Board & Governance

Our Board of Directors

VicReturn’s Board of Directors is responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of VicReturn.

The Board currently comprises nine Board Members: an Independent Chair, six Directors appointed by our founding members (Asahi Beverages, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners and Lion), one Director representing the interests of small beverage suppliers, and one independent Director with a background in the waste and recycling industry.

Our Board will shortly expand to include ten members, once a second Director representing the interests of small beverage suppliers has been appointed.

Board Members

Freya Marsden

Chair

Freya Marsden

Chair

Freya Marsden is an economist, sustainability and governance specialist and experienced Chair, Chair of Risk, Audit, and…

Freya Marsden is an economist, sustainability and governance specialist and experienced Chair, Chair of Risk, Audit, and Finance and Non-Executive Director with over 20 previous Board and Committee roles across a broad range of sectors.

Freya’s Non-Executive roles are supported through extensive sustainability, circular economy and climate related environmental understanding, data governance, and deep experience and capability as Chair of finance, risk and audit. Freya loves utilising her governance and risk and audit experience to drive optimal outcomes, including establishing and utilising frameworks that protect and create value, manage risks, and maximise opportunities.

Freya holds a Master of Commerce, Bachelor of Agriculture and Resource Economics including environmental science, has undertaken the Cambridge University Sustainable Finance course, the Cambridge Institute for Sustainable Leadership Non-executive Director Programme and is an active member of the AICD.

Freya brings extensive community sector experience including working to alleviate disadvantage and work within the disability sector.

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Mark Mackay

Director

Mark Mackay

Director

Mark has an extensive management and advisory career in business strategy and brand communications.

Mark has an extensive management and advisory career in business strategy and brand communications.

He has led some of the world’s leading advertising agencies including Saatchi & Saatchi, Young & Rubicam and has also served as Chair and CEO of  Australia`s most celebrated creative agency, The Campaign Palace for 16 years.

In 2012 Mark transitioned into the sustainability space as founding Chair of Australia`s leading e-waste recycler, Australia and New Zealand Recycling Platform.

Mark continues to serve as Chair of ANZRP, Chair of Tech Collect New Zealand and Advisory Chair of PaperCut Software.

Mark is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Columbia Business School.

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Edward Dowse

Director

Edward Dowse

Director

Edward Dowse is an experienced finance and commercial leader and board director with 20 years of experience across a range of…

Edward Dowse is an experienced finance and commercial leader and board director with 20 years of experience across a range of industries, including fast moving consumer goods, manufacturing, transportation, and recycling.

Edward leads Lion’s involvement in container deposit schemes across Australia and New Zealand, and has been involved in the establishment of schemes in NSW, ACT, QLD, WA and VIC. He currently sits on the boards of Marine Stores Pty Ltd (one of the supercollectors in South Australia and the Northern Territory), and the Scheme Coordinators in Western Australia and Queensland. He is also an alternate director of the NSW and ACT Scheme Coordinators.

Prior to Lion, Edward spent over 10 years at Ernst & Young advising major lenders, investors, and corporates in relation to business performance, strategic options analysis, financial restructures, and turnarounds in both Australia and Europe.

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Lisa Rippon-Lee

Director

Lisa Rippon-Lee

Director

Lisa Rippon-Lee is a senior executive with over 25 years’ experience establishing and leading corporate affairs functions in…

Lisa Rippon-Lee is a senior executive with over 25 years’ experience establishing and leading corporate affairs functions in multinational organisations across a variety of industry sectors, including manufacturing, property development, mining and professional services in Australia, and across Asia Pacific and Europe.

Lisa is Vice President, Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability for Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) Australia, leading the development and delivery of the Coca-Cola Bottler’s corporate brand, stakeholder and sustainability strategy in Australia across government, policy and regulatory affairs, corporate communications and media relations, ESG progress and community development, issues management and internal and external communications.

Lisa is also a non-executive Board member of the Container Deposit Scheme Coordinators Exchange for Change (NSW) and Exchange for Change (ACT).

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Julian Sidebottom

Director

Julian Sidebottom

Director

Jules Sidebottom is a senior corporate affairs and sustainability leader with extensive experience in the private sector,…

Jules Sidebottom is a senior corporate affairs and sustainability leader with extensive experience in the private sector, politics, and public policy.

Jules is the Group Head of Corporate Affairs and Government Relations at Asahi Beverages and leads its engagement with governments, public policy, and industry associations across Oceania.

Prior to joining Asahi Beverages / Carlton & United Breweries Jules was the Chief of Staff to the then Federal Opposition Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and has worked as an Adviser in several Ministerial portfolios, including Immigration and Citizenship, Employment, Skills & Training, Housing, Homelessness, Small Business and Human Services.

