President: Mary Debrett
Now in her fifth year as a board member, Mary moved to Ballarat with her partner after she retired. A former teacher, she initiated the World Environment Day Children's Writing Competition with BREAZE in 2018 and continues with her own writing—non-fiction and fiction—on climate and environment-related issues. A media and communications academic with a background in documentary making and a special research interest in media coverage of climate change, Mary spent many years analysing how the climate communication crisis —the 20 year faux debate: is it really happening?— exacerbated Australia's climate policy void. She is now enjoying collaborating with other BREAZE members, advocating for and working on practical local solutions.
Treasurer: Paul Tant
Paul is a Chartered Accountant (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales) with over thirty years of financial experience in financial management and internal and external audit. He was also previously the local Community Development Manager with Bank Australia. He originally moved from the UK to Ballarat in 1997 with a minerals mining and processing group; subsequently in 2008 he moved to work in the not-for-profit sector, originally in community finance in London and qualified with a MSc in Voluntary Sector Management in 2010 from London’s Cass Business School Centre for Charity Effectiveness to add to his Bachelors degree in Economics.
Paul has significant experience on not-for-profit boards both in Australia and in the UK, and currently works providing financial compliance and consulting services to a range not-for-profit organisations. He lives in Buninyong with his family and believes that urgent action on the climate emergency is necessary for future generations.
Simon Reid – Simon is well known to many members through his passionate involvement in many BREAZE initiatives since formation and his role as Director of Breaze Energy Solutions Pty Ltd.
Sue Nunn: Coordinator Affiliated Groups - joined the BREAZE Board in November 2020
Sue has been a member of BREAZE since its inception. She is passionate about personal ways of living sustainably in a changing physical, social and cultural world. She works in the higher education sector with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practitioners who work on and for Country. She also teaches into anthropology and sociology.
Sue has joined the BREAZE board to be part of an organisation that advocates for the health of the environment as well as people. Her other passion is film and its power to express story.
Sally Missing: Coordinator Volunteers
Sally and her husband made a retirement tree change to Buninyong in 2019 where they are enjoying making their garden more productive and their house more energy efficient. She loves being part of a small community where there are many people that are concerned about the environment.
Although she is new to environmental advocacy, Sally has spent many years working and volunteering in the not-for-profit sector including past experience as Vice President of Eltham Community Health Centre and President of Emerge Australia. Her work experience includes management of health promotion, allied health and chronic disease programs and, prior to retirement, she was Executive Officer of the Inner East Primary Care Partnership.
Sally has qualifications in nursing, a Bachelor of Arts (Media) and a Masters’ Degree in Health Administration.
“I want to do something useful in my retirement and what better than to support desperately needed action and advocacy in response to climate change.”
Catherine Oakley
I was born in Melbourne. We have lived in Swan Hill, Alice Springs, Leeton NSW, Deniliquin, and now Ballarat. Throughout my extended stays, I have looked at the environment and I have seen it change. I have Degrees in Agricultural Science and Accounting. My working life was in quality control in Melbourne, Science and Maths Teaching and as an Accountant in both Private Practice and Manufacturing. One of my children lives in Lismore NSW. The experiences at that place have helped crystallise the meaning of Climate Change and to show it is happening now.
Vice President: Campbell Mercer
Campbell Mercer has experienced first-hand the impacts of climate change on the agriculture sector having managed Manna Hill Estate for over 20 years. Manna Hill Estate is a certified organic / biodynamic mixed farm at Mount Egerton that has an olive grove, agroforestry and sheep. Campbell is passionate about and has extensive knowledge and practical hands-on experience of regenerative agriculture and its ability to help solve the climate crisis having. With degrees in Engineering and Business and extensive business experience both nationally and internationally Campbell can see that urgent action is needed to address the climate emergency.
Sue Broadway
Sue is new to BREAZE in 2022. Sue has spent most of her working life in a dynamic Government Department, interpreting legislation and applying policies. She has lived most of her life in Ballarat and raised her 3 children here. Always maintaining a high focus on environmental issues throughout her family life, Sue is now keen to take a more active role in participating in making change and focusing on renewable energy sources.
Peter Morison
Pete joined BREAZE in 2023 bringing to the board a shared passion for our natural environment and sustainability. He has a background in environmental and social science with over twenty-five years of experience working in water services, natural resource management, local governance, and as a consultant to various government organisations. Working alongside universities and other knowledge hubs, Pete loves to bridge research, industry practice and community action, knowing that this is fundamental to change with complex issues such as climate change.
Lydia Mzondo
Lydia moved to Ballarat to study at Federation University, graduating in Management of Information Systems in 2007. Now calls Ballarat home, with her 2 girls and partner.
Lydia is a product of the Leadership Ballarat program (now Future Shapers) program and has volunteered with Ballarat African Association and Community Bank Buninyong. She is passionate about contributing and giving back to community. Driven by what she envisages as a gap with climate action plans, Lydia sees herself working with likeminded innovative intellectuals making a difference locally through advocacy while thinking globally.
Vany Gunaratnam
Vany joined the Board in early 2022 taking up the role of Project Manager
I have worked as a Sustainability Engineer/Consultant for more than 10 years in both the private sector and local Government. I have Mechanical Engineering and Science degrees and a Masters in Sustainable Energy. I have excellent technical skills backed by great insight into wider legal, political, socio-economic, environmental , and governance contexts to achieve sustainability outcomes. I also have an extensive network within the sustainability industry.