ANIMAL INDUSTRIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Biographies of Advisory Committee Members
Surname
First Name
Biography
Lester was appointed as a Senior Panel Member with Planning Panels Victoria in October 2005, and has
considerable experience in strategic and statutory planning, and project implementation. Lester was a
sessional member of Planning Panels Victoria from 1997 to 2005. He has qualifications in town planning and
sociology, holding a Bachelor of Town and Regional Planning (University of Melbourne) and Graduate Diploma
of Sociology (LaTrobe University). Additionally, Lester has provided strategic and statutory planning advice for
a range of local and state government organisations and private companies. He has a particular interest in
integrated planning and has been involved in a number of transport and urban design projects. Lester has
expertise in plain English communication and drafting. He is a Fellow of VPELA and has previously served on its
Board. He was also the former President of the Australia Institute of Urban Studies.
Townsend
(Chair)
Lester
Millar
Hugh
Dr Millar is a highly regarded biosecurity and veterinary professional, who has worked extensively over 35
years in biosecurity management in the animal health, plant health and invasive pests sectors of government.
He was Victorian Chief Veterinary Officer for 11 years until 2011, and until 2013 was the Executive Director for
Biosecurity Victoria, responsible for policies and programs for animal biosecurity and welfare, plant
biosecurity, invasive plants and pest animal management, and control of use of agricultural and veterinary
chemicals. He is a member, by examination, of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists, Epidemiology
Chapter, and was awarded a Public Service Medal in 2011 for ‘outstanding public service to the livestock
industries and general public’ in his role as Chief Veterinary Officer for Victoria. Dr Millar has extensive
professional networks within government and with agricultural industries at the national and state levels.
Navarro
Katherine
Katherine Navarro has qualifications in Law and Arts, with a minor of archaeology at La Trobe University.
Katherine has over 12 years’ experience as a Government Lawyer in Victorian State and Commonwealth
Government Departments and Statutory Authorities. Katherine most recently worked as the Acting Manager
Legal - Projects and Property at Public Transport Victoria, following her time as the dedicated Regional Rail Link
(RRL) Project lawyer for V/Line. Katherine has also worked as a senior solicitor at VicRoads and Department of
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Human Services, solicitor at Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office and solicitor advocate for a
Commonwealth Statutory Authority. Katherine is currently on the Law Institute of Victoria’s Property and
Environmental Law Section and was previously on the Government Lawyers’ Section, including as Chair of the
Section for a number of years. In 2009, Katherine received a Certificate of Service from the Law Institute of
Victoria recognising her services and contribution as a Government lawyer. Katherine is a member of the
Victorian Planning and Environment Law Association, National Environment Law Association and Victorian
Women Lawyers.
Peterson
Lucinda
Lucinda is a planner with extensive experience in planning at a regional level. Lucinda was recently with the
Southern Grampians Shire Council as Manager Planning and Environment and prior to holding this position
was Manager of Strategic Planning at Warrnambool City Council. Lucinda brings experience in regional issues
and also urban planning experience having worked for a number of metropolitan Councils including the City of
Melbourne and in the private sector. Lucinda has experience in strategic planning and assessment of planning
applications, as well as environmental and public health and wellbeing matters, related to rural land use.
Based in the Western District since 2002 she lives on a large scale family owned sheep farm producing meat
and wool and has experience in the day to day activities of the business. Lucinda has been a sessional
member of Planning Panels Victoria since 2013 and has 20 years experience as a planner. She is a member of
the Planning Institute of Australia and VPELA.
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