Economic Development Advisory Committee

Councillor Grant Brooker represented Blue Lake Ward from 2016 to 2020. He is the first Councillor to be re-elected to Blue Lake.

Cr Brooker studied industrial relations and labour relations law before starting his own business. Locally, he is a founding member of Friends of Apollo Parkways, and has advocated to ensure the land around Civic Drive is kept as open space for the community to enjoy.

In this term, Cr Brooker will work to protect neighbourhood character, ensure the Victorian Government’s housing targets factor in liveability, reform Council’s recycling system, and base decision making on the principles of financial accountability and environmental sustainability.

Cr Brooker has lived in Nillumbik since 1997, and is married with two adult children. He plays table tennis at the Diamond Valley Sports and Fitness Centre and cycles with Nillumbik U3A each week. 

Councillor Naomi Joiner was elected to Bunjil Ward in 2024, and elected Deputy Mayor for 2024-25.

Cr Joiner brings more than 15 years of experience in the government sector. As a former School Council President, she successfully led funding advocacy to build new school buildings. She was a key member of the committee that fought to save the Hurstbridge Preschool as well as being actively involved in local sports clubs.

As a member of the Council for 2024-2028, Cr Joiner is excited to help shape the future of the Nillumbik community. Her focus will be on enhancing sporting, community and preschool facilities and she is committed to improving the quality of local roads and bus services to better connect the community.

Cr Joiner has lived most of her life in Nillumbik. She grew up on a property in Cottles Bridge and now resides in Nillumbik with her husband and children. They enjoy an active lifestyle, participating in sports and riding the local bike paths. Cr Joiner’s deep roots in the community and extensive experience drives her passion for Nillumbik’s unique character and liveability. She looks forward to working with the community to achieve these goals and create a vibrant, well-connected, supportive and sustainable environment for everyone.

Orianna Edmonds is an award-winning young entrepreneur, dairy goat farmer, business owner, advisory board member and Nillumbik Shire Deputy Youth Mayor.

Orianna began her business journey at the age of 15 when she founded her now successful and award-winning brand Naturally Goat, a wellness goat milk-based skincare manufacturer - here in the heart of the Nillumbik Shire.

Orianna is passionate about young people in leadership, regenerative agriculture and community development.

Katrina Naish has proudly called Nillumbik home for 17 years and is fortunate to live and work within Apollo Parkways. With a background in the fashion industry, Katrina often found her career at odds with her conscience.

In 2021, she pivoted her business to focus on education around textile waste, sewing and mending skills, and purposeful consumption. This shift aligns with her deep interest in the circular economy, social enterprises, and her commitment to supporting the community in making sustainable choices easier.

Katrina's dedication to these principles drives her efforts to foster environmental responsibility and sustainable practices in Nillumbik and beyond.

With 40 years of experience in public policy, economic analysis, and management consulting, Wayne Kinrade brings a practical and analytical approach to economic development in Nillumbik. He holds a Bachelor of Economics (Honours) and an MBA from Monash University and has held senior executive positions in the Victorian health and community services departments, senior finance roles in Commonwealth and Victorian central agencies, and advisory roles in large global consulting firms.

For more than 20 years, Wayne ran his own management consulting firm specialising in health, community services and disability sectors. He has led more than 300 consulting projects worth $25 million, applying economic analysis tools such as cost-benefit and value-for-money assessments to strategic planning, policy development and program evaluation.

A Nillumbik resident for 37 years, Wayne is deeply involved in local environmental initiatives, founding Nillumbio and convening the Friends of the Eltham Copper Butterfly for over two decades. He is committed to fostering sustainable economic development that supports both business growth and environmental stewardship.

Sarah Panneels, born in Belgium, has built a remarkable career in hospitality, managing a diverse range of establishments. Her leadership and dedication to fostering a positive culture in hospitality have also been shaped by her love for wine, food and culture.

Now based in Eltham, Sarah has spent decades channelling her passion for exceptional service and creating memorable dining experiences. Her European roots have influenced her hospitality approach, which combines warmth, tradition and innovation. She is grateful to live and work in our shire, which is rich in stunning wineries and is a source of fantastic produce.

Known for her hands-on leadership and dedication to excellence, Sarah has managed and operated several successful restaurants, becoming a respected figure in the industry. Her ability to bring people together over food and wine and her commitment to fostering a welcoming environment has earned her a loyal following in the community.

Beyond her professional achievements, Sarah is deeply connected to Eltham’s vibrant cultural scene. She often collaborates on initiatives that celebrate food, wine, art, and community. With her extensive experience and unwavering passion, Sarah Panneels continues to leave a lasting impact on our local hospitality landscape.

John Gawne is the Managing Director and founder of Resilient Services, which he established in 2018. Before starting his own company, John held senior management roles in critical infrastructure and service provider organisations. In 2018, he conducted an after-action review for the Victorian Premier, focusing on prolonged electricity outages. This experience led him to expand Resilient Services to support various government agencies (both federal and state) and sectors such as energy, ports, water and other critical infrastructure providers. John holds a masters degree in business and a postgraduate degree in risk and disaster management.

Resilient Services is based in Diamond Creek and has a team of eight employees. John has lived in Diamond Creek for 37 years, where he raised three children and is one of four generations of his family residing in the area. He is actively involved in the community, serving on the Economic Development Advisory Committee to give back to the place that has given him so much. John is also a member of the Diamond Creek Bowls Club, Diamond Creek Football Club and Diamond Creek Community Centre.

Luke Marshall has been advising clients on tech and marketing for 20 years. His experience stretches across big tech, corporates, startups and non-profits.

He is a founding member of Google's APAC creative team - The ZOO, and helped launch YouTube across south-east Asia. He also launched the first advertising campaigns across Australia for Instagram while at Facebook.

Luke is a Non-Executive Director for the mental health charity SANE, has written two books, and is an active consultant and advisor in the startup space. He lives in Kangaroo Ground with his partner Georgie and twin toddler boys.

Malcolm brings a holistic approach to business, balancing people, profit and the environment. With extensive experience across agriculture, education and business development, he is currently contracted to Agriculture Victoria, where he delivers and facilitates agricultural business extension programs.

He has developed numerous detailed business, succession and risk management plans for consulting clients, and has created and delivered workshops on life and business planning. A mentor with the Australian Rural Leaders Foundation and other programs, Malcolm is also an accredited MLA Edge Marketing deliverer and previously delivered marketing units for the NMIT Diploma of Organic Agriculture.

His contributions include expert segments to the Box Hill Institute’s Diploma and Advanced Diploma of Agritourism, as well as helping to develop and deliver highly regarded programs such as Farm$mart (Business) and BeefCheque (Production) in partnership with Agriculture Victoria and MLA.

Malcolm has managed family farm businesses in diverse environments, including the Yarra Valley, and has international experience working in Scotland, Siberia and Russia. He continues to engage in professional development workshops focused on business and community development.

Patricia’s career history within the northern suburbs is diverse, spanning across community services, education, not-for-profit and the energy sector.

Today, she is known for her expertise as a career practitioner who supports clients in the northern suburbs through RMIT Skills and Jobs Centre, Bundoora and St Helena Secondary College. Skills and Jobs Centres are free services for the broader community, clients can come with a range of barriers to employment at any stage of their life or from any background. Patricia’s knowledge of local demographics who are seeking employment services, labour market trends and interest in growing local economies are reasons she offers her expertise to this committee.

Simon Mauger is the founder and director of practiceedge, a digital marketing agency helping healthcare providers grow their practices online.

A former chiropractor with more than 15 years of clinical experience, Simon founded practiceedge in 2009 and has since grown the agency into a team of 27 specialists, with their office based in Chute Street, Diamond Creek.

A proud Nillumbik resident for more than 20 years, Simon loves the peace and space of his Kangaroo Ground property. He’s also the President of the Diamond Creek Traders Association and is passionate about supporting local businesses in his community.

Nicole Staveley is the co-owner of The Little Things In Life, a home and giftware store located in Eltham, which she has run for more than eight years alongside her daughter. She enjoys helping customers style their homes and select meaningful gifts.

Nicole also serves as President of the Eltham Chamber of Commerce & Industry, where she is deeply committed to supporting local businesses and advocating for the Eltham Town precinct. Her work with fellow traders and committee members ranges from celebrating local successes to driving meaningful change through strong representation.

A lifelong resident of the Diamond Valley and nearly 30-year Eltham local, Nicole has raised three children - now adults - who also continue to live in the Nillumbik Shire. She is proud to live and work in the community she calls home.

Chanmali Tregambe is the owner and operator of Nillumbik Estate Winery/Cellar Door. She is also the President of Nillumbik Tourism and Business.

A communications specialist with more than 30 years experience working as a consultant and in-house practitioner, Chanmali also runs her own communications company inkPR. A resident of the Shire for more than 30 years, Chanmali lives and works from the family property in Smiths Gully.