INTHEBLACK October 2026 - Magazine - Page 16
MEMBER PROFILE
FACT FILE
Joined Zoos Victoria: March 2025
Formerly: COO business advisory, Sustainability Victoria
Team size: 20 in the finance and procurement team
Turnover: Around A$150 million, with over 75 per cent
earned revenue
Employees: 1000 staff across Zoos Victoria
Of course, we are a holder of data and
an influencer of its analysis, but to do this
well we need to understand where the business
wants to go and what impact we want to have.
It is not until you achieve clarity around the
vision and the tangible goals you are trying
to have an impact on that you can get to
that point.
What does that mean in reality? Here at
Zoos Victoria, we have committed that no
Victorian terrestrial vertebrate species will
go extinct on our watch. That means we have
made commitments to some species that are
on the brink of extinction. We support them
through conservation programs and captive
breeding programs, because that is the role
we play within the conservation circle.
However, when we do that, it is not
a short-term project. We make a commitment
to that species for decades, which means
something powerful in terms of our long-term
financial sustainability. How do we make
decisions today that honour a commitment to
a species 30 to 40 years into the future? How do
we meet today’s challenges while also honouring
that long-term financial commitment? That is
always a fascinating balance.
In terms of day-to-day business, pricing
strategy is an interesting area of focus.
It is about looking at our audiences and what
role we play in their lives and that of the
community. We regularly analyse how we
16 INTHEBLACK October 2026
interact with our audiences and the products
that best serve them.
That leads to another interesting challenge
for us — the balance of the public-value
lens with a more financial-sustainability lens.
We do need to be focused on the dollars,
but at the same time on long-term impact.
We have to think holistically about
organisational success and what that means.
In 100 years, Zoos Victoria still needs to
deliver incredible impact for animals and the
community. We always keep that vision in
mind when we are navigating the shorter term.
Ultimately, we are here to make sure our
zoos continue to deliver value in the present
and for many decades ahead. It is vital that
we get that balance right.
GAME CHANGERS
Societal value
I started out as a Deloitte strategy and
operations consultant and loved it. The work
was interesting and the people were fantastic,
but I quickly realised I did not want to sit
on the consulting side. I wanted to identify
and own the problem. I wanted to work on
continuous improvement.
That fundamentally shifted me in terms
of career orientation. I moved out of consulting
and targeted the not-for-profit and public
sector. Since then, I have been so blessed.
