Meet the Board

Jeremy is a qualified Company Secretary, a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia, a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees.  In 1990 he was appointed as a Justice of the Peace. Jeremy was the CEO of Sovereign Hill from 2002 to 2018 and held various senior management and CEO positions in local government from 1972 onwards.  Jeremy served as President of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry from 2017-19 and is a current Board member.  He also Chaired the Central Highlands Water Board from 2010 to 2021.  Jeremy was appointed as a Director and Trustee of Care Super Pty Ltd in 2018.  He is a member of the Federal Ministerial Advisory Council on Skilled Migration and Chairs the ACCI Tourism Restart Taskforce.

Jeremy is a past President of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and is currently a member of its Executive Council.  He also served as Chair of the Victoria Tourism Industry Council from 2006 – 2016 and is a Life Member.  

In 2011, he received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Ballarat for distinguished eminent business and community service.  He was the recipient of the Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Individual at the 2012 Victorian Tourism Awards.

In 2019, Jeremy was made a Member of the Order of Australia for “significant services to tourism and the Ballarat community”

Clive has spent more than 35 years working in the banking and financial sectors including 25 years throughout Asia. He is well disciplined in Corporate Risk and Governance and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

As an advocate of effective community engagement and collaboration between citizen, corporations, Councillors and Council staff, Clive ensures transparency in all decisions.

A Lorne local, Clive is an active member of several clubs and associations.

From his many leadership roles, John provides a diverse knowledge and understanding of tourism and business.

John’s roles have included:

• Past National General Manager Couriers and Outsourcing with Australia Post
• Past Chairman Shipwreck Coast Tourism Board
• Chairman South West Healthcare Board
• Chairman Deakin University IMMERSe (Integrated Model Medical Education in Rural Settings) Community Advisory Board – placement of 3rd year medical students from Bacchus Marsh to the South Australian border
• Current Board Director (BMAC) Boards Ministerial Advisory Committee Victorian Department of Health

Robyn Seymour joined Surf Coast Shire Council as Chief Executive Officer in July 2021, moving into local government from a distinguished career in transport strategy planning and delivery.

Robyn was previously Deputy Secretary, Network Planning, with Victoria’s Department of Transport, leading a team of more than 400 people. Her role included strong focus on determining future transport needs and delivery of Victorian Government strategies, including the Road Safety Strategy which aims to halve Victorian road deaths and progressively reduce serious injuries by 2030.

She was previously Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive of VicRoads after having started her career in the sector as a counsellor, working for eight years with individuals and families impacted by road trauma.

Robyn has a strong wish to return to working more closely with community, a key motivation in seeking the Surf Coast Shire Council role.

Born and raised in New Zealand, Dean’s first involvement in the Australian hospitality industry was working for a number of Gold Coast hotels in the early 1990’s. He then spent a number of years in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands before moving to Torquay in 2007 to manage the opening of a golf resort.

Dean was appointed as Resort Manager for the RACV Torquay Resort in January 2011.

Toquay is now very much his home with his wife and three teenage children.

As a fourth-generation family business operator, Sam has experience in both the public transport and the tourism/hospitality.

A keen advocate for regional development for the benefit of the community, Sam is an avid traveler. Married with a family of four young children, he is also unashamedly a golf tragic.

Damien is the owner of Great Ocean Road Resort and co-owner of Sunnymead Hotel and Anglesea Riverside Motel, dedicated to increasing domestic and international visitation to the Great Ocean Road Region.

Damien is the current Chairperson and Board member of Business Events Victoria, representing the Great Ocean Road Region and a committee member on the Australian Tourism and Export Council Victorian branch committee.

Damien has over 12 years experience in the tourism industry and has in-depth knowledge across accommodation, hospitality, spa and wellness, international markets and business events.

Ian commenced with Colac Otway Shire in 2010 following State Government roles with Regional Development Victoria and Sport and Recreation Victoria. Ian’s roles within the government sector have primarily focussed on community and business engagement, and delivering on public sector policy. Ian was appointed to the position of General Manager Community and Economy in 2018, which includes the key portfolios of economic development, tourism and investment attraction.