Jules has a Law Degree and an Arts Degree from the University of Tasmania.

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Benjamin Oxley

Director

Benjamin Oxley

Director

Ben is a senior executive with over 21 years of experience in the beverage industry with roles in procurement and supply chain,…

Ben is a senior executive with over 21 years of experience in the beverage industry with roles in procurement and supply chain, encompassing packaging, raw materials and corporate and supply chain indirect.

Ben currently hold the role of Global Procurement Sustainability Director at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) with the responsibility of leading CCEP’s sustainability commitments; to increase recycled content and recyclability on packaging, reducing our carbon emission to achieve a 30% reduction in emissions by 2030 and net zero by 2040 and working with CCEP’s suppliers to set Science Based Targets by 2025 and use 100% renewable energy by 2030, and to ensure CCEP’s suppliers are compliant with all Modern Slavery commitments. Prior to this role, Ben was Head of Regional Procurement – Packaging and Sustainability for CCEP across Australia, Pacific and Indonesia.

Ben previously worked for 9 years at Cadbury Schweppes prior to moving to Coca Cola Europacific Partners in 2011. During his time with Cadbury Schweppes, where he held the various roles from Australia and New Zealand Procurement Manager to the Asia Pacific Procurement Manager – Packaging. In these roles he was responsible for all aspects of packaging including innovation, sourcing and sustainability and managed the annual procurement spend.

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Laura Green

Director

Laura Green

Director

Laura Green is an experienced leader with over 15 years of experience in corporate development, strategy and finance across a…

Laura Green is an experienced leader with over 15 years of experience in corporate development, strategy and finance across a range of industries.

Laura currently leads Group Corporate Development at Asahi Beverages, including responsibility for mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures.

Prior to joining Asahi, Laura spent over 10 years as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse executing a range of transactions (mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity raisings including IPO’s) and strategic advice mandates for private equity, government and corporate clients.  Laura has also held several corporate development and strategy roles at leading Australian corporates in her career post investment banking.

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Philippa Perkins

Director

Philippa Perkins

Director

Philippa Perkins is an experienced finance and commercial professional with over 20 years of experience in complex projects,…

Philippa Perkins is an experienced finance and commercial professional with over 20 years of experience in complex projects, corporate establishments, reorganisations and transformations across a number of industries.

Philippa works in Lion’s CDS team supporting the establishment and monitoring of container deposit schemes across Australia. Philippa has been involved in collection schemes across Australia and New Zealand over the last 6 years and was a key member in the establishment of the Western Australia and Queensland container deposit schemes.

Philippa is a director of Marine Stores Pty Ltd, a joint venture business between Lion and Coopers that acts as a Supercollector in South Australia and the Northern Territory. She is also a director of Exchange for Change (NSW) and Exchange for Change (ACT), the container deposit scheme coordinators in New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory, and acts as an alternate director of Western Australia Return Recycle Renew, which operates the WA container deposit scheme.

Prior to joining Lion, Philippa spent over 15 years at EY as a consultant, managing financial restructures and turnarounds in both Australia and Europe.

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Kylie Lethbridge

Director

Kylie Lethbridge

Director

Kylie Lethbridge is an industry executive with over 30 years of experience involving government services, tourism, marketing…

Kylie Lethbridge is an industry executive with over 30 years of experience involving government services, tourism, marketing and stakeholder management.

Kylie is the Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Brewers Association, having started the role in March 2020 with a diverse career history.

Kylie began her journey working in Ministerial support teams before progressing to a variety of communications and marketing, tourism, economic development and management roles within local and state government in Australia and federal government in the UK.

Having owned her own small business, Kylie understands the challenges many small beverage suppliers face. She is a leader and author of strategies and policies that support organisational outcomes and has delivered effective results from her work in destination development and international trade.

Kylie has held multiple Board directorships, is considered an excellent relationship and stakeholder manager as well as a nurturing leader and facilitator of change.

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Our Executive Team

The Executive Team is responsible for the day-to-day management of VicReturn. The Board appoints the Chief Executive, who appoints the remainder of the Executive.

Jim Round

Chief Executive Officer

Jim Round

Chief Executive Officer

Jim Round is a seasoned leader who is passionate about driving positive change. As VicReturn’s inaugural CEO, Jim offers…

Jim Round is a seasoned leader who is passionate about driving positive change. As VicReturn’s inaugural CEO, Jim offers extensive experience in public policy design and delivery, organisational governance and strategy.

Jim served in some of Australia’s highest offices, including as Economic Advisor to former Prime Minister Julia Gillard and as Chief of Staff to Attorney General Hon Mark Dreyfus QC MP.

Before stepping into this role, Jim carved out a career in the public service including as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions during the economic challenges posed by COVID-19.

