VIC Industry Breakfast with the Minister 2026

The Honorable Gayle Tierney, Victorian Minister for Skills & TAFE and Minister for Water  

The Honorable Gayle Tierney, Victorian Minister for Skills & TAFE and Minister for Water
Gayle is the State Member for Western Victoria, Minister for Skills & TAFE, and Minister for Water.

Gayle has a strong connection with rural and regional communities, having completed primary and secondary education at regional schools.

Gayle is the State Member for Western Victoria, Minister for Skills & TAFE, and Minister for Water, who has a strong connection with rural and regional communities, having completed primary and secondary education at regional schools.

Uncle Andrew Gardiner, Chair of Birrarung Council 

Uncle Andrew Gardiner, Chair of Birrarung Council 
Uncle Andrew is a proud descendant of the Wurundjeri clans of the Woi-wurrung people and identifies as an Aboriginal Muslim Australian. Uncle Andrew’s working life has been in the service of Aboriginal communities, Aboriginal community controlled health, and self-determination. 

Uncle Andrew has held numerous positions across a range of organisations and has held (or currently holds) numerous board and committee positions.

In December 2019, Uncle Andrew was elected to the First Peoples Assembly Victoria as the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung reserved seat member and was re-elected in July 2023 to continue the work on Statewide Treaty.  

Dr Erin O’Donnell, Associate Professor at Melbourne Law School and Birrarung Council Member 

Dr Erin O’Donnell, Associate Professor at Melbourne Law School and Birrarung Council Member 
Erin has worked in water law and policy since 2002, in both the private and public sectors. She is recognised internationally for her research on the legal rights of Rivers and Indigenous water justice. 

She is currently a Senior Lecturer and ARC Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne Law School, where she is working with Indigenous Peoples in Aotearoa, the USA, Australia, Sweden, Finland and Norway on the role of treaties in achieving water justice. 

Jill Risely AM, Acting CEO, Infrasturcture Victoria 

Jill Risely AM, Acting CEO, Infrasturcture Victoria 
Jill is an accomplished executive and non-executive director with more than 20 years' experience across corporate and public sectors. 

Prior to joining Infrastructure Victoria in 2024, Jill was a partner at Deloitte's and led their climate and sustainability consulting services. Jill was previously CEO of the Metropolitan Waste and Resources Recovery Group which transitioned to the newly formed Recycling Victoria. She has also held senior executive roles with Vicinity Centres, REA Group, Telstra, Sensis and Museums Victoria. 

Jill is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has served as a non-executive director on several boards including the Royal Botanic Gardens, Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), Australian Council of Social Service and Launch Housing. Jill holds a Masters in Sustainability Leadership from the University of Cambridge, executive business qualifications from the Australian Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Arts (Public Relations) from RMIT University.

Dr Nerina Di Lorenzo, Managing Director, Melbourne Water

Dr Nerina Di Lorenzo, Managing Director, Melbourne Water
Dr Di Lorenzo is the Managing Director of Melbourne Water which provides drinking water, treats wastewater and manages catchments in the greater Melbourne region.

She holds extensive experience in the water and local government sectors, including as CEO of Merri-bek City Council for five years preceded by holding infrastructure executive portfolios.

Dr Di Lorenzo commenced her early career in the oil industry working on the platforms in Bass Strait.  

Dr Tony Wong, Professor of Sustainable Development, Monash University

Dr Tony Wong, Professor of Sustainable Development, Monash University
A Civil Engineer, with a PhD in Water Resources Engineering, Tony is internationally recognised for his research and practice in sustainable urban water management, particularly in Water Sensitive Urban Design.

His expertise has been gained through national and international consulting, research, and academia. Throughout his career, he has led collaboration and translation of research insights into innovative practices in urban water management. He led the establishment of Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities, which he co-founded.