Board Governance
Bushwalking Victoria is a not-for-profit incorporated association governed by an elected Board of Management, comprising four executive members and six general board members; each is elected from our affiliated member clubs and individual supporter members. Each board member has a fiduciary duty and specific legal and ethical responsibilities. In addition, Bushwalking Victoria is governed by our own Rules and Bylaws.
The organisation’s day-to-day management is carried out by the Board and four standing committees with administrative support. Each standing committee convener is supported by a subcommittee or subject-matter experts.
Bushwalking Victoria’s funds are generally derived from membership and subscriber fees; we also receive grant funding from the state government to undertake specific projects.
Bushwalking Victoria is a member of the Bushwalking Australia Council, the national peak body for bushwalking in Australia.
Association Registration No. A0002548Y.
Australian Business No. 88 344 633 037
Meet the Board
Jeffrey Alan McDonell
Board President - Joined 2023 - Club Affiliation: Bayside Bushwalking Club
I spent many years managing IT in universities, including roles as an IT Director, and bring strong people-management experience to the Board. Outside bushwalking I enjoy motorcycling, electric vehicles, parkruns, environmental issues and anything connected to Wilsons Promontory. Bushwalking is a physical and mental release for me - being outdoors with like-minded people is grounding and energising. I’ve also walked in New Zealand, Nepal and Mt Kilimanjaro. My favourite walk is the Sealers Cove track at Wilsons Prom.
I originally joined the Board simply to give Robyn Shingles a hand, but it soon became about giving back to the bushwalking community while I’m able. I believe BWV can do much more for the many bushwalkers who aren’t part of affiliated clubs - that’s a major challenge and opportunity I’m keen for us to take on. My advice to new walkers is to join a club, learn from experienced walkers and enjoy the social side.
Bronwyn Portes
Board Vice-President- Joined 2025 - Individual Member
I bring skills in strategy, commercial and customer focus, sustainability, governance, risk, change management, business transformation and advocacy. Life outside bushwalking is busy and fulfilling - my two children, a backyard full of chickens, volunteering with SES and Surf Life Saving Victoria, and a love of gardening with First Nations edible plants. One of my simple joys is watching the blue-banded bees while having a quiet cup of tea.
Bushwalking fills my bucket. Whether it’s noticing the colours of tiny ants or taking in sweeping alpine views, it regularly reignites my sense of awe. It also deepens my belief in the importance of protecting our planet for our health and wellbeing. My favourite walk is Mount Abrupt (Mud-dadjug) in Gariwerd. My advice for new walkers is to stay curious and consider joining a club - it’s a great way to learn and enrich your hikes.
Giovanna Ford
Board Secretary - Joined 2024 - Club Affiliation: Maroondah Bushwalking Club + Diamond Valley Bushwalking Club
My love of bushwalking began with a simple appreciation for being outdoors, but over time it has become much more than that. The bush is a place where I can leave behind the pressures and pace of everyday life, breathe deeply, and reconnect with what is important. I find great joy in the simplicity of walking through nature, sharing experiences with others, and discovering the beauty of our natural environment. The bush has a unique way of bringing calm, perspective, and a sense of balance that I value immensely. One of my personal goals is to complete the iconic Larapinta Trail, a challenge that combines my love of walking with the opportunity to experience some of Australia's most spectacular landscapes.
Before retiring, I spent 32 years in the IT industry, working across Australia, Malaysia, and New Zealand in roles including Programmer and Project Implementation Manager. My career involved leading projects, building relationships, and chairing committees and working groups- skills and experience that I continue to bring to board and community roles.
I served as Secretary of the Maroondah Bushwalking Club from 2021 to 2024 and have enjoyed supporting the club and its members through both governance and community involvement.
Terrance Le
Board Treasurer - Club Affiliation: Wimmera Bushwalking Club
I am a finance professional with experience in budgeting, workforce planning, and organisational performance across the Victorian health sector. I bring strong financial governance skills and a practical, community-focused perspective to Bushwalking Victoria's operations. Living in regional Victoria, I enjoy spending time on the trails and look forward to contributing to the organisation and supporting its member clubs statewide.
Robyn Teed
Board Member - Joined 2024 - Boroondara Bushwalking Club
I joined Boroondara Bushwalking Club in 1987 and have been active ever since. I completed the Bushwalking and Mountaincraft Leadership course in 1994, coordinated Federation Day Walks in 2013 and have been a member of Bush Search and Rescue since 2013. Outside walking, I enjoy travel and reading. I love being out in nature and the many benefits it brings, and my favourite place to walk is the Victorian high country.
I joined the Board because I’ve always enjoyed hiking and wanted to contribute to BWV’s work. I care deeply about safety in the bush and protecting the environments we walk in. My advice for new walkers is to prepare well so you can walk safely and confidently.
Adam Chernok
Board Member - Joined 2025 - BSAR Member
I’m a barrister at the Victorian Bar, working across serious criminal and administrative law matters, with an academic background in Environmental Studies and Australian Indigenous Studies. I bring a reflective, detail-oriented approach to the Board and a strong personal passion for bushwalking. When I’m not working or walking, I enjoy reading, surfing and cooking. Bushwalking gives me the space to decompress from the pressures of my work and reconnect with the natural world. My favourite walk is the Great Ocean Walk.
I joined the Board because I wanted to make a meaningful contribution to the bushwalking community. My advice to new walkers is this: look after your gear, and your gear will look after you.
