About Us
Since 2007, we have collaborated with Gippsland communities, businesses, and governments around climate change awareness and solutions.
Our Mission
Build partnerships, connect people with information and opportunities, support and deliver climate-positive initiatives with social, economic, and environmental benefits.
Our Guiding Principles
Honouring Traditional Owners
Acknowledgement of Country and support for Treaty
Environmental Stewardship
Urgency for action to protect Gippsland’s diverse landscapes.
Inclusive Community Engagement
Collaboration with all, valuing diverse voices and expertise.
Independent, Non-partisan Leadership
Maintaining neutrality while advocating for climate action.
Our Volunteer Board of Directors 2026
In December 2025 ASIC confirmed Gippsland Climate Change Network as a Company Limited by Guarantee
Rob Dimsey
Rob Dimsey GCCN Board Members since 2021.
Rob brings more than 30 years of experience managing projects and staff, with a strong focus on leadership, facilitation, and team management. He is passionate about working with people, building networks, and engaging communities. Rob has played a pivotal role in leading and delivering climate change adaptation programs throughout the Gippsland region, partnering extensively with local government, community groups, and a range of organisations to drive adaptation to climate change.
His achievements include overseeing numerous grant-funded projects such as the Victoria Adaptation Sustainability Partnerships, Climate Change Grants 2015, Victorian Centre for Climate Change Innovation grants, and the Community Climate Change Adaptation Grants (2019). Rob led a comprehensive Regional Gap Analysis for Gippsland, identifying key issues, gaps, and priorities for regional climate adaptation, which culminated in the publication of the ‘Gippsland Climate Adaptation Snapshot Report’ and contributed to the 2016 Climate Ready Gippsland Fact Sheet.
Rob also leads regional community engagement for renewable energy, promoting Community Benefit Sharing and contributing to the development of a Regional Renewable Energy Roadmap. He is at the forefront of implementing regional communications and engagement for renewable energy initiatives, working closely with proponents and stakeholders.
In the area of coastal management, Rob has served as project leader for the Gippsland Lakes Ninety Mile Beach Coastal Hazard Assessment and contributed to projects such as the Local Coastal Hazard Assessment Learnings and the development of methodology guidelines for coastal hazard assessment.
Chair
Stephen Angus
Stephen has extensive executive and leadership experience in the transport sector and contributes to entrepreneurship in regional startup enterprises, board roles that deliver regional enterprise resilience, coaching that enables individuals to thrive and innovation ventures that deliver community value. He is currently Director and Consultant with Snowy Advisory and a Non-Executive Director for Mildura Airport. Stephen is a past GCCN Chair.
Deputy Chair
Alison Edgar
A former crime statistician and performance advisor, Alison works in financial management. She is a Gippsland Community Leadership Program Graduate, and past President of the Latrobe Young Professionals. Alison completed her MBA on financial health in the Not-for-Profit Sector.
Treasurer
Carolyn Crossley
Carolyn Crossley
Since joining in 2019, Carolyn has served as Wellington Shire Delegate, GCCN Chair between 2021-24, former Chair of the Gippsland Community Power Hub Governance Group and is the current Secretary and web content manager.
Carolyn is a highly respected leader with over a decade of local government service, retiring as Wellington Shire Councillor in 2024 after 12 years, including three terms as Mayor and recognition as MAV Mayor Emeritus. Carolyn brings a wealth of governance expertise, having completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors Foundations in Directorship in 2022. Her extensive experience includes serving on the Gippsland Lakes Coordinating Committee, chairing the Thomson-Rainbow Waterways Management Plan Project Working Group, and contributing as a Board member of Heyfield and District Community Financial Services Ltd.
Carolyn is passionate about reconciliation, actively addressing climate risk, and advocating for a low-carbon, sustainable future.
Secretary
Daryl Brooke
Daryl brings over 25 years’ experience as a business and community leader, adviser, and board director. Renowned for his ability to deliver outcomes, Daryl is an inclusive leader who excels at engaging people in collaborative processes. His expertise centres on strategic priorities, planning organisational change, connecting stakeholders, and achieving measurable results.
Daryl works closely with small and medium sized organisations and projects, both as a leader and in partnership with other leaders.
Throughout his career, Daryl has contributed across a diverse range of sectors including state and local government, philanthropy, community health, education, manufacturing, construction, agriculture, hospitality, and retail. He has successfully coached and led teams of all sizes across the Asia Pacific region.
Daryl is a past Deputy Chair of GCCN, past Chair of Clean Energy Nillumbik and served on the steering committee for Yarra Ranges Community Power Hub, reflecting his commitment to community-driven renewable energy initiatives.
Director
Julie Gibson
Julie Gibson is an accomplished leader with more than two decades’ experience in senior management and governance roles. Since joining the GCCN Board in 2025, she has drawn on her extensive background working with diverse communities across Australia to drive impactful business and social outcomes. Julie is a purpose-driven leader who is deeply committed to human-centred, intersectional, and meaningful community engagement that delivers mutual benefit.
