BASS Coast Shire Council Chief Executive Officer, Ali Wastie, is the new chair of the inaugural Board for Alpine Resorts Victoria.
The appointment was announced on Wednesday, August 10 by the Minister for Environment and Climate Action Lily D’Ambrosio.
Ms Wastie, who is also a board member of South Gippsland Hospital, Destination Phillip Island, Destination Gippsland and Bass Coast Country University will continue on as the Bass Coast Shire’s Chief Executive Officer.
Bass Coast's councillors reportedly heard about the new appointment for the first time at their regular briefing on Wednesday, although Mayor Cr Michael Whelan had prior knowledge.
The majority of councillors, if not all, are believed to be supportive of the appointment, indicating the connections and experience may have spinoff benefis for Bass Coast, also a key tourism destination.
In naming the new board of the Board for Alpine Resorts Victoria, Minister D’Ambrosio said that “Victoria’s renowned alpine sector has a new champion to take it into the future”.
She said the new board would provide the “strategic leadership to continue growing the state’s $1.1 billion alpine sector and support its response to the impacts of climate change”.
The Alpine Resorts Victoria Board will manage all six alpine resorts at Falls Creek, Mount Baw Baw, Mount Buller, Mount Hotham, Mount Stirling and Lake Mountain, replacing four alpine resort management boards and the Alpine Resorts Co-ordinating Council.
As well as Ms Wastie, the board also includes Deputy Chair Helen Moran who is a member of three alpine resort management boards and has extensive experience in the Victorian alpine industry and tourism, joined by Julia Hunter and Michael Monester who are members of existing alpine boards.
New board members include Natalie Ajay, who is currently Director, Communications and Engagement at GOTAFE and is a non-executive director of Murray Regional Tourism Board and a member of IndiGrow; and Daniel Miller who is a Yuin man, a First Nations group from the south coast of NSW, who is currently Chief Executive Officer of the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation.
It also includes Kaley Nicholson is a Taungurung woman and co-founder and Director of Yilam Pty Ltd, a company that offers on Country experiences, and Chair of the Taungurung Land and Waters Council; Nadia Jaworski, who is a Partner on Infrastructure matters at PwC, and Peter Anderson is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Transport Association and the Victorian Waste Management Association.
The board appointments will commence October 1, 2022.
Minister D’Ambrosio underscored the importance of the Alpine Resorts Victoria Board’ s work.
“Victoria’s alpine resorts make an extraordinary contribution to our state and to our regional communities through their efforts to deliver long-term financial sustainability to the alpine sector,” Minister D’Ambrosio said.
“This new board will provide the strategic leadership that Victoria’s alpine sector needs to deliver tourism growth and to manage the impacts of climate change.”
Council's response
Bass Coast Shire Council Mayor, Cr Michael Whelan, said the council welcomed appointment.
"The appointment by the Minister for Environment and Climate Action Lily D’Ambrosio on 10 August 2022 announcing Bass Coast Shire Council CEO Ali Wastie as the inaugural Chair of the Alpine Resorts Victoria is a welcome appointment," Cr Whelan said.
"It recognises Ali’s ability to make connections across a range of sectors including health, tourism, education and regional development. Ms Wastie serves of on a number of boards that add value to Council and our communities. She is a board director of South Gippsland Hospital, Destination Gippsland, Destination Phillip Island and Bass Coast Country University. On three of these she directly represents Bass Coast Shire.
"Alpine Resorts Victoria faces challenges and opportunities similar to those we face at Bass Coast – climate change, asset management, Traditional Owner self-determination, housing and tourism, where seasonal visitation affects both coastal and alpine regions. Ms Wastie is an incredibly well networked executive and inspirational leader, and this role will lead to greater connections with senior executives within DELWP that will be of great benefit to both Bass Coast and Alpine Resorts.
"It is quite common for high performing Local Government CEOs to hold Board positions across multiple organisations recognising the incredible skill set, network and experience they have. Local Government CEOs are current directors at Parks Victoria, Zoos Victoria."
