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.
Anthea Dimitrakopoulos – Deputy Chair
Quest Apartments (Industry Representative)
Anthea is the General Manager of Brand and ESG for Ascott Australia, responsible for the Environmental, Social and Governance plan, the strategic brand and marketing direction for the Australian Team. The Brands include, Quest Apartment Hotels, lyf, Citadines, Oakwood Premier and Somerset. A seasoned professional with over 16 years hospitality and tourism experience and 11 of those in franchising. Anthea has a passion for hospitality and tourism, marketing, bringing brand and product ideas to life, maximising operational excellence, delivering financial performance and equally: championing gender and broader diversity rights, environment, and social issues.
Anthea oversees the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategies including Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives across The Ascott Limited brands in Australia. Key milestones already achieved include growing gender diversity at a senior leadership level and implementing a new Gender Equality Policy that includes paid parental leave.
Dr Colin Drake – Treasurer
Victoria University Representative
Colin is a lecturer in undergraduate and postgraduate marketing, tourism and events and is course chair for both the Bachelor degree programs in Tourism & Hospitality and Event Management. Colin has over 20 years of practitioner experience encompassing senior roles in Event Management, Tourism, Hospitality and the Aviation sectors in Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
Cr Julie Shannon
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.
Cr Paula Theocharides
Moonee Valley City Council Representative
Cr Paula Theocharides is a distinguished Councillor for Moonee Valley City Council, proudly representing the community on the Western Melbourne Tourism Board. A trailblazer in Australian politics, she is the first neurodivergent woman from a culturally and linguistically diverse background to hold such a role. With over 25 years of leadership experience spanning not-for-profit and private sectors, Cr Theocharides excels in strategic planning, operational management, and stakeholder engagement. Her lived experience as a neurodivergent individual and a carer for neurodivergent children drives her commitment to inclusivity and innovation.
In her council role, she champions evidence-based practices, sustainable growth, and social justice, ensuring Moonee Valley’s diverse communities thrive. As a representative of Western Melbourne Tourism, Cr Theocharides is dedicated to fostering regional economic development and promoting Melbourne’s vibrant west as a destination for visitors and businesses alike. Drawing on her culturally and linguistically diverse background and lived experience of disability, Cr Theocharides is committed to ensuring that true access and inclusion are prioritised and receive the attention they deserve.
Cr Cuc Lam
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.
James Patrick
Hobsons Bay City Council Representative
James Patrick serves as the Coordinator for City Economy at Hobsons Bay City Council, leveraging over a decade of expertise in senior management roles across diverse sectors, including marketing, engagement, and commercial strategy. James was honoured with the 2021 Marketer of the Year Award by the Produce Marketing Association of Australia and New Zealand for his innovative and results-driven campaigns.
James has successfully executed large-scale marketing initiatives, expanded membership programs, and enhanced digital platforms to engage diverse audiences. His collaborative approach and entrepreneurial spirit have not only strengthened community engagement but also delivered measurable benefits to stakeholders. Committed to excellence, James continues to drive impactful economic strategies that contribute to the vibrancy and sustainability of Melbourne’s west, particularly in Hobsons Bay.
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.
Paul Devine
Parks Victoria Representative
Paul is the current Manager of Parks Victoria’s Western Melbourne District, overseeing popular visitor attractions such as Werribee Park, Brimbank Park, Organ Pipes National Park, and Point Cook Coastal Park. The district covers a geographic area from Craigieburn in the north to Werribee in the south. Together these parks and reserves welcome over 2,000,000 visitors annually. Parks Victoria also hosts local, regional, national and international events within these parks that provide social benefits and economic stimulus in the western suburbs of Melbourne. Paul brings over 9 years of experience with Parks Victoria and a wealth of international experience in event management and operations, having worked with organising committees of the Commonwealth, Asian, and Olympic Games, as well as major British airports and a large European airline.
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.
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.
Scott Thompson
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.
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.
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.