People

Rob Law
Executive Officer

​Rob has an extensive background in developing and delivering regional climate change programs, advocacy and policy development. Over the past four years Rob has coordinated the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance and before that worked for the Northern Alliance for Greenhouse Action and the Eastern Alliance for Greenhouse Action. Rob has previously held a senior position with the Environment Centre NT and has worked for the Victorian State Government and universities on climate change policy and projects.

Jo Kaptein
​MASH Program Lead

Before returning to Australia in 2011, Jo worked in marketing roles in software, project management and publishing. Back in Australia, she settled in Castlemaine with her son and provided marketing consultancy services to local organisations. 

In 2014 she was invited by the directors of the Castlemaine-based Hub Foundation to help launch a new community solar bulk-buy called MASH (More Australian Solar Homes). Since then, she’s been part of the success of MASH now recognised as one of Australia’s leading examples of a community solar bulk-buy. 

Jo moved with the MASH project into the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance where she is the Program Lead for the MASH solar bulk-buy as it rolls out to new regions in central and north west Victoria. 

David Gormley-O'Brien
CVGA Program Manager
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Before recently joining CVGA, David had careers as an IT manager and as an academic specialising in ancient Greek language and history of Alexandria, Egypt 200BCE-200CE. Drawing on his studies on ancient Greek philosophy in his doctorate at the University of Oxford, David has edited a book and written several papers and chapters on living sustainably today. David is also the President of the Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group.

Gemma Watson
MASH Community Energy Support Officer

Recently joining CVGA, Gemma is in her final year at RMIT University studying Environment and Society, specifically interested in communities, climate change and the environment. Previously working as a textile designer for a sustainable clothing label, Gemma decided on a career change after completing a Permaculture Design Certificate at Ceres Environmental Park. Gemma has volunteered for a food rescue organisation, creating and distributing meals to vulnerable communities, cementing her career direction in working with communities and climate change mitigation.

On leave

Sandra Ryan
Office/ Project Manager

Sandra started her career as a paralegal and assistant project manager in a number of community legal services. She moved to the Castlemaine area in 2012 before starting a family and taking on the job as stay at home mum. She started working at the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance in 2016 as an Administrative Assistant before taking on a larger role as office/project manager.