The Zoos Victoria Foundation Board comprises a select group of Melbourne's influential community and business leaders.
In line with the vision of Zoos Victoria, members of the Zoos Victoria Foundation Board play an ambassadorial role in the development of fundraising and partnership opportunities with individual donors and the corporate and philanthropic sectors.
Mr. Sidney Hordern Myer AM (Chair)
Chief Executive Officer, Yulgilbar Group of Companies
Sid Myer is the Chief Executive Officer of Yulgilbar Group of Companies with responsibility for the development and management of local and international investment portfolios, agricultural interests in Australia, and the property and business interests within the Group.
Mr Myer is a Trustee of the Sidney Myer Fund, Chairman of the Beyond Australia Task Force, Chairman of Asialink and Asia Society AustralAsia Centre, Chairman Zoos Victoria Foundation, Director of The Myer Family Company Holdings, a Director of OC Funds Management and a long serving member of the Australia-Thailand Institute.
Mr Myer graduated in Economics and Marketing from Monash University in Melbourne and has over 25 years experience in retailing and investment management industries in Australia and overseas. Mr Myer has built diverse global networks, especially in Asia, across business, government, academia and the arts. He has particularly strong associations with Asia, having lived and worked in Malaysia for over four years in the early 1990’s.
Sid Myer is married to Fiona and has three children. He is a keen skier, horseman, and golfer and participates in a number of other sports.
Associate Professor Andrew Lancelot Vizard
Professor of Veterinary Epidemiology at the University of Melbourne
Director of Animal Health Australia
Andrew is a Professor of Veterinary Epidemiology at the University of Melbourne and an experienced company director. He is currently a Director of Animal Health Australia, and of several public companies. From 1999 to 2009 he served on the Zoological Parks and Gardens Board.
Andrew loves to walk around the zoo with his children: to see the world through a child’s eyes. The wide-eyed expression and absolute amazement in their faces when they look at the dazzle of colours floating and swaying around the butterfly house. The joy as they watch the orang-utans traverse ropes with nonchalant grace. The disbelief as they listen to a male lyre bird’s superb mimicry of an impossible range of noises. We do live in a world full of amazing, wonderful and exotic things. Sometimes it takes a child to show us.
Ms Natasha Bowness
Director Wilbow Group Pty Ltd
Natasha is a Director of Wilbow Group Pty Ltd, a private family investment group whose focuses include private equity, listed equities, property development funding and property development activities (USA).
In addition to her Wilbow role Natasha manages a number of other investment entities and chairs the Bowness Family Foundation. Prior to joining Wilbow Group in 2000 Natasha commenced her career with PriceWaterhouseCoopers where she worked for seven years providing a variety of Assurance services in their Melbourne and London offices.
Natasha has Bachelor of Economics, is a Chartered Accountant and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Mr Alex Waislitz
Executive Chairman and Founder of Thorney Investment Group
Thorney Investment Group is an Australian based diversified investor in public securities, private companies and property. Thorney specialises in emerging companies across a broad array of industries including Manufacturing, Technology, Mining Services and Resources.
Alex has extensive business and capital markets experience and has been a member of several public company Board of Directors. Currently Director of various Pratt Group companies and Vice President of Collingwood Football Club.
Alex is a graduate of Monash University in Law and Commerce and a Graduate of the Harvard Business School OPM Program.
Mr Ian Hicks AM
Executive Chairman, Applied International Pty Ltd
Chairman, Deutscher & Hackett
Ian W Hicks graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Economics and is currently the Executive Chairman of Applied International Pty Ltd, a private investment group located in Melbourne, specialising in both active and passive investments. Applied International is also involved in a number of philanthropic projects through the George Hicks Foundation including the preservation of the Spotted Tree Frog at Healesville Sanctuary.
Ian was a member of the Young Presidents Organisation (YPO) from 1978 – 1996 and of the World Presidents Organisation (WPO) from 1997 until the present and served as a Director, on the Board of both organisations for several years. Ian has been involved with a number of major charitable and art related organisations. He is Chairman of Deutscher and Hackett a fine art auction house and extensive collector of Australian art and sculptures. He was both Director and subsequently President of the Multiple Sclerosis Society Victoria from 1993 – 2000 and Multiple Sclerosis Society of Australia from 1994 – 2002.
In 2002, Ian was made a member of the Order of Australia for his work with the Multiple Sclerosis organisation.
On the art front, Ian was a member of the National Gallery of Victoria Business Council from 1993-98 and Deputy Chairman from 1994 – 1998. He is currently Deputy Chairman on the National Gallery of Victoria Foundation from 2002 until the present. In November 2008, Ian was made a Life Member of the Gallery.
MR ANDREW ABERCROMBIE
Profile coming soon
