Curriculum Vitæ

In a nutshell:

Janet Rice has combined a professional career in the fields of environment and community with active and passionate involvement in community activities, being a Councillor of City of Maribyrnong; having a leadership role in the development of The Australian Greens Victoria, and being a parent.

Qualifications:

B Sc Hons - Meteorology (Melb)

Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution (Trillium Group)

Advanced Groupwork Certificate ( Groupwork Institute of Australia )

Professional Year, Groupwork Institute of Australia

Greens Councillor

Janet was elected as Councillor for Saltwater Ward, City of Maribyrnong in March 2003.

She was elected as Mayor for a one year term in November 2005.

Some of Janet's major achievements as a Councillor include:

Chair, Metropolitan Transport Forum 2004 -. The MTF brings together 16 municipalities and has been a major influence on Victorian transport policy during this time
Vice President, Victorian Local Governance Association . Janet was elected to the VLGA Board in 2005 and to the Vice - President role in 2006
Awarded 2006 National Bicycling Achievement Award for contribution towards cycling by a politician
Recipient of MAV - McArthur Fellowship 2005-06. This award is given to one Councillor each year for overseas travel to research a topic of significance to local government. Janet travelled across North America and Northern Europe in mid 2006 researching sustainable transport and planning and the role of community in achieving this.
Giving six presentations based on her MAV- McArthur Fellowship trip in the second half of 2006, including two presentations to over 150 people at transport forums at the Melbourne Town Hall and the Melbourne Museum , and a presentation to Councillors from across Victoria at a MAV conference
Initiated a requirement for green travel plans for major development proposals in City of Maribyrnong .
Janet's strong advocacy for sustainable transport at Council was a significant influence on the State government's decision to run the TravelSmart program in Maribyrnong. This resulted in over a million dollars being spent promoting and facilitating walking, cycling and public transport use in the municipality. Council's contribution to this project was to employ a sustainable transport officer. This position has now been made permanent.
Strong advocate for revitalisation of Footscray . Janet has led the commitment by Council to allocate more resources to improving Footscray. Council's advocacy has resulted in the state government committing to funding major improvements at Footscray station in the next budget.
On-going advocacy throughout 2006 to the Port of Melbourne regarding the impact of the Port and Port related freight traffic on Maribyrnong. In particular Janet led the campaign against the decision of the Port to close Footscray Wharf for public boat moorings, and led the extensive and exhaustive negotiations which resulted in the Port agreeing to re-open the Wharf to boats.
Active campaigner on freight issues, including being a founding member of the Maribyrnong Truck Action Group. Progress has been slow, but its looking more likely that Vicroads will agree to a truck ban in Barkly – Hopkins, Irving and Nicholson Streets Footscray.
Active involvement in measures to achieve more effective community involvement, and high quality community consultation practices across Council
Facilitated and encouraged a more focused approach to sustainability overall by Maribyrnong Council over the last four years, including active engagement in the ICLEI Cities for Climate Protection and Water campaigns
Keynote speaker on Community Attitudes towards Transit Oriented Development (TOD) at TOD Conference, Perth July 2005.

Professional Career

Janet Rice has over twenty years experience working with community organisations and government. She has combined expertise in community development and involvement, strategic planning, and public policy with strong research and analytical skills.

Janet is an expert facilitator, with extensive experience in planning and running community forums, ranging from community reference groups to large workshops. She enjoys working with groups of people to help them to achieve their goals, and planning and implementing processes for social and behavioural change helping to achieve a more sustainable society. She has a special interest in sustainability in general and sustainable transport and water management in particular.

Career highlights include

Self - employed as Janet Rice Facilitation and Community Involvement 2003 -.
Clients include Barwon Water ( facilitation of community reference group on a proposed biosolids treatment facility), Merri Creek Management Committee ( strategic planning), and Association of Neighbourhood Houses and Learning Centres (campaign planning facilitation)
Senior consultant with Context Pty Ltd 1998 - 2002 .
Clients included Barwon Water, City of Moreland and City of Darebin on projects including community consultation on Barwon Water's Water Resources Development Plan, development of environment and integrated transport strategies and leading consultation processes for Urban Village planning.
Ride to Work Coordinator Bicycle Victoria 1993 - 1997.
Janet developed Bicycle Victoria 's Ride to Work campaign and oversaw its initial strong growth. The Ride to Work program has continued to grow since this time.
Co-ordinator and Forest Campaigner, East Gippsland Coalition 1987 -1990. New National Parks in East Gippsland on the Errinundra Plateau and protecting the Rodger River forests were achieved during this time.
Water Policy officer, Department of Water Resources 1985- 1986
Project Officer, Conservation Council of Victoria ( now Environment Victoria ) 1983- 85

Australian Greens Victoria

Elected as Councillor for Saltwater Ward 2003, re-elected 2005, elected Mayor 2005-06
Candidate for state seat of Footscray 2002, federal seat of Gellibrand 1996 and Maribyrnong council 1997, 2000
Co-Convenor, Australian Greens Victoria 2003-04
Awarded Life Membership 2002
Membership of Greens Victoria executive 1992- 2004
Founding convenor of Inner West branch and Western Suburbs Region 1993 - (circa) 2000
One of the founders of Australian Greens Victoria 1992

Other community involvement

Founding Member Maribyrnong Bicycle Users Group 2005-
Founding Member Maribyrnong Truck Action Group 2005 -
Member , School Council, Footscray City Primary School 1998- 2004 (President 2002-03)
Member, Management Committee, Angliss Children's Centre 1993- 96, (Chair 1994-95)
Member of Multicultural Choir, Footscray Community Arts Centre, 1997 - 2004
Key organiser of the campaign to Save Footscray Pool 1997 - 2005
Member Environment Victoria, Friends of Maribyrnong Valley , Friends of Stony Creek
Member of Bicycle Victoria
Financial supporter of Oxfam, Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation, and Brotherhood of St Lawrence

Personal

Janet lives in Footscray with her partner Penny and their two children, aged 15 and 12.
Janet stays sane with bike riding, yoga, gardening, playing the violin and barracking for the Western Bulldogs. She has a magnificent crop of tomatoes this year, watered with bucketed shower water. Janet and family love to get away camping and bushwalking as often as they can manage it ( which isn't often enough) !