About Us

Bruce Anson – Warrnambool

Bruce is the CEO of Warrnambool City Council where he previously served as a senior officer for more than 20 years and is a Fellow of LGPro.

Representing the region on a range of forums, including the Regional Cities Victoria Group, Deakin University Leadership Group, Deakin University Medical School - Greater Green Triangle Clinical School Community Advisory Board, the Great South Coast CEO's Group, Bruce has a good understanding of the issues driving coastal cities as well as the challenges facing rural economies.

Ed Coppe – Geelong

Both as elected Councillor and former Mayor, and as a principal of his own firm, Ed has played a major role in the economic development of Geelong. This work and his consultancy in wealth creation and retirement planning were informed by his former role as member of the Mars company’s Superannuation Board of Trustees and his senior marketing and management positions with the company. Ed’s achievements include important contributions to the establishment of the Committee for Geelong and the development of the Geelong Major Events Committee.

Ed is a current Board member and Chairperson of the G21 Geelong Region Alliance and was a member of the former Victorian Government’s Regional Development Advisory Committee.

Peter Dorling – Geelong

Peter Dorling is the current Executive Director of the Committee for Geelong. The Committee for Geelong acts as a think-tank and lobby group for the Geelong region and has as its membership over 120 CEO’s and Company Directors from across the region. In his current position Peter is charged with taking Geelong forward into the 21st Century and particularly focusing on national and international connections.

Peter holds a Masters Degree in Business Management from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.

Peter is a Trustee of the Committee for Economic Development of Australia, a Director of the Geelong Performing Arts Centre and Chair, Northern Futures Program.

Elaine Carbines – Geelong

Elaine is the CEO of the G21 Geelong Region Alliance. She is also Deputy Chair of the Geelong Performing Arts Trust.

Elaine represented Geelong Province in the Legislative Council from 1999 to 2006. She was Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Training, and then Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment.

Geoffrey White – Portland

Geoff is a Glenelg Shire councillor who has served four terms as Mayor. Geoff worked as Human Resources Manager at the Port of Portland Authority. Active in regional planning, Geoff was also Chair of the Great South Coast Municipalities Group and the Alliance of Councils for Rail Freight Development. He is a Board Member of the Committee for Portland.

Professor Sue Kilpatrick – Warrnambool

Sue is Research Professor of Regional Communities at Deakin University in Warrnambool. Sue has a PhD in the Economics of Education and a Master of Economics in Labour Economics. Sue is passionate about higher education access for rural and remote students and lifelong learning. She is a Board member of the South West Local Learning and Employment Network, the South West TAFE and the Corio Norlane Development Advisory Board. Sue is also member of several education and rural industry-related committees.

Michael Malouf – Geelong

Michael is Managing Director of Barwon Water and is also a Director of the Committee for Geelong, G21 Geelong Region Alliance and St Laurence Community Services. In addition, he is Deputy Chair and Director of the Australian Division of the Water Reuse Association and a member of the Geelong Manufacturing Council, Deakin University Engineering Advisory Board, Deakin University Geelong Community Leaders Board and the IWA Executive Council.

Ruth Gstrein – Camperdown

Ruth is a Corangamite Shire Councillor who has served three terms as Mayor and has chaired the Great South Coast Mayors Group. An Office Manager at Bostocks Creek Design and Drafting, Ruth is also a Board Member of Camperdown P-12 College, Corangamite Regional Library Corporation and South West LLEN. Ruth represents Corangamite Shire on the Audit Committee, Lakes and Craters Advisory Group, Heritage Steering Committee and Youth Council.

Elizabeth Coker – Aireys Inlet

Elizabeth is a Councillor and former Mayor of the Surf Coast Shire. She is a journalist and Communications Consultant who had worked for The Geelong Advertiser and The Age newspapers and the Department of Education, Barwon South West region. Elizabeth is Chair of the Great Ocean Road Tourism Destination Management Plan Committee.