Parks Victoria Board

The Board is responsible for directing and monitoring the business of Parks Victoria and is accountable to the Minister for its overall performance. It delegates day-to-day responsibility for operations and administration to Parks Victoria’s Chief Executive and executive team.

The Board also consists of the following committees:

Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee
Remuneration Committee
Conservation, Cultural Heritage and Fire Committee
Aboriginal Partnerships Committee
Park Planning, Commercial and Engagement Committee

Hon. John Pandazopoulos (Chair)

Member since 2017, Chair since 2020

John Pandazopoulos is Chair of William Angliss Institute, Australia's specialist food, tourism, hospitality and events educator and Chair of Tourism Midwest Victoria, a peak tourism industry body designed to strengthen and grow Midwest Victoria’s visitor economy. John is Victoria’s longest continuous serving Tourism, Major Events and Gaming Minister with 30 years’ experience in public policy, government and governance at international, national, state and local government levels. He is the former Victorian Minister for Tourism, Multicultural Affairs, Racing, Major Projects and Employment, and a former member of the Cleanevent Advisory Board, one of Australia’s largest events businesses at the time. John was a local Councillor and Mayor of the then City of Berwick and an Executive of the Municipal Association of Victoria. He is also the former Chair of the Victorian Government’s Visitor Economy Ministerial Advisory Committee 2015-2019, former Chair and Deputy Chair of the Victorian Parliament Environment and Natural Resources Committee and immediate past Chair of Destination Phillip Island Regional Tourism Board.

John is also a member of all of Parks Victoria’s Board Committees across Aboriginal Partnerships; Audit, Risk and Compliance; Conservation, Cultural Heritage and Fire; Park Planning, Commercial and Engagement; and Chair of the Remuneration Committee.

Lisa Marty (Deputy Chair)

Member since 2017, Deputy Chair since 2020

Lisa Marty is an experienced director, senior executive and consultant. She is a specialist in land management and industry policy, strategy, governance, stakeholder engagement and advocacy. Lisa is a Director of First Super and Skills Insight, and Deputy Chair of Skills Impact, an NFP, industry-owned organisation that collaborates with industry, government and training providers to track industry trends and document skills opportunities and challenges. Lisa has over 10 years board experience, including Co-Chair of First Super, and is a former Chief Executive of the Victorian Association of Forest Industries.

Lisa is also Chair of Parks Victoria’s Park Planning, Commercial and Engagement Committee and a member of three further Board Committees of Audit, Risk and Compliance; Conservation, Cultural Heritage and Fire; and Remuneration.

Dr Gillian Sparkes AM

Member since 2025

Dr Gillian Sparkes AM has had a distinguished career working with industry, community and government to care for and protect our environment and was Victoria’s Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability for a decade before stepping down in June 2024.

Gillian is an experienced non-executive director and strategic advisor across industry, government and broader for purpose sectors. Her current portfolio also includes Chair Frontier SI (former CRC for Spatial Information), Deputy Chair Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation, board member Australian Grand Prix Corporation and member Monash University Council and NT EPA.

Gillian is a Victorian and National Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Recognised as one of Victoria’s Top 50 Public Sector Women in 2020, Gillian was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia in 2021 “for significant services to environmental sustainability, and to public administration”.

John Merritt

Member since 2025

John Merritt has led large, complex and high-profile organisations for over two decades. John was the Chief Executive of VicRoads, Chief Executive Officer of the Environment Protection Authority Victoria, and Executive Director of WorkSafe Victoria. John is an experienced non-executive director having been Board chair of WorkSafe Victoria and a Director of the Transport Accident Commission. John is currently a Director of the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, Board Chair of the Danny Frawley Centre and a member of a number of audit and advisory committees. He is currently the Principal of Aeon Advisory Pty Ltd which provides advice and coordinates reviews on behalf of boards, Ministers and Chief Executives on performance, leadership, culture, engagement, strategy and change.

John is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, holds a Bachelor of Economics, and has completed a post graduate research work at the London School of Economics and a Senior Executive Leadership Program with the Victorian Leadership Development Centre.

Taryn Lee

Member since 2021

Taryn Lee is a proud Yawuru woman and experienced policy director who has held executive roles in the public sector, leading policy and programs focused on self-determination and improved outcomes for Aboriginal peoples – most recently as General Manager, Social Impact and Policy at Collingwood Football Club. Taryn holds a Bachelor of Law from Victoria University, a Masters in Human Rights from the University of London and an Executive Masters in Business Administration from the University of Sydney, and brings skills in government, management, community engagement, leadership, and project management to the Board.

Taryn is also a member of Parks Victoria’s Park Planning, Commercial and Engagement Committee and Aboriginal Partnerships Committee.

Vijaya Vaidyanath

Member since 2020

Vijaya Vaidyanath was the inaugural Chief Executive of Homes Melbourne between 2022-23, and prior to this CEO of the City of Yarra from 2012-22. Vijaya is a highly experienced board and advisory group member across public, private, not-for-profit organisations, universities and international banks. She is currently a Board Member with Procurement Australasia and Ambulance Victoria, a Director/Trustee with Vision Super, and an Associate with LGex (Local Government Experts).

Vijaya is a Senior Executive Fellow of the John F Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and holds a Masters of Business Administration from JM Katz Graduate School of Business in Pittsburgh as well as a Masters of Arts (Economics) and a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) from the University of Bangalore.

Vijaya is renowned for her innovation, integrity, inspiring leadership style and ability to deliver results.

Vijaya is also Chair of Parks Victoria’s Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee and a member of three further Board Committees of Aboriginal Partnerships; Park Planning, Commercial and Engagement; and Remuneration.