The Zoological Parks and Gardens Board is the governing body of Victoria's three great zoos: Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and Werribee Open Range Zoo. Set up in 1973 as a Statutory Authority, the Board’s role is to protect and promote the zoos and their roles in conservation, research and education.

The Board is appointed by the Victorian Minister for Environment and Climate Change. The Minister for Environment and Climate Change is the Hon. Ryan Smith. 

The Zoological Parks & Gardens Act 1936

The Zoological Parks & Gardens Act 1936 was originally enacted on 14 December 1936. The objectives and functions of the Board, as set out in the Act, are:

• The exhibition of zoological specimens to the public
• The scientific study of zoological specimens
• The instruction and entertainment of the public
• The protection, preservation, management and care of wildlife
• The protection or preservation of wildlife habitat including native plants and trees

The Werribee Zoological Park (now known as Werribee Open Range Zoo) was established by the Board in December 1975 and opened to the public in September 1983.

On 27 June 1978 the Victorian Government placed The Sir Colin MacKenzie Zoological Park (Healesville Sanctuary) under the management of the Zoological Board.

Our Patron: The Hon. Alex Chernov, AO, QC Governor of Victoria
Our Minister: The Hon. Ryan Smith, Minister for Environment and Climate Change

Mr Andrew EJ Fairley LLB, FAICD Chair
Mr Fairley was appointed to the Board as Chair in April 2007 and has more than two decades experience in sustainable tourism. He is currently the Chair of the Alpine Resorts Coordinating Council in Victoria and a Board member of Ecotourism Australia and the International Ecotourism Society. He is also on the Council of Deakin University. Mr Fairley has practised as a specialist Equity lawyer for more than 30 years. He is also Chair of the Sir Andrew & Lady Fairley Foundation.

Ms Gaye Hamilton BSc (Ed)
Gaye was appointed to the Board in April 2007 and is the educator/coordinator of the Earthwatch Institute and also works as a consultant. Gaye has previously held senior positions with Museums Victoria as well as Zoos Victoria. She is a member of the Queen Victoria Women's Trust, Victorian State Sports Centre Trust, Seaworks and the Western Bulldogs Football Club.

Mr Nicholas Whitby BBus
Nick was appointed to the Board in 1995 and is Chief Executive Officer, Grollo Group Mt Buller, managing their range of assets. Nick has responsibility for a range of business and assets including property development, ski lift operations, hospitality and retail assets. Nick has a well-established understanding of the tourism sector and the interaction between commercial operations and government.

Dr Kenneth Hinchcliff BVSc (Hons), MS, PhD, DACVIM
Kenneth was appointed to the Board in May 2008 and is a graduate of the Melbourne Veterinary School and Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Melbourne. He has completed an advanced training program in large animal internal medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a PhD at the Ohio State University.
Kenneth was a faculty member in the College of Veterinary Medicine at OSU, rising to professor before joining the University of Melbourne in 2007.

Ms Helen Thornton B.Ec ACA
Helen was appointed to the Board in February 2010 and was appointed as Chair of the Audit & Risk and Compliance Committee in March 2010. Helen has extensive experience in risk management and both internal and external audit and has worked in a number of executive positions in the private sector. She was an independent member of the Audit & Risk and Compliance Committee for a number of years prior to her appointment to the Board. Helen is also on the Boards of Rural Finance Corporation and Big Sky Credit Union.

Jon Hickman M.B.A
Jon was appointed to the Board in 2011 and is currently Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Finance and Capital Management at Victoria University and an Alternate Member of the Heritage Council of Victoria. His previous roles include Deputy Secretary responsible for planning, heritage and local government at the former Department of Infrastructure, National Director at the Australian Crime Commission, Deputy Secretary at the Tasmanian Treasury and Chief Executive Officer of the City of Port Phillip. He has also worked in education, property and marketing and communications.

Assoc. Prof. Geoff Wescott
Geoff was appointed to the Board in 2011 and is Associate Professor of Environment at Deakin University in Melbourne, a Fellow of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand, a member of the World Commission for Protected Areas of the IUCN and Vice President of the Australian Coastal Society. He has served on the Australian National Oceans Advisory Group, the Victorian Coastal Council, Parks Victoria and has just written a field guide to Wilsons Promontory National Park.

Alex Waislitz BCom/LLB
Alex was appointed to the Board in 2011 and is Executive Chairman and Founder of Thorney Investment Group, a Melbourne-based diversified investor in public securities, private companies and property. Currently, Alex is also Director of various Pratt Group companies, the Vice President of Collingwood Football Club and was appointed Zoos Victoria Foundation Board Member in 2010. Alex has extensive business and capital markets experience and has been a member of several public company Board of Directors. Alex is also a Graduate of the Harvard Business School OPM Program.