Maree Grenfell Email Address

Manager City Resilience and Sustainable Futures

The City of Melbourne manages more than 500 hectares of open space. This represents almost 15 per cent of the total area of the City of Melbourne. To meet the needs of the growing and changing residential and worker population and to respond to issues such as climate change, we have prepared our first draft Open Space Strategy for the entire municipality. Our first Open Space Strategy provides the overarching framework and strategic direction for open space planning in the City of Melbourne for the next 15 years. A key objective of the strategy is to plan Melbourne’s open space network to be within easy walking distance to the community, particularly in areas of forecasted population growth. What kinds of issues does the strategy address? The strategy provides direction on these key issues: the unprecedented demand for open space as Melbourne’s population continues to grow climate change â€" a decade of drought, water restrictions and extreme weather and the predicted impacts of climate change provide additional challenges in the management of parks and reserves and the role they can play in climate change adaptation ensuring open spaces can provide for and adapt to differing needs and uses. This includes providing people with the opportunity to connect with nature.

I’m an accomplished change strategist with a track record of achievement across the community, private and government sectors. My work focuses primarily on complex multi-stakeholder initiatives and pioneering projects to build capability, confidence and collaborative capacity at a community, city and national level. A strategic and creative thinker, I specialise in bringing a new mindset to old themes. I draw on an eclectic background in ecology, urban design, sustainability, social psychology and economic impact to create and deliver transformational programs that shift mindsets and practice around sustainability, inclusive communities and resilient environments. I’m drawn to opportunities that harness new thinking and the energies of diverse, interdependent stakeholder groups. These range from local councils and communities to influential global entities like the Rockefeller Foundation. I have a demonstrated capacity to recognise and resolve drivers, barriers and opportunities for change. My expertise is in facilitating, designing, delivering and successfully implementing innovative solutions with and for broad audiences. With a knack for communication, my signature strength is to bring clarity and purpose to a project, injecting creativity, enthusiasm and positivity. My personal drive is to produce excellent long lasting results in whatever I apply myself to. I am passionate and uphold strong personal integrity to influence positive change by working for our planet and its people; my goal is a community-centred future in which cities and human wellbeing are interdependent.