Our board members
Scott Chapman AM – Chair
Scott has spent over 30 years in the corporate, government and community sectors. He is currently Chief Executive of the Royal Flying Doctor Service Victoria and during his tenure has driven exponential growth in health service delivery across regional and remote communities.
Scott has held chief executive and senior leadership positions across the private, public and not for profit sectors, with organisational and community capacity building at the fore of his work. Prior to joining the Flying Doctor, Scott was Director, Commerce and Marketing with the City of Melbourne where he oversaw the marketing, communications and media, tourism, major events, business, trade and investment and international portfolios for ten years.
A believer in the power of strengthening communities through volunteering, Scott volunteers his own time on multiple not for profit boards.
Cr Julie Shannon – Deputy Chair
Melton City Council Representative
Cr Julie Shannon is in her first term as a councillor and is currently serving as Deputy Mayor.
Cr Shannon has over 20 years’ experience in small business and the not-for-profit and education sectors, as well as various roles in retail and hospitality. She has served on various industry and not-for-profit boards over the past 25 years which have taught her to appreciate diversity and value a difference of opinion. She is the current Chairperson of Earth Village Community, a local Melton-based charity.
Cr Shannon is passionate about making the City of Melton a destination for visitors. She is an advocate for the development of the parklands along the Melton Weir and Reservoir and through her position on the Board, is keen to drive discussion around the role Melbourne’s western region can play to support the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Scott Thompson – Treasurer
Founder & CEO The Reputation Agency
Scott is one of Australia’s leading communications strategists, with over 20 years advising ASX 200 CEOs, Boards and executive leadership teams, and helping some of Australia’s largest businesses achieve their strategic goals. A proud Sunshine resident, Scott is a former director at the Business Council of Australia, and has also spent more than five years providing advocacy, governance and communications support within the tourism and visitor economy sector, including previously on the Policy Advisory Council of the Victorian Tourism Council.
As a leader at key public affairs agencies where he has achieved key results for brands including Origin Energy, SkyBus, Western Health, Hume Bank, Beforepay, and the Victorian Racing Club, Scott now leads The Reputation Agency, Australia’s first agency dedicated to measuring, building, protecting and amplifying reputation value. Scott’s background is in journalism, where he worked for every major newspaper in Victoria, including The Age and the Herald Sun.
Cr Samantha Byrne
Moonee Valley City Council Representative
Cr Samantha Byrne represents Steele Creek Ward at Moonee Valley City Council. Elected in 2016, she has served as Mayor (2019/20, 2021/22) and Deputy Mayor (2017/18, 2022/23). Born and raised locally, Cr Byrne champions families, education, and the environment, using her council experience to make informed decisions that strengthen community wellbeing, support local projects, protect parks and waterways, and foster partnerships across all levels of government.
Cr Cuc Lam OAM
City of Maribyrnong Council Representative
Cr Cuc Lam was re-elected to Council in 2024, having previously served three terms. She has been Mayor twice and was instrumental in introducing Movies in the Park, a popular community event. Her dedication to Maribyrnong is evident in her 30 years with the Australian Public Service, earning her the Public Service Medal. She is also a Victorian Honour Roll of Women inductee.
Cr Lam’s story is interwoven with Maribyrnong’s history. Arriving as a refugee from Vietnam in 1978, her first home was the Midway Migrant Hostel. Her experiences, including her suitcase and possessions, are now part of an exhibition at the Melbourne Immigration Museum. She continues to call Maribyrnong home, appreciating and promoting its multiculturalism, diversity, and friendliness. These qualities create a welcoming atmosphere for both residents and visitors.
Cr Duyen Anh Pham
Brimbank City Council Representative
Cr Duyen Anh Pham has lived and worked in Brimbank for 17 years, and is proud to call it home. As a local resident and ex-business owner/operator, she has developed strong connections with the community, understanding its needs, and appreciating its diversity. Cr Duyen Anh Pham believes that Brimbank’s greatest strength lies in its vibrant, multicultural community. This diversity fosters creativity, innovation, and a strong sense of community.
She is passionate about making a positive difference in the community. As a local resident and ex-business owner/operator, she has seen firsthand the impact that local government decisions can have on daily lives. Cr Duyen Anh Pham wants to ensure that the community’s voice is heard, and that the community works together to build a brighter future for Brimbank.
Cr Lisa Bentley
Hobsons Bay City Council Representative
Cr Bentley has a bachelor’s degree in applied social science and a postgraduate degree in positive education. She is a lifelong Hobsons Bay resident and a family therapist. Cr Bentley is passionate about helping residents and businesses affected by the cost-of-living crisis, enhancing basic services, maintaining roads and open spaces, and supporting the community to feel connected.
Cr Larry Zhao
Wyndham City Council Representative
Councillor Larry Zhao is currently serving his first term, having been elected in November 2024. With decades of dedicated service to the Wyndham community, Councillor Zhao brings a unique blend of business expertise and community leadership. His professional journey spans the aged care industry and business development, driven by a passion for connecting people and opportunities.