Currently, Julie works with Gunaikurnai Land and Water Corporation as Major Projects Senior Manager in Economic Development, where she provides strategic leadership and planning for a major program focused on the renewable energy transition across Gunaikurnai Country.
Julie’s career has spanned a wide range of roles, from software development in large corporate IT departments to technical management in higher education, co-founding a technology business that transitioned to First Nations ownership, and recent work with the Federal Government.
Her engagement with technology has enabled her to collaborate with First Nations people in health, education, youth justice, and economic development. More recently, Julie’s work has extended to International Development in the Pacific region.
As the former CEO of a founding Australian B Corp, Julie harnessed business as a force for good. She possesses strong skills in business administration and development, building sustainable and collaborative partnerships, managing software, hardware and content development
Director
Adam Tyson
Adam Tyson has been a GCCN Board member since 2021. His governance skills were honed during his service on local government as Mayor of Baw Baw Shire, Victoria, in 2010, and served as a Councillor for seven years from 2005, representing a community of 45,000 people.
Adam is a seasoned professional in the food and dairy industries, with a career spanning more than three decades. He began his journey in the food sector in 1991 and entered the dairy industry in 1997. Adam launched his career at Nestlé Australia, working in frozen foods, before moving to the newly established Darnum Park Spray Drying Plant in Victoria, where he spent 17 years under Bonlac and Fonterra. Adam progressed into quality management, serving as the Quality Coordinator and second-in-charge to the Quality Manager. In this role, he oversaw raw materials, HACCP, and verifications, and earned a Diploma of Food Science Dairy.
Adam later held positions as Process Manager at Oceania Dairy in New Zealand and Quality Manager at Danone Balclutha NZ. Prior to joining Produco Australia, he was based in Auckland as Danone’s NZ Supplier Quality Manager.
Director
Our Ambassador, Delegates and Advisors 2026
Tony Wolfe
Tony Wolfe champion campaigner for renewable energy and the first GCCN Ambassador
Tony Wolfe stands as a prominent figure in Gippsland’s move towards renewable energy, serving as the Gippsland Climate Change Network’s (GCCN) inaugural Ambassador. With over four decades in the coal industry, Tony has drawn on his vast experience to advocate for a fair and just transition for coal communities. His dedication to sustainable practices and support for renewables has helped shape regional energy policy and foster new opportunities for local businesses and workers.
Since joining the GCCN in 2014, Tony has played a pivotal role, including a term as Vic Chair from 2021 to 2023. His influence extends beyond Gippsland, being regularly invited to participate in national and international panels focused on the transition to clean energy. Tony’s leadership is also evident in his involvement with committees overseeing wind farm projects, ensuring that Gippsland capitalises on the economic and environmental benefits of moving away from fossil fuels.
In addition to his GCCN work, Tony’s commitment to community and sustainability is reflected in a diverse portfolio: former Councillor and Deputy Mayor for Baw Baw Shire, graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program and Gippsland Community Leadership Program, Chapter Leader for the Victorian International Dark-Sky Association, and a recipient of the MAV Local Government Fellowship for global streetlight reduction research. He has gained board experience in the Education and Health sectors and is currently a member of Regional Development Australia Gippsland. Tony is also a volunteer Camp Leader caring for kids impacted by cancer with Camp Quality.
Tony Wolfe’s leadership, advocacy, and vision are helping to guide Gippsland through the energy transition, ensuring local communities are equipped for change and poised to benefit from the region’s renewable future.
GCCN is thrilled to have Tony as our Ambassador.
GCCN Ambassador
Mayor Cindy Madeley
Elected in 2024, Cr Cindy Madeley is the Mayor of Wellington Shire Council and a passionate advocate for building a vibrant, well-connected Gippsland community. With over a decade of volunteer service with the Rotary Club of Sale and Seed Community Garden, Cindy has deep local ties and a strong commitment to community service. Drawing on her professional experience as a secondary school teacher and Speech Therapy Assistant, she is dedicated to the well-being, sustainability, and future of all Wellington Shire residents. Her priorities include strengthening community connections, protecting the natural environment, and promoting sustainable development for generations to come.
Wellington Shire Delegate
Deputy Mayor Tom Crook
Cr Tom Crook, Deputy Mayor of East Gippsland Shire, has served since 2020 and was Mayor in 2023-24. Living in Eagle Point, Tom brings a science background, small business experience, and expertise in renewable energy, tourism, and land management. He champions evidence-based decisions and collaborative approaches, focusing on jobs and sustainability for a thriving East Gippsland.
East Gippsland Shire Delegate
CR Stephanie Morgan
Elected to Latrobe City Council in 2024, Cr Stephanie Morgan proudly represents Latrobe City as a delegate to the Gippsland Climate Change Network. A passionate Morwell resident, Stephanie champions the arts and celebrates the incredible talent and big-hearted people throughout Latrobe City. Her vision is to foster a diverse cultural hub, prioritising equity in service provision and infrastructure, and advocating for sustainable planning to support the region’s growing population.
