) and Tasmania (St Helens). Prior to that he worked for 10 years in management roles for Westpac Banking Corporation, predominantly throughout the Pacific islands.

He is a fellow of the Governors Leadership Foundation (SA) and during his career has sat on a diverse range of boards from Regional Development Australia (both Gippsland and Barossa) through to Opera Companies and Community trusts.

Steven Piasente

Director

Steven Piasente is the Chief Executive Officer of Latrobe City Council and holds a Bachelor of Engineering, a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration, and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Steven has over 28 years of experience working for local communities, having held senior management roles in local government and private enterprise – all in the Gippsland Region. Combined with the skills to develop and deliver major change strategies, Steven has a passion for local government and making a difference for local communities.

Michelle Nicholson

Director

Michelle has more than 20 years of experience in stakeholder relationships and customer experience across the private, tertiary, not-for-profit and State Government sectors. Michelle is a senior leader in the information technology industry and has particular experience in governance, strategy and operations, data management design and security, and risk management.

Michelle brings a values-focussed approach to organisational performance and capability development. Having grown up in Gippsland, she’s particularly passionate about the vital role business can play in contributing to positive outcomes for the environment and local communities in the region.

Adam Vardy

Director

Adam owns and operates Mewburn Park Homestead, a wedding event and accommodation business located between Maffra and Tinamba in Central Gippsland. Adam brings on-the-ground tourism experience, and understands the needs and pressures of starting and operating a tourism business in regional Victoria. Before Mewburn Park, Adam worked a graphic designer for major consumer brands in Germany and China, and so also brings considerable advertising experience to the Board of Destination Gippsland.

Fiona Weigall

Director

Following a successful career in management roles in Western Australia’s public sector, Fiona relocated to East Gippsland. Joining East Gippsland Shire Council in 2011, Fiona has held a range of other Management and Executive roles with Council. Fiona was appointed to the role of Chief Executive Officer in April 2024.

Fiona has had significant public sector tourism experience including establishing tourism services and an award-winning Visitor Centre for the Swan Valley in Western Australia; establishing a regional marketing entity for East Gippsland that included visitor attraction marketing; and overseeing the operation of visitor services in East Gippsland, considered one of regional Victoria’s premier visitor destinations.

Fiona is passionate about Gippsland and sharing this wonderful region with visitors.

Allison Jones

Director

Allison Jones, CEO of South Gippsland shire, is a distinguished senior executive in the local government sector, known for her humility and collaborative approach. With over 20 years of executive-level experience and a proven track record in financial management, she is commercially astute and excels in advocating for community needs and aspirations.

Allison is renowned for her consistent, high-quality delivery, always on time and within budget. She embodies continuous improvement and is a dedicated team player with drive, influence, and a commitment to fostering a culture of excellence. Her dedication to supporting Council’s vision is evident through her pursuit of transformational outcomes and innovative service and project delivery. Throughout her career, Allison has demonstrated her executive capabilities at South Gippsland and across the local government sector. Since 2005, she has played key roles in executive teams, gaining extensive experience in areas such as Waste Services, Landfill, Airports, Customer Service, Planning, Local Laws, Information Technology, People and Culture, Tourism, Events, and Environmental Health. She has also successfully served as acting and interim Chief Executive Officer at Latrobe City Council, Bass Coast Shire Council, and South Gippsland.

Carey Norton

Director

Carey Norton is a seasoned hospitality professional with more than 40 years of experience across New Zealand, Australia and Vanuatu. Throughout his career, he has held a range of leadership and management positions within prominent hotel and tourism organisations, including his current role as Resort Manager - RACV Resort Inverloch.