The Victorian Government has appointed an inaugural board of directors to the Victorian Ports Corporation (VPCM), following the announcement of the leasing of the Port of Melbourne.
Victorian Minister for Ports, Luke Donnellan, announced the new board members of the VPCM, which include James Cain as Chair and Janice Van Reyk as Deputy Chair, along with Debbie Beale, Peter Tuohey and James Chen as new directors.
The new authority will focus on managing commercial shipping in Port Phillip channels, as well as emergency and marine pollution response.
The board will also manage Victoria’s premier cruise shipping facility, Station Pier, which is set for a record cruise ship season in 2016-17.
“Now that we’ve leased the Port of Melbourne, we want to ensure that its reputation as Australia’s leading port continues to rise – and that’s exactly what the Victorian Port Corporation will do,” Mr Donnellan said.
“The board will play a key role in coordinating safer navigation in Port Phillip channels for the 3000 vessels which call at the Port of Melbourne each year.
“These appointments strike the right balance of diversity, expertise and experience, and I wish all the new board members the best of luck.”
Mr Donnellan paid tribute to outgoing Port of Melbourne Corporation (PoMC) board members for their invaluable contribution in shaping Melbourne as the biggest container port in the nation, with an outstanding record of success.
Mark Birrell has chaired PoMC over the past five years during a period of significant growth and transition, which included the delivery of the largest port infrastructure development program for fifty years.
The CEO of VPCM is Rachel Johnson and key executives include the statutory Harbour Master for the Port of Melbourne, Captain Roy Stanbrook.
