Bicycle Network: Our Organisation
Meet the Government and External Relations Team
- team, staff
The Government and External Relations team work to get more people cycling more often by working apolitically with stakeholders so they will plan and construct the facilities which will deliver the greatest outcome to the community, measured by the increase in rider numbers. We focus on getting the political will, resourcing and capacity to make this happen.
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Garry Brennan General Manager - Government and External Relations PROFILE: His career has encompassed journalism, public relations, policy development and roles in the arts and the film industry. He is particularly keen to see bike transportation used to improve the amenity of towns and cities.
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Jason den Hollander Facilities Development Manager Jason works across all bike-related transport issues with all levels of government agencies, especially VicRoads, Department of Transport and Ministerial offices. Focused on positive outcome-driven solutions that expands and improves Melbourne's transport bicycle network, Jason takes great pride in unlocking difficult problems and providing places to ride and watch the community enjoy the network; nothing beats getting stuck in a bike queue at the lights! PROFILE: Jason is proud of his Dutch heritage and true to form had no faith in the performance of the National Dutch soccer team at the last World Cup. Ex baseballer, cycling club racer, loves to cook, especially grilling and a recent rediscovery of fly fishing easily helps to fill the weekends. Currently trying to justify a cargo bike purchase to add to the four bike and three 'project' bikes stable.
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Bart Sbeghen Project Manager - Healthy Suburbs / Good Design Guides Bart is managing the VicHealth project focused on building healthy and active new suburbs where bike riding and walking is easy, fun and popular. How can we ensure this happens consistently? PROFILE: Bart started work as an engineering geologist in Qld (dams & weirs). Sick of rocks he did a Masters of Env Science at Wollongong. After working in Canberra on Landcare (& other things) he had a stint in Washington D.C. helping manage a bike shop (City Bikes). Bart has recently returned to the Facilities Development Team after five years as a stay-at-home Dad with three girls. While at home he somehow completed a Post Grad Diploma in Urban Design at Melbourne Uni. His passion is public spaces. And that includes roads. (Updated 9/6/10) |
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Melissa Grimes Local Government Facilities Project Coordinator - Healthy New Suburbs Project Officer As the Local Government Facilities Project Coordinator, Mel works to improve the quality and quantity of bicycle infrastructure, focusing specifically on local government. As the Healthy New Suburbs Project Officer, Mel assists with the delivery of the Healthy New Suburbs in Urban Growth Zones project, a VicHealth funded project. PROFILE: Mel has previously worked as the Bike Futures Coordinator within the Corporate Relations team at Bicycle Network Victoria. In previous employment, Mel worked in urban/ strategic and environmental planning. Mel is passionate about sustainable living and resilient communities. On a weekend, you’re likely to find Mel riding, surfing or at a community garden working on a permaculture approach.
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Harry Barber Strategic Advisor - Facilties Harry has been a Bicycle Network Victoria member since 1978 and was employed in 1993 as Campaign Manager. He has been the senior executive of Bicycle Network Victoria since 1995. The organisation has grown significantly since its foundation:
"The organisation has defined an exciting tomorrow," Harry says. "Bicycle Network Victoria’s vision is of healthy people in a healthy society. The aim of all our work is to prevent disease and promote the health of the community. To achieve this we use our skills, experience, credibility and influence to get More People Cycling More Often. Everything we do is intended to bring about measurable change at a societal level." Profile "I got back into bike riding at uni because the campus in Canberra was very big and I thought it was too far to walk. At the end of one year a friend and I rode back to Melbourne and I fell in love with riding a bike." Harry fails many of the tests of a bike-mad person. He has only one bike with no carbon-fibre components. His bike computer reveals no amazing achievements of speed or distance. The main give away is that at home all the family bikes are parked in the living room. |
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Emma Pharo Facilities Development - Tasmania With a background in Environmental Science, working on various forest ecology projects from 1985 to 1999, Emma now has a broader interest around climate change, interdisciplinary education and sustainable transport. Emma is Bicycle Network's 'eyes and ears' on the ground in Tasmania, working to make bike riding in Tasmania more accessible for everyone. Emma loves the contact with many and varied people, who all come together and share a common purpose. PROFILE: Emma is a passionate commuter cyclist who much prefers the freedom of being on wheels to walking. She has commuted to work along Nepean Hwy, Melbourne, down bus-clogged George St, Sydney, through thick snow in Edmonton, Canada, and up and down Hobart’s hills and found all of it enjoyable in different ways. On top of all of this, Emma is an ultimate frisbee fanatic, and can also be spotted at the local soccer fields in Hobart on a Saturday morning, sipping a latte on the sidelines!
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| Graeme Stone Facilities Project Co-ordinator Volunteer Graeme works closely with other members of the Facilities Development team with the aim of improving the quality and quantity of bicycle infrastructure. Graeme focuses on the technical aspects of shared path and on-road facilities while aiming to assist councils and other managers in finding best practice solutions for particular projects including materials and product selection. Graeme also monitors bicycle facility projects and ‘oils the wheels’ and suggests design improvements where necessary. A steady stream of these projects for ‘In the Loop’ is a regular task. Profile: |
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