Our Board

My involvement in Neighbourhood Watch began approximately 15 years ago when I was asked to take on the role of Neighbourhood Watch Newsletter Editor for Wallington. Five years later I was elected as Area Co-ordinator.

I have been a member of the Greater Geelong and Surf Coast Committee since 2000 and in 2005, was elected as Division Co-ordinator and remain in that role currently. In 2009, I was elected as Program Representative to the Neighbourhood Watch Victoria Board of Management and now find myself as Convener of the Events Committee, a sub committee of the Board.

This is a very challenging time for NHW, however, I believe that if we work together, and with the support of Victoria Police and community partners, our program will emerge more inclusive and much stronger. We must look at ways to adapt the program to fit in with modern community needs and the changing ways people communicate. We must develop crime prevention, community safety and community engagement initiatives that complement and support the work of Victoria Police.

Married to Peter and mother of two daughters in their 20’s, I live at Wallington, a rural area of the Bellarine Peninsula, approximately 15 kms from Geelong. I am employed by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.

Community involvement has been a major part of my life and, apart from Neighbourhood Watch, includes involvement as Vice Chairperson of the Bellarine Police Community Support Register based at Ocean Grove and as Vice President of the Geelong Auxiliary of Queenscliff’s Cottage by the Sea.

In my leisure time I enjoy music, my garden and travel.

Geoff Kloot joined NHW in Manningham in June 1985 as a Zone Representative when Manningham 003 was established. He became the Area Manager in 1991 and the editor of the Area newsletter in 1992. He continues in these roles today.

Geoff joined the Executive of R4D1 (Banyule, Manningham and Nillumbik) in mid-2005 becoming Deputy Chairman soon after and in mid-2008 he became Chairman of R4D1. Following the re-structure of Neighbourhood Watch in mid-2010, Geoff became the Chairman of the Manningham Neighbourhood Watch. In September 2015, Geoff became Acting Chief Executive Officer of NHW Victoria, a position he filled until May 2017. In that role, he particularly enjoyed helping new NHW groups getting established and operational.

Geoff has received an Australia Day Award (in the Menzies electorate) in 2007 for his services to the community, the Neighbourhood Watch Victoria State Award of Honour in November 2007 and the Sgt John Cain Memorial Award for Distinguished Service to Neighbourhood Watch in R4D1 in 2010. He won the NHW Australasia Malcolm Grant OAM Volunteer of the Year Award in 2013 and was the City of Manningham Citizen of the Year in 2016.

Geoff is a strong advocate of business planning and annual budgeting. He firmly believes that the funds raised by Neighbourhood Watch should be used for projects that improve community safety rather than left in the bank.

In his working life, Geoff was a senior manager with a State Government agency and then a management consultant. His work involved a number innovative projects and he has applied that experience to NHW in such projects as the Junior Watcher Activity Book and the Community Safety Guide – the funds for both of these projects coming from successful applications for Government grants.

Geoff is married and has two adult children with four grandsons and he enjoys photography.

David is a Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) having undertaken a Bachelor of Business and a Masters of Business.  Undertaking a wide variety of accounting and administrative functions over the past 35 years.  David is the Administration Manager at the Victorian Transport Association (a not for profit association) and brings to Neighbourhood Watch extensive knowledge of the NFP sector.

David is involved in supporting a number of other community groups.  Principally The School of Hard Knocks, supporting disadvantaged Australians, and as Chairman of a local Port Melbourne group, Save Port Melbourne Gateway, that promotes the appropriate development of the areas adjacent to the Port Melbourne Foreshore.

Growing up and educated in Tasmania, before moving to Adelaide and finally settling in Melbourne some 18 years ago he can now be regarded as a Victorian, more so because of his undying support of the Richmond Tigers.  David is married and with his wife and spoilt dog enjoy the lifestyle offered by Port Melbourne and surrounds.

Suzanne joined Boroondara Neighbourhood Watch in February 2015 and became Chairperson in December 2015. She took over at a time when Boroondara Neighbourhood Watch had only 7 active Areas remaining in the municipality, down from 64 Areas operating in Boroondara in 2009. Suzanne has worked tirelessly to raise the profile and activities of Boroondara Neighbourhood Watch by working closely with Boroondara Police Crime Prevention Officers and Boroondara Council in re-activating the work in crime prevention and education with a committed core group of volunteers. In 2018, Suzanne’s work was recognised with a state award from Neighbourhood Watch Victoria.