As founder and president of the Asian Business Association of Wyndham, he is committed to promoting the vibrant region to interstate and international visitors and investors alike. Councillor Zhao’s background in business and finance, combined with his deep community roots, allows him to build bridges between local potential and global perspectives. He believes in the power of collaboration, cultural understanding, and economic growth to create meaningful impact in the community. Councillor Zhao is an avid reader and enjoys hiking, travelling, conversing with people from different backgrounds, and helping people solve problems. He wants to build a better Wyndham for current and future residents.
Prof. Naomi Dale
Victoria University Representative
Professor Naomi Dale is the Director of the School for the Visitor Economy at Victoria University working across both the TAFE and Higher Education sectors. Naomi is a highly respected academic and industry leader with deep expertise in tourism, hospitality, and events. Her industry leadership includes serving as Non-Executive Director on the Australian Tourism Industry Council (ATIC) Board, where she champions sustainable and accessible tourism. As Chair and Fellow of the Council of Australasian University Tourism Hospitality Events Education (CAUTHE) Naomi has advanced national collaboration across universities, government and industry. Her research and leadership of the annual Visitor Research Forum have influenced national conversations on cultural heritage, workforce development, wellbeing, and educational tourism.
Daniel Santangeli
Arts Industry Representative
Daniel Santangeli is a social impact and creative industries leader. As CEO Artistic Director of Footscray Community Arts, he is currently leading the organisation through a significant transformation following an $8.7m precinct redevelopment investment from State Government. Prior to his time at Footscray Community Arts, Daniel was Program Manager at Midsumma Festival (2016 – 2019), and previously a producer at Next Wave (2012 – 2016). Daniel was Chair for Outer Urban Projects from 2019 to 2022, a performing arts company working with young people in Melbourne’s Northern Suburbs – having been a board member for 8 years.
In 2023, Daniel was one of 24 CEOs participating in the Social Impact Leadership Australia Program, supported by the Sidney Myer Fund and Myer Foundation, Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation and Paul Ramsay Foundation. Daniel has previously participated in Creative Australia and Leadership Victoria leadership programs. He occasionally guest hosts Richard Watts’ Smart Arts Program on Triple R, and is a current MBA Candidate at UNSW.
Robyn Grattidge
Director Business Development, Zoos Victoria
Robyn is a commercially astute senior executive with significant experience in business development in the visitor economy. As the Director of Business Development, Robyn is responsible for driving growth across Zoos Victoria’s four properties with a focus on visitors, tourism, retail and catering activities. This includes Werribee Open Range Zoo, which is currently the most visited paid attraction in Melbourne’s West. A vital hub in the Werribee Park Tourism Precinct, Werribee Open Range Zoo has exciting expansion plans, aiming to attract over a million visitors annually in the next five years.
Pamela Sutton Legaud
Graduate Member Australian Institute of Co. Directors
Pamela has lived in Williamstown since 2001 and is a committed citizen of the west. Until October 2024, Pamela was a councillor for the former Strand Ward in Williamstown and served as Deputy Mayor in 2024.
Pamela is CEO of the Small Business Mentoring Service and for more than 25 years has worked with the for-purpose sector. She is a board director of BirdLife Australia and Seddon Community Bank, Deputy Chair of the Hobsons Bay Community Fund and Chair of the Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre. She is an enthusiastic birdwatcher and wildlife photographer and loves to collaborate to protect our wild spaces and promote Melbourne’s west. Pamela has an MBA, is a Graduate Member of the Aus Institute of Company Directors as well as a Victorian Telstra Businesswoman of the Year.
Parks Victoria Representative – TBC
Contact Richard Ponsford:
0417 545 141
richard@melbourneswest.com.au
Richard Ponsford
Executive Officer, Western Melbourne Tourism
Richard has a broad range of experience in tourism both in government and the private sector. Richard has previously worked in a range of senior tourism management roles at the Melbourne Cricket Ground/ National Sports Museum, Tourism Victoria, City of Melbourne and the City of Greater Bendigo. Prior to his career in tourism, he worked as an urban planning consultant.
He has served as a Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) board member and has been a member of Tourism Australia’s market advisory panel. He is also a graduate of Destination Melbourne’s Tourism Industry Leadership Program. Richard has also worked as a judge on a range of tourism, business and student award programs. Richard is engaged by Western Melbourne Tourism on contract and has been working with WMT since 2012. He has become a very passionate advocate for the west.
Christina Browning
Communications Co-ordinator, Western Melbourne Tourism
Christina Browning is a versatile communications specialist with over 25 years of experience in various industries, including non-profit organisations, tourism, and media. She worked both locally in Melbourne and overseas, with companies such as Thai Airways and Lonely Planet, contributing her expertise as a freelance travel journalist. With a strong background in project management, social media management, content creation, SEO, research, and networking, Christina brings a wealth of knowledge to her roles. Christina is a true Melburnian at heart and has a deep connection to the western suburbs. She has lived in the area during her childhood and upon returning from her 12 years overseas. This firsthand experience has given her a unique perspective and understanding of the vibrant communities and diverse cultures within the western suburbs. Christina’s passion for storytelling aims to inspire increased visitation to the West.