About RDA Melbourne

Committee members

RDA Melbourne Committee

Chair – Steve Kozlowski

With over 30 years’ experience in leadership roles for local government, Steve is currently the CEO of Maroondah City Council in Melbourne’s East – a role he’s held since 2014. Prior to that, he was the CEO of East Gippsland Shire for almost 11 years and has held Director positions at Maroondah City Council, Ringwood City Council and Oakleigh City Council. Steve has a track record for putting local people and issues first and working in partnership with the community, business and all levels of government to resolve local issues and create opportunities in Melbourne’s inner and outer suburbs.

Deputy Chair – Linc Horton

Linc is currently the Chief Operating Officer at Federation Square and Chair of NORTH Link. Linc is the former Chief of Property at Australia Pacific Airports. Linc has extensive experience in property and infrastructure and, the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Member – Tess Barling

Tess has held leadership roles in higher education and the public sector for over twenty years, with a particular focus on the visitor economy and the arts. Tess has expertise in program delivery, communications, strategy, planning and stakeholder engagement, and a strong commitment to supporting communities through change. Tess has a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Graduate Diploma of Tourism. Tess is currently Manager Strategic Initiatives Faculty of Fine Arts and Music University of Melbourne.

Member – Ros Hore

Ros has held senior leadership roles in the public and private sector for over twenty five years, with a particular focus on research and innovation. Ros led CSIRO’s Manufacturing and Materials Precinct strategy and has extensive stakeholder relationship experience, bringing together higher education, government, research and industry to address large scale collaborative opportunities to create economic benefit for Australia.  More recently she held the role of Director, Industry Engagement at Swinburne University of Technology.

Member – Chris James

Chris is the Executive Director at NORTH Link. Chris has extensive experience in economic development, strategic planning, communications strategy, government relations and industry association management. Chris has strong established networks with business, employer groups, government, education institutions, community groups and unions.

Member – Natalie MacDonald

Natalie MacDonald is the Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Country Fire Authority. Natalie has extensive senior leadership and management experience in the education sector in her previous role as Vice President Strategy and Development at Latrobe University.

Member – Jim Marshall PSM

Jim is the former Executive General Manager of Australia Post and former Chair of the Investment Committee for Australia Post Superannuation. He has held board positions in transport and logistics companies including on the board of the Port of Melbourne. He has extensive expertise in transport and logistics including regional postal and transport services.

Member – Tom Melican

Tom is a Councillor at Banyule Council since 2003 including three terms as Mayor. After a 40-year career in a large financial institution, mainly within the IT department, Tom retired from full time employment to focus on community work. Tom has served on several boards including his current role as a board member with the Municipal Association of Victoria and until recently Metropolitan Waste Resource Recovery Group board for 9 years. He has previously served on sporting club committees and a variety of community organisations.

Member – Tammi Rose

As CEO of Yarra Ranges Council, Tammi Rose is an accomplished public purpose executive with more than 20 years of experience working in Local Government. With innate energy for driving innovative solutions to complex challenges, Tammi is a strategic, influential and engaging leader who is known for putting the community at the heart of all decision-making to deliver quality services and infrastructure. Tammi holds a degree in Commerce, is a qualified CPA and graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Member – Jürgen Schneider

Jürgen is a Director of Additive Assurance and was Chair of Victorian Defence Alliance-Submarines/Marine which represented some 300 Victorian advanced manufacturing companies in the Defence sector. Jürgen was previously Regional General Manager of Siemens and also performed strategic business development roles in the infrastructure, energy, mobility, aluminium, oil and gas, and mining sectors.