Much of the success in re-activating Boroondara Neighbourhood Watch is a result of her expertise and experience gained by her work with both commercial and not for profit organisations. Her strengths lie in the areas of strategic planning, finance, change management and human resources.

Suzanne strongly believes that much of crime prevention and safety is the responsibility of individuals, but they need the information which can be successfully communicated by Neighbourhood Watch groups throughout the state by the work they do with Victoria Police. This is so aptly stated in the logo

“Let’s watch out for each other”.

Alison is a highly effective senior executive with significant experience managing people, projects and financial resources to deliver strategic advice, environmental outcomes, law and policy reform, and performance monitoring and analysis.

Alison’s career has been focused on law, policy and governance from a perspective of federal, state and local government operations. In 2014, Alison was the Assistant Director for Public Policy and Organisation Reviews with the Victorian Public Sector Commission. From 2012 to 2013 she worked as the Environment Manager with the Bass Coast Shire Council, with responsibility for climate change and sustainability, coast and bushland management, and land and catchment management.

From 2006 to 2011 Alison was a senior executive with Victoria Police, successively managing the Planning Performance and Reporting, Planning and Business Intelligence, and Strategy and Policy Divisions and the Corporate Strategy and Governance Department. This department occupied a unique position within Victoria Police as a strategic thinking and planning resource for the organisation, having the capacity to validate the implementation of strategic frameworks through corporate risk, audit, governance and reporting frameworks.

Alison brings strong governance experience to the NHW Board of Management. She represented Victoria Police on a wide range of cross-government committees relating to legislative reform and drug and alcohol policy and is a past board member of the United Nations Western Port Biosphere Reserve. She has undertaken the Company Director’s Course with the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds degrees in law and commerce.

Alison lives with her partner David and their adored dog Otto, and brings to NHW the perspective of inner city living combined with escaping on weekends to a holiday house on the beautiful Bass Coast.

Raph first joined Neighbourhood Watch in 2010 where as part of the newly formed Neighbourhood Watch group for the Casey PSA, he was elected as co-chair, a position he maintained for two years and now continues to be on the Casey Neighbourhood Watch committee.

A firm believer in being part of the change you want to see in the world, Raph embraces the values of Neighbourhood Watch and is enjoys working within the community to help educate people in how to minimise the opportunity for preventable crime and feel more secure within their neighbourhood.

Working in the field of Information Technology Management, Raph is hoping to provide some technical direction and assist Neighbourhood Watch in moving forward in utilising today’s technologies effectively.

Amber has more than 20 years of experience in the energy industry  and currently serves as General Manager Business Energy & Energy Services at Origin Energy. In this role Amber is responsible for sales, service and back office operations for Commercial & Industrial customers and field operations for Solar and Energy solutions. Prior to this Amber held senior Finance and Commercial roles within Origin and at two other Australian Utilities.

Amber has extensive experience driving and managing change and transformation initiatives as well as experience across all facets of Financial Management including strategy, financial accounting, management reporting, planning, treasury, accounts payable and risk management.

Amber is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is a director on LPG boards in which Origin holds an interest, in Papua New Guinea, Fiji and American Samoa.

Amber holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Diploma in Modern Languages (French), from the University of Melbourne and is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA).

Les is currently the Director of LMS Lawyers, which is a commercial litigation law practice in St Kilda Road, Melbourne.

Les has practised as a Barrister and Solicitor in all types of disputes and criminal law matters since 1983.  Les has been a Senior Associate in a boutique litigation law firm, a partner in a large city law firm, a Barrister for 12 years and has been the Director of LMS Lawyers for the last 15 years.

Les has been a member of the Building Appeals Board for the last 11 years and the Architects Registration Board of Victoria Tribunal’s Panel for the last 13 years.  He currently acts for individuals, family businesses, builders, owners and building professionals.  He is an accredited mediator and has presented at numerous seminars and published articles on various areas of the law.  He is also a member of a number of professional associations.

Les conducts matters in all Courts and at the VCAT and has acted in a number of leading VCAT cases and appeals from VCAT decisions.