Ms Elizabeth Sampson’s outstanding leadership and innovation in public land management reform in Victoria has delivered history-making reforms that protect some of the state’s most iconic landscapes, including the Birrarung (Yarra River) and the Great Ocean Road coast, parks and environs.
Ms Sampson’s service is exemplified by her leadership of complex, system-wide reforms that have fundamentally transformed how significant natural assets are governed.
She was instrumental in the design and delivery of the Yarra River Protection (Wilip-gin Birrarung murron) Act 2017 and the Great Ocean Road and Environs Protection Act 2020. For the first time in Victoria, these Acts recognise these landscapes in law as living and integrated natural entities. These reforms introduced holistic management frameworks that balance environmental protection, cultural recognition, community interests and economic activity.
Central to Ms Sampson’s work is her strong commitment to self-determination and genuine partnership with Traditional Owners. She championed legislative recognition of the intrinsic connection of Traditional Owners to Country, resulting in Victoria’s first culturally meaningful approaches and enduring governance arrangements.
A highly regarded systems thinker, Ms Sampson designed robust, evidence-based frameworks to support sound analysis, decision-making and delivery. She led complex advisory bodies, taskforces and reference groups, navigating competing interests, tight timeframes and public scrutiny with integrity and a collaborative approach. Her leadership of extensive public consultation processes and coordination of expert technical advice ensured reforms were inclusive, durable and widely supported.
Ms Sampson’s contribution has delivered lasting environmental, cultural, social and economic benefits for Victoria and established new benchmarks for public land management that will benefit current and future generations.
Page last updated: 08/06/26