Jim holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Melbourne and a Master’s degree in Economic History from the London School of Economics, where he studied as a John Monash Scholar.

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Megan Toose

Chief Finance and Commercial Officer

Megan Toose

Chief Finance and Commercial Officer

Megan Toose is an experienced finance and accounting professional, responsible for ensuring the strong financial management of…

Megan Toose is an experienced finance and accounting professional, responsible for ensuring the strong financial management of CDS Vic.

Megan offers close to 30 years of experience in financial oversight and strategy, including operational performance, budgeting, analysis and insights, P&L accountability and financial management of large-scale organisations.

This includes previous roles with large multinational entities and across markets including Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

Megan holds accreditation from the American Association for Investment and Financial Management (AAIFM), CPA Australia and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne.

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Marianne Doyle

Chief Communications, Marketing and Engagement Officer

Marianne Doyle

Chief Communications, Marketing and Engagement Officer

Responsible for delivery of the Scheme’s marketing, communication and engagement with local communities and partners,…

Responsible for delivery of the Scheme’s marketing, communication and engagement with local communities and partners, Marianne Doyle brings extensive experience in the development and delivery of diverse communications and engagement programs across the public sector.

She has a passion for working with programs that make a positive contribution to people, the community and the environment.

Prior to joining VicReturn, she worked as Director, Communications and Engagement for Solar Victoria, responsible for building the public profile of the Victorian Government’s Solar Homes Program.
Marianne has held digital, communications and education roles within Sustainability Victoria, Office of the eSafety Commissioner, Australian Communications and Media Authority and Transport Safety Victoria (Maritime).

She leads a multi-disciplinary communications team with responsibility for strategic communications, community engagement, brand and visual identity, media and public relations.

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John Porta

Chief Information and Operations Officer

John Porta

Chief Information and Operations Officer

John Porta brings his wealth of experience and understanding, driving the delivery of CDS Vic’s…

John Porta brings his wealth of experience and understanding, driving the delivery of CDS Vic’s information and operations, technology infrastructure and network operator partnerships.

With over 25 years of expertise in circular economy delivery, supply chain operations, transformation, solution design, and large-scale program management, John brings valuable insights to the table.

Throughout his career, he has occupied executive and senior management positions and senior executive consulting roles in multinational and global organisations.

John holds a Master of Business Administration with a specialisation in supply chain and finance, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in International Trade and Economics. Having previously resided in Brazil, he is fluent in both Portuguese and English.

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Ilan Zipor

Chief Risk and Audit Officer

Ilan Zipor

Chief Risk and Audit Officer

Ilan Zipor is an experienced Assurance and Governance professional responsible for overseeing the management of risk, audit and…

Ilan Zipor is an experienced Assurance and Governance professional responsible for overseeing the management of risk, audit and integrity for the VicReturn organisation and the broader Victorian Container Deposit Scheme.

He has 25 years of experience in audit, risk management, compliance and assurance, and has worked in multiple ASX listed organisations in a variety of industries.

Having designed and implemented and led multiple assurance functions across internal audit, management systems and compliance functions, Ilan has significant experience with both strategic and operational level assurance working with internal, external and regulatory stakeholders.

A qualified accountant with the CAANZ, Ilan is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and the Institute of Risk Management (UK). Ilan holds a Bachelor of Accounting and a Batchelor of Banking and Finance from Monash University.

Ilan is passionate about the disciplines of assurance and governance and sits on the Audit and Risk Management Committee for the Brotherhood of St. Lawrence in a pro bono capacity.

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James Rankin

Head of Legal

James Rankin

Head of Legal

James Rankin is an experienced corporate lawyer, responsible for managing the legal affairs of VicReturn.

James Rankin is an experienced corporate lawyer, responsible for managing the legal affairs of VicReturn.

James has over 15 years of experience practising corporate law, working for law firms, listed companies and government authorities in Melbourne, Sydney and the US.

Before joining VicReturn, James worked at Deakin University as the Company Secretary of Deakin’s start-ups, where he managed CEO appointments, capital raisings and divestments. Before working at Deakin, James was a transactional and governance lawyer both at law firms and in-house at Healthscope and Australian Unity.

While studying at Georgetown University Law School in the US, James wrote training material for investment fund directors and contributed to the ‘Corporate Secretary’s Handbook’, a professional publication for governance professionals.

Early in James’ career, he was also a local councillor at Moonee Valley City Council, where he served as Deputy Mayor and completed the AICD Course.

James holds a Bachelor of Laws and Arts from the University of Melbourne and a Masters of Securities and Financial Regulation from Georgetown University.

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Our scheme governance

The scheme’s regulator, Recycling Victoria, is overseeing the management of the scheme, including the way that businesses and the wider community can participate and interact within the scheme.