Stephanie is committed to building healthy, resilient communities and delivering lasting, sustainable change locally—ensuring a strong future for generations to come.
Latrobe City Delegate
Dr Jess Reeves
Assoc. Professor Research in Regional Transformation and Sustainability, Future Regions Research Centre Federation University, Churchill.
I am a senior researcher in sustainability science at Federation University Australia based in Gippsland. With a background in long-term environmental change and climate variability and more recent human impact on aquatic environments, my research is now focused on regions undergoing significant transformation. I am interested in connections in Indigenous and non-indigenous knowledge, lived experience of place and ways of knowing country, and the interface between industry, policy, community and Country. I seek to interweave this into environmental stewardship through natural resource management, post-mining land use and energy transition. How can we elevate community voices to have a greater influence on policy and practice and celebrate place-based connection?
GCCN Advisor
Ash Hall
VicGrid Senior Advisor – Economic Development
With over 15 years of working across state government departments, I am innovative, collaborative and love working in teams. I excel in spaces that are flexible and have a deep understanding of systems thinking. Ash has used the Smart Specialization methodology in the context of regional transition and guided the related partnered LVA projects with GCCN.
Ash has been a volunteer member of GCCN since 2023 both on the board and as advisor bringing his extensive knowledge in climate change, sustainability, earth systems and all renewable energy technologies.
His skills in networking, influence & negotiation, communication, facilitation and systems thinking have brought great value to the organisation.
GCCN Advisor
Our CEO
Darren McCubbin
Chief Executive Officer
Darren is the coordinator and the MC of the highly successful Gippsland New Energy Conference and the Joint Chair of the Gippsland Wind Alliance.
With a BSc from Monash University Darren worked for CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology before arriving in Gippsland as a teacher in 1983. Darren is a graduate of the Gippsland Community Leadership Program and was a Wellington Shire Councillor from 2003 – 2020 including three terms as Mayor. He is on numerous renewable energy related committees and on the Board of TAFE Gippsland.
Our Project Team
Esther Lloyd
Esther has a passion for working with regional communities shaping future social, technological and environmental landscapes. She has completed the Socially Responsible Renewable Energy Development course at Griffith University, and has qualifications in Environmental Management, Sociology and Science Communication from Monash and Australian National Universities. Esther is also an Accredited Mental Health First Aider.
Esther has had a long association with GCCN and has had a number of roles. She has been an important team member involved with the delivery of the Gippsland New Energy Conference, the Community Energy Smart Specialisation Program, Latrobe and Gippsland Community Power Hub.
Program Manager
Chris Barfoot
Chris Barfoot with his years of electrical experience has been invaluable in the ability of GCCN to deliver the Energise Gippsland and Gippsland Community Power Hub Projects. Chris has been a huge contributor to the GCCN Board from 2016-2026.
Chris is an engineer and scientist with extensive experience gained over 30 years working in the power industry in the Latrobe Valley. He applies new technology to achieve energy reductions, and with the Frontier Impact Group was instrumental in developing financing models for community energy. Chris is a member of Beyond Zero Emissions Investment Reference Group.
Project Officer
Energise Gippsland
Chris Barfoot
I am an environmental and climate change campaigner, with over 15 years diverse experience, both internationally and locally, in research, policy, strategic planning, project management, natural area management, and community organising.
Subsequent to completing a Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Conservation Biology in 2011, I worked in Policy and Planning in the island nation of Palau, in the northern Pacific. Here I saw first hand the impacts of climate change. Since then, I have primarily focused on climate change policy reform and action. For several years I have been working in local government on climate emergency response and community emissions reduction.
Executive Officer
Gippsland Alliance for Climate Action
Michael Hafner
Project Officer
Electri-FAIR-cation
Stephanie Sabrinskas
Stephanie Sabrinskas serves as GCCN’s Engagement Officer, actively working across key initiatives including Electri-FAIR-cation and youth-focused programs such as Hero to Net Zero and Power Pops.
Based in Gippsland, Stephanie is a filmmaker, impact producer, creative freelancer, and environmental activist. Her varied career spans retail, customer service, hospitality, and costume supervision. Stephanie graduated in 2022 from the Doc Society & AIDC Art & Impact Fellowship program, developing the documentary “Life After Coal.” She co-wrote and co-produced “After the Smoke,” which premiered at the Sydney Film Festival in 2023 and earned a nomination for the Sustainable Futures award. The “Life After Coal” impact campaign was launched in 2024, alongside her work as co-writer and producer for “Ashes to Aftermath: 10 Years on From the Hazelwood Mine Fire.” Stephanie has collaborated with numerous environmental organisations and co-created the Coal Face podcast. Her contributions have been recognised with awards from CRCTiME and Environment Victoria.
Engagement Officer
Dan Caffrey
Electrification EVan Team
Ian Southall
Electrification EVan Team
GCCN Annual Reports
Our Project Partners, Collaborators & Alliances