Terry Rudge
Board Member - Joined 2025 - Club affiliation: Ramblers Walking Club
I’ve operated my own business since the 1990s, and outside bushwalking I enjoy gardening and bonsai. Bushwalking has been part of my life since childhood, and I’ve always believed in the inherent good of the bush. The Grampians is my favourite place to walk. I’m motivated by a desire to share the value of nature with others and help more people discover the joy of being outdoors.
My advice to new bushwalkers is to find a group of kindred souls to walk with - the right company makes every walk better.
Jane Spence
Board Member - Joined 2026 - Individual Member
I'm a climate and sustainability leader with over 20 years’ experience across government and the community and not-for-profit sectors - and I'm a long-term nature lover. I love bushwalking; the time in nature, the beauty, the simplicity, moving my body, wondering and wandering. I could not possibly choose a favourite place to walk - but I recently re-walked the Pinnacle track in Gariwerd-the Grampians and was reminded of what an incredible walk that is!
I joined the Board to help play a role in connecting people to nature - and each other - and supporting safe, inclusive and sustainable bushwalking.
My advice to new walkers: walk your own walk (with others if possible) and don't compare yourself to others! Everyone has their own way/fitness/gear etc. Learn from others but work out what's best for you.
Liesbeth Long
Board Member - Joined 2026 - Club Affiliation - Central Goldfields Bushwalking Club
I’m Dutch-born and alongside my husband, a fifth-generation farmer
at Timor West. I also run my own business as an Authorised
Marriage Celebrant and proudly serve as a Councillor with the
Central Goldfields Shire. First elected in 2020, I served as Mayor
during my inaugural term and was re-elected in 2024.
I have a deep love of hiking and value the opportunity to connect
with nature, discover hidden gems and enjoying the company of
fellow walkers. As the Founding President of the Central Goldfields
Bushwalking & Hiking Club, I am passionate about encouraging others
to experience the physical, mental, and social benefits of spending
time in the bush.
I have extensive governance experience, having served as Chair of
the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance and LEAD Loddon Murray,
a Board Director of Regional Leadership Collective, President of the
Timor Primary School Council, and as the first female Chair of the
Highview College Board.
A passionate community volunteer, I have been a member of the
Bowenvale CFA and Bowenvale Hall Committee for 24 years,
volunteer as a First-Class Steward on the Victorian Goldfields
Railway and mentor emerging leaders through ALGWA and ARLF.
I also enjoy cycling, motorbike touring, caravanning, photography and
spending time with my husband, three adult children, and two
grandkids.
Peter Jennings OAM
Board Member - Joined 2026 - Club Affiliation - Ben Cruachan Walking Club (BCWC)
I retired from farming five years ago after forty years however through that time I was
also involved in local government and several environmentally focussed boards
including as chair of the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority. I am
currently a member of the Gippsland Grammar board and have been a CFA
volunteer for 45 years.
My bushwalking adventures began at high school where I completed the Duke of
Edinburgh, Gold Award. I went to university, did a science degree and Dip. Ed., then
taught science and maths for a few years, at the same time helping out with the
bushwalking component of school’s D. of E. Award. I also did a stint as an instructor
at Outward Bound before returning to the family farm in 1981.
My favourite walks are in the Victorian High Country with Mt Howitt-Crosscut Saw
being a highlight. My walking adventures have taken me to Borneo, Thailand,
Kashmir, Nepal, and Papua New Guinea.
I joined BCWC in 2015, later serving as president for three years and wrote/compiled
the club history in time for the 60 th anniversary in 2025.
Alan Abrahams
Administration Officer - Joined 2022
I’m a project manager with experience across organisations large and small, especially in productivity and business process improvement. Outside bushwalking I enjoy cycling, rail trails, camping, international affairs, wine appreciation and spending time with my family. Bushwalking enables me to experience the outdoors with friends and family, stay fit and mentally alert, and explore some of the most magnificent scenic areas in our country. My favourite walk is the Great Ocean Walk.
I joined the Board because, as a keen bushwalker with strong admin skills, I wanted to support the volunteers who keep this organisation running and help strengthen bushwalking across Victoria. I hope to see BWV continue to grow as a strong, vibrant organisation that attracts more clubs and supports even more walkers. My advice for new bushwalkers is to stay open-minded about the types of walks you do and the people you meet along the way.
Richelle Olsen
Executive Officer - Joined 2023 - Club Affiliation: Escaping Your Comfort Zone Inc.
I bring a background in community engagement, business analysis and web design, along with my experience founding Escaping Your Comfort Zone, a body-positive adventure community for women - with the ethos that the outdoors is for every body, regardless of size, speed or fitness. Outside of work, I love mountain biking, bike touring and boogie boarding. My favourite walk is Edwards Point in St Leonards.
Bushwalking is important to me because it resets my mind, builds confidence and continually reminds me what’s possible when we take that extra step beyond what feels familiar. I’ve been lucky to experience adventures around the world, but what matters most is doing them with others - sharing views, encouragement and moments that stay with you.
I’m motivated by helping people feel welcome in nature and supporting clubs to thrive. As EO, I hope to modernise BWV’s work, strengthen relationships with clubs and partners, and encourage everyone to enjoy the mental and physical health benefits of walking safely. My advice for new walkers is simple: you don’t need to “look the part” - just bring curiosity, start small, take it at your own pace and learn from others with more experience. You’ll rarely regret getting out on the trail.
Standing Committee Conveners
Bush Search and Rescue (BSAR): Rodney Polkinghorne & Simin Ngan
Bushwalking Tracks and Conservation: Mike Grant & Keith Seddon