Our Board
VicForests is a body under the State Owned Enterprises Act.
VicForests' Board of Directors comprises a non-executive chair and four directors, accountable to the Victorian Government through the Minister for Agriculture and the Treasurer.
Our Board members possess a diverse range of skills and expertise to manage the variety of issues on which they provide direction.
Ben Hubbard
Chair
Mr Hubbard is an experienced executive and non-executive director with a strong record in public policy, governance, strategy and disaster recovery.
Mr Hubbard is Director of the YMCA, a Director of the Suburban Rail Loop Authority and a Victorian Councillor of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is a former CEO of the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority, Chief Strategy Officer at a national law firm and Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Mr Hubbard was appointed to the VicForests Board on 31 May 2022.
Dr Kim McGrath
Non-Executive Director
Dr McGrath is an experienced non-executive director. She was appointed to the board of South East Water in 2015 and Deputy Chair in 2019. She served on the board of the Melbourne International Film Festival from 2008 to 2018.
Dr McGrath is principal consultant at BKE Consulting. She has provided advice to governments, private companies, universities and not-for-profit organisations on governance, international development, forestry, water, energy and climate change policy.
Dr McGrath joined the VicForests Board on 1 June 2018.
Phuong Tram
Non-Executive Director
Ms Tram is an experienced government finance executive and former deputy CFO of DELWP (now DEECA).
As Acting Deputy Secretary of DEECA's Forestry Transition Group, Ms Tram is responsible for guiding the forestry sector and associated communities through significant change. She brings to the Board a critical perspective on the future of Victorian forestry.
Ms Tram is Chair of the Forestry Transition Implementation Reference Group, and draws on significant expertise in relationship management, structural reform and organisational governance to foster a collaborative approach to forestry transition.
Ms Tram joined the VicForests Board on 1 December 2023.
Michael Allen
Non-Executive Director
Mr Allen is a public sector employee and accomplished senior executive with established credentials leading public sector organisations (both Commonwealth and State). He possesses significant knowledge and practical experience in public sector financial risk management and budget processes.
Mr Allen is currently an Executive Director of the Shareholder Entities and Community Housing Group in the Department of Treasury and Finance and has an established record of leading and providing strategic and operational guidance in large and complex organisations and teams to deliver successful outcomes.
Mr Allen joined the VicForests Board on 1 December 2023.
Stephen Creaney
Non-Executive Director
Mr Creaney is an established public sector executive with 19 years’ experience providing him with a breadth of knowledge including human resources, change management and safety.
Mr Creaney has been the Acting Executive Director, People and Culture in DEECA since July 2023, providing him with an extensive understanding of organisational and people strategies and safety and wellbeing. Mr Creaney’s nominal position as Executive Director, Transformation, DEECA provides him with significant change management experience.
Mr Creaney joined the VicForests Board on 1 December 2023.