Regional Manager, Parks Victoria West

Rod has been involved in protected area management for his whole career and has worked in many parts of the state. He is currently regional manager for the West of the state which includes some of Victoria’s most significant national parks - the Grampians National Park, Port Campbell National Park (12 Apostles), the new marine parks, the Mallee parks and the new Great Otway National Park.

Prior to taking on the Regional Manager role in 2006 Rod was the Director of Capital Infrastructure for Parks Victoria. In this role he was responsible for the delivery of many tourism facilities and supporting infrastructure including jetties and piers around the bay, the rebuilding of St Kilda pier kiosk and the construction of the Brambuk National Park and Cultural centre at Halls Gap.

Rod has a passion for eco tourism and has been involved both in managing some of the states most important natural attractions and the supporting infrastructure that the tourism industry relies upon. He has been a board member for Lakes and Wilderness and Grampians Inc. which has given him an insight into the broader tourism issues in rural and regional Victoria. Rod has been involved in building partnerships with indigenous communities, particularly at Halls Gap where the significant partnership with Brambuk provides tourism, employment, and educational opportunities.

This is Rod’s fourth year as a judge on the Victorian tourism awards.