The Mornington Peninsula and Western Port Biosphere Foundation has appointed Geoff Brooks as chair.
He has succeeded retiring chair Jo McCoy, who reached her maximum tenure of nine years on the Biosphere Foundation’s Board.
Geoff joined the Board in 2020, since then serving as deputy chair and treasurer.
In preparation for his transition to Chair, Geoff stepped down as treasurer in June to be replaced by Dr Paul Whitelaw, who joined the Board in April 2024 after providing specialist financial expertise for 18 months as a member of the Foundation’s Governance Finance and Risk Committee.
These new appointments coincide with other board changes.
The appointment of new board directors Clare Baker and Amy Richards was confirmed at the Biosphere Foundation’s Annual General Meeting
Clare and Amy replaced Jo McCoy and Heather Johnson, who had retired.
“The board and executive recognise and thank Jo McCoy for her leadership as chair for the past five years and contributions as a director since 2015,” Mr Brooks said.
“She was one of a few directors and stakeholders who saved the Biosphere Foundation from an existential crisis in 2017 and has guided it to where it is today, an organisation with growing respect and influence across Western Port and its adjacent cities and shires.
“Key to this has been Jo’s relentless pursuit of improved governance across the organisation. This has included transitioning the board to skills-based recruitment while ensuring cultural fit with the values and aspirations of the Foundation and its stakeholders.”
Mr Brooks said the Foundation’s future would be defined by its capacity to partner effectively across three tiers of government and strategically with corporate, philanthropic and community partners.
“Despite the scientific evidence of climate change, biodiversity loss and their impacts, we still cannot take the future health and wellbeing of the planet, financial support for the Foundation, or even the prosperity and wellbeing of our communities for granted,” he said.
“We are facing challenging times politically, economically and environmentally, not least because of a communications bonfire fuelled by self-interest, disinformation and mischief.
“The best way to overcome this is to work with partners to evolve a clearly articulated, long-term and pragmatic vision for the Western Port Biosphere region, built around our core pillars of climate action, ecosystem protection and restoration, and sustainable development.
“A core component of this must be the development of a Strategic Framework for Western Port, within which governments, statutory bodies, businesses and communities can ensure that future living, amenities and services thrive within the natural environment rather than apart from and at the expense of it.”
