Skip to content
 The Tasmanian Government has assumed a caretaker role ahead of the election for the Tasmanian House of Assembly. It is important during this time that Tasmanian Government resources are not used to communicate political material. As such, no political or election material will be placed on this site.

Department of State Growth

Tasmanian Development Board members

Members of the Tasmanian Development Board are appointed pursuant to Section 5 (3) of the Tasmanian Development Act 1983.

Mike Wallas

Mike Wallas

Chairperson

Mike started his executive career with Hewlett-Packard in South Africa and quickly progressed to Senior Executive positions including that of Managing Director of a $400m Technology business.

In 1998 Mike emigrated with his family to Australia and he set up Enterprise Growth Solutions as a boutique Consultancy business advising medium and large clients on strategy, growth and expansion Internationally with strong focus on execution and value-creation. At the same time Mike set up a family office investing in early stage technology and Software businesses where he was able to add value as well as funding. A number of the businesses in the Portfolio have grown into strong International businesses.

See more

Mike’s Non-Executive Board roles started in 1996, and since then he has served on numerous Boards as NED or Chair. Notably Mike is currently Chairman of HS Fresh Food (formerly Houston’s).

Over the last 12 years Mike has become a successful Turnaround Specialist assisting distressed businesses in industries such as Agriculture, Mining Services and Technology.

Mike is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).

Mike has throughout his career worked with businesses seeking to grow and expand creating significant value and job creation. He served for over 10 years as NED at City Fertility Centre, one of the premier IVF businesses in Australia.

His strength in Mergers and Acquisitions assisted the Group to join one of the world’s premium health groups in 2017.

Joining the TD Board as a Director in February 2020, Mike was appointed as Chair from 1 December 2021.

Peter Iancov

Peter Iancov

Director

Peter is a professional engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia, with over 28 years expertise gained in the critical infrastructure sector including energy, renewable generation, mining, commercial building construction, contracting and defence sectors as a Chief Executive Officer, Board Director, Managing Director and Advisor with business partnerships forged across Australian and multinational organisations.

In his previous executive roles, he has been instrumental in securing and delivering multibillion major projects now part of the national infrastructure capability. He has a strong background in the successful delivery of strategic multidisciplinary programs, commercial and contractual risk, governance, systems development, financial and risk management.

See more

Peter is a current and past board member and non-executive director of a number of organisations that operate in energy, oil and gas, defence, critical infrastructure, engineering, property and aboriginal communities. He is the Managing Director of Zinfra Pty Ltd, a services provider operating in the energy sector, servicing major electricity and gas infrastructure asset owners through a field force of 2,000 employees and a similar number of subcontractors operating across the Australia.

In addition, in 2013 Peter founded Chronos Advisory Pty Ltd – a strategic advisory platform operating at board, investor and shareholder level in the private, public, government, insurance and private equity sectors. Key areas of expertise extend across major asset development and management in energy, infrastructure, oil and gas and defence.

See less

Craig Limkin

Chief Executive and Director







See more

Selina Lightfoot

Director

Selina is an experienced non-executive director, having held a range of directorships over the last 10 years across ASX listed, private, government and not for profit companies. Selina’s current board roles include with Hydro Tasmania, the State’s principal energy generator, and Southeast Water, a Victorian Water Corporation. Selina is also an advisory board member for TLC Healthcare, a director of the North Melbourne Football Club and holds not-for-profit board roles with Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Australia (JDRFA) and Victorian Opera. Previous directorships have included roles with ASX listed companies in retail, consumer products/agribusiness and technology services.

Prior to commencing her non-executive career, Selina had extensive experience as a corporate legal adviser, including 10 years as a Partner of law firm Freehills (now Herbert Smith Freehills). Her areas of expertise include mergers and acquisitions, commercial contracts and corporate governance.

See more

Selina’s current and former roles have given her significant cross sector experience, including in consumer products, retail, professional and technology services, agribusiness, health, aged care, renewable energy and infrastructure.

Selina grew up in Northern Tasmania and graduated from the University of Tasmania with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws. She also holds a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Vince De Santis

Vince de Santis

Director

Vince is an Executive Director of corporate advisory firm, T8 Advisory Partners Pty Ltd. He also serves as the Non-Executive Chair and member of the Audit & Risk Committee, of ASX listed industrial engineering company, Engenco Limited, and is a non-executive director of infrastructure asset owner, Tasmanian Gas Pipeline Pty Ltd.

Vince was Managing Director of the Elphinstone Group for 10 years until December 2018. The Group’s primary business interests are in the mining, energy, engineering, manufacturing, and industrial goods & services sectors including interests in a number of Caterpillar equipment dealerships in Australia and overseas.

See more

Vince initially joined the Elphinstone Group in 2000 as the Group’s Legal Counsel and Finance & Investment Manager. During his time with the Group, he also served as a director of various subsidiary and joint venture companies.

Prior to that time, Vince was a Senior Associate in the Energy, Resources & Projects team at national law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth, based in Melbourne.

Vince grew up in North-West Tasmania. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Laws (Hons.) from the University of Tasmania and is also a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Kath McCann

Kathryn McCann

Director

Kath has an extensive senior executive career in the public and private sector across multiple sectors including tourism, aviation, education, hospitality, not for profit and entertainment.

Kath has held senior executive roles with a range of prominent Tasmanian organisations including Hobart Airport, Tourism Tasmania, Beacon Foundation and Federal Group focused in the areas of strategy, marketing, operations, business development, communications and sales. Kath is currently Executive Director of the Tasmania Football Club.

See more

Throughout her working career Kath has also held, and continues to hold, a range of Board positions. Currently Kath is a Director of the Bank of Us Board, Chair of the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens and Executive Director of the Tasmania Football Club.

Kath grew up and was educated in Tasmania and is a Graduate of the University of Tasmania where she completed her degree in Arts and Commerce with majors in Psychology and Marketing.

Paul Ranson

Paul Ranson

Director

Paul joined Bank of Us as Chief Executive Officer in 2005 and has been responsible for laying the foundations for the growth and development of the company, which is Tasmania’s only customer-owned bank. Prior to joining Bank of us, Paul had 25 years’ experience in local government including 18 years’ combined experience as General Manager at Meander Valley and West Tamar Councils.

Paul is a Director of both the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Credit Union Financial Support Scheme and is a past President of the Launceston Chamber of Commerce and Local Government Managers Australia (Tasmania Division) and member of the Premier’s Economic and Social Recovery Advisory Council (PESRAC). He is a life member of Local Government Managers Australia and a Fellow and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Naomi Walsh

Naomi Walsh

Director

Naomi has 30 years’ experience in accounting, finance and commercial management roles. She started her career as an accountant in Launceston, Tasmania before pursuing opportunities in Perth, WA and England. She currently