Our people
Our Board
The board is the governing body of the Game Management Authority and is accountable to the Minister of Outdoor Recreation for the exercise of its functions.
The board's primary role is to ensure that the Authority fulfills its functions effectively and complies with its governance framework.
This includes:
- a strategic and business planning role
- a performance monitoring and reporting role (including risk management)
- a stewardship role
The following charter supports the board in its duties and provides for an annual agenda for board meetings to ensure coverage of all key Game Management Authority obligations. It sets out the board's decision-making principles and key strategic challenges.
Ms Corrie Goodwin has built an accomplished career in agriculture and brings more than 20 years of experience driving transformational change and leading broader industry and regulatory reform. Corrie holds a deep understanding of how to overcome challenges common to agribusiness and trading environments.
Corrie has experience in a range of non-executive directorships, industry committees and advisory roles. Key appointments include Director of the Australian Dairy Industry Council, Executive Member of the Australian Dairy Products Federation and Chair of the Minister’s Selection Committee for the Board of Dairy Food Safety Victoria.
Corrie is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Fellow of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation and holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne.
Corrie is currently Group General Manager, Dairy Supply Chain with Freedom Foods Group Limited, where she is overseeing the implementation of the final stages of a transformational strategy to establish a direct supply chain.
Dr Sandra Brizga has been an independent consultant specialising in river, catchment and coastal management since 1995 and is the Director and Principal of Brizga Environmental. She has extensive experience on government boards and committees. Current and previous board and committee memberships include the Australian World Heritage Advisory Committee, Fraser Island World Heritage Area Scientific Advisory Committee, Central Coastal Board, Fisheries Co-management Council Inland Fishery Committee, Trust for Nature and Victorian Catchment Management Council.
Sandra is committed to sustainable, evidence-based natural resource management. Prior to becoming a consultant, Sandra pursued a career in academia and has published a book on river management. She has extensive experience in environmental water management and played a lead role in the environmental investigations for Queensland's water resource planning. She is the President of the Australian and New Zealand Geomorphology Group, a Fellow of the Peter Cullen Trust, and an Honorary Life Member of the River Basin Management Society.
Sandra holds the degrees of B.A.(Hons.) in geography, Master of Applied Finance, Master of Environmental Law, Ph.D. She is an Associate of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Ms Maggy Samaan is a senior corporate lawyer with broad experience working in the public and not-for-profit sectors. She specialises in corporate advisory (including corporate governance), contract and commercial law and provides advice in relation to governance polices and implementing risk management frameworks.
Maggy holds a Master of Laws, Bachelor of Law, Bachelor of Science and is a graduate of the Governance Institute.
Mr Ian Maxfield has a strong involvement in Regional Victoria, particularly in the Gippsland Region. He has a good understanding of the important relationship between land management and regional communities.
Ian’s previous roles, including as Manager of Corporate Services at Mt Baw Baw Alpine Resort, and as the Chair of the Parliamentary Task Force investigating cattle grazing in Alpine National Parks, have equipped Ian with skills in industrial relations, human resource management and governance.
Ian is committed to serving his community in many leadership positions including Board Member of the Latrobe Regional Hospital and Alpine Resorts Co-ordinating Council.
Previously as Board Chair of Quantum Support Services, he supported an organisation that works with vulnerable people in difficult situations across Gippsland.
Ian has been involved in audit and risk committees and stake holder engagement across various boards.
In the wider community Ian is a member of Bishop in Council Anglican Church Gippsland. He has been involved in a range of community organisations and groups across the state in a predominately pro bono capacity.
Amanda has significant animal welfare expertise as a veterinarian for over 30 years, with a special interest in animal welfare and ethics.
As a career veterinarian and through her previous role with Animal Welfare Victoria, Amanda has developed a strong background in best practice animal welfare, regulation, policy design, and assurance systems. Amanda is also experienced in developing integrated systems to identify and manage risks to animal welfare and ensuring that all actions are aligned with the organisation’s environmental, social, and governance goals.
Amanda has previously sat on several animal ethics committees, which are responsible under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act for oversight of an organisation's care and use of animals for scientific and research purposes. She currently works with organisations using animals for this purpose to support high standards in animal care and welfare.
Amanda holds a Bachelor of Veterinary Science, with honours and is a Member of both the Animal Welfare and Medicine and Management of Laboratory Animals Chapters of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists. She is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Mr Chris Rose has an extensive background in public land management in Victoria and Tasmania. Chris was an executive in Parks Victoria for over eight years before acting as Chief Executive Officer for eight months. In 2015, Chris left government and started a company, Three Pipe Consulting, specialising in connecting people and nature, practical governance and risk management.
Chris lives in regional Victoria and is passionate about developing opportunities for regional and rural business development based on tourism, sustainably and the appropriate use of public land assets. Chris also has considerable experience in emergency management and understands the importance of strong communication with all sectors.
Other professional interests include Occupational Health and Safety, communication and consultation, strategy development and organisational performance.
Chris holds a Degree in Forest Science from Melbourne University. In 2010, Chris completed the Williamson Community Leadership Program and is a Williamson Fellow, and is a member and graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Mr Owen Cavanough is a strategic leader with a focus on people. He has over 30 years of industry experience, building high performing, integrated teams to deliver complex projects.
Owen has national and international experience in negotiating outcomes for project construction, mineral exploration and exploitation licences. Developing a strong understanding of personal responsibility when delivering on behalf of stakeholders, from both government and the private sector, has been key to his success in the infrastructure industry.
Owen focusses on the human element of project delivery and how teams can reach optimal performance levels while also interacting respectfully with communities to deliver on their needs. He is passionate about working closely with communities and has developed meaningful and lasting relationships with communities across Australia and in Africa.
Owen was a board member for over 10 years of an organisation that has actively been involved in conservation of Game and responsible hunting. He brings practical experience in sustainable and responsible game hunting to the GMA. He is proud of his Wiradjuri and Ngunnawal heritage.
Owen holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil, Hons) and a Bachelor of Business (Finance and Law).
Owen holds a current Victorian Game Licence.
Our CEO
Mr Graeme Ford has a wealth of leadership experience from his previous roles as the Chief Executive Officer at the Victorian Farmers Federation and as the Principal Consultant at Hillside Advisory Services.
He has a Victorian rural farming background and has significant experience on a broad range of boards and committees where he has worked extensively with diverse stakeholders and government over many years.
Graeme is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the General Management Program of Harvard Business School and holds post graduate qualifications in rural resource management, applied science and business administration.
Our Game Officers
Game Officers ensure compliance with the game hunting laws in Victoria. They interact with hunters and the community to ensure hunting is conducted safely, responsibly and in accordance with Victoria’s hunting laws.
Page last updated: 12 May 2023