Environment and Sustainability Advisory Committee

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Aims 

The Environmental and Sustainability Advisory Committee (ESAC) brings together community members with relevant experience and expertise in environmental and sustainability matters. ESAC Community members provide feedback and advice to Council on strategic and policy issues.

Objectives

To provide feedback and advice to Council on strategic environment and sustainability matters including:

  • biodiversity and land management
  • climate action – (climate resilience, net-zero emissions, sustainable transport, waste management and circular economy, and integrated water management)
  • the development and review of Council policies, plans and services that impact environment and sustainability
  • support for the delivery of Council’s Biodiversity Strategy, Urban Tree Canopy Strategy and Climate Action Plan
  • key Government initiatives, programs and reviews
  • representing the views and needs of environment and sustainability stakeholder groups within Nillumbik
  • improving community engagement practices in the broader Nillumbik community
  • strengthening partnerships with residents, community groups and services in Nillumbik. 

Meeting frequency

Committee meetings are held every third Wednesday of the following months (February, April, July, September, November) from 6pm to 8pm at a Council venue.

Additional sub-committee meetings may be held on an as-needs basis.  

Committee period

The Committee is appointed for a two-year term. The new committee was appointed May 2026 and will commence July 2026. 

Join the committee

Recruitment for the 2028-2030 committee will commence in late 2027.

If you are interested in receiving more information about applying for the 2028 committee, please provide your name and email address via our online expression of interest form, and we will be in contact in late 2027. There is no obligation to apply.

Members

This Committee is chaired by a Councillor representative who is appointed annually at Council's Extraordinary Meeting held in November.

Find out more about the committee members

The Committee comprises the following representatives endorsed by Council:

  • Cr Kate McKay (Chair)
  • Cr Kim Cope (Alternate Chair)

Andrew McMahon

Andrew McMahon is a professional ecologist with over 40 years' experience. He and wife Pam have lived in the Bend of Islands for 13 years and previously in Christmas Hills for some 30 years. Andrew’s career includes five years of postgraduate research in fire ecology and 35 years as founding director (along with the eminent botanist Geoff Carr) and principal ecologist of the consultancy Ecology Australia. He has worked extensively across most environments in South East Australia, and at a local scale has observed our changing habitats for decades. He is currently involved with private research on climate related impacts.

Claire Gregory

Bio TBA

Corinne May

Bio TBA

Jenniy Gregory

Bio TBA

Lily van Eeden

Lily van Eeden is an environmental scientist whose research explores how people interact with and value nature. She has expertise in conservation biology and human behaviour change earned through over a decade working in environmental management and a PhD in human-wildlife conflict. Her research helped to support delivery of the Victorian Government’s Victorians Value Nature framework, which seeks to promote nature-friendly behaviour among the public, and she now lectures in environmental sciences at RMIT University. Her childhood spent in the Panton Hill bushlands was an important part of her journey towards a career in nature conservation, and she hopes to help protect Nillumbik’s nature for future generations too.

Lynlee Tozer

Lynlee has a longstanding commitment to Nillumbik, its community, natural environment and landscapes. She has a BSc (hon) and extensive professional experience in biodiversity and land management, and knowledge of climate resilience in natural ecosystems.

Lynlee has worked with Trust for Nature, as a biodiversity officer in local government, and as a university lecturer in the fields of ecology, weed management, sustainable land use and plant identification. She has also been involved in many local community groups, including Smiths Gully Landcare, Friends of Panton Hill Bushland Reserves, Friends of Nillumbik, Green Wedge Protection Group and the Panton Hill CFA.

Malcolm Cock

Malcolm grew up on a biodynamic dairy and beef farm in Lower Plenty, and managed a dynamic and successful family stud and commercial beef, sheep and goat farming operations in Buchan and Leongatha, Gippsland. Malcolm is an agricultural consultant, now based in Eltham.

Malcolm’s experience includes: 

  • Private consulting to mainstream and lifestyle clients
  • Agriculture Victoria BetterBeef extension program coordinator and specialist
  • Worked in the development and practice of other MLA and Agriculture Victoria ‘best practice’ extension programs
  • Developed and delivered marketing modules for NMIT Diploma of Organic Agriculture
  • Delivered numerous workshops particularly in total farm and stock management
  • Involved in various industry groups including gold member of Landcare
  • Contributor to the Box Hill Institute’s Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Agritourism
  • Monitor in the Drought Resilience Leaders Mentoring program and others

Marcel Saxone

Bio TBA

Rachel Hur

Bio TBA

Rowena Thomson

Bio TBA

Wayne Kinrade

Bio TBA

Agenda

The Agenda for the next Committee meeting is uploaded one week prior to the meeting date. 

Minutes

Minutes from each Committee meeting are confirmed at the next meeting of the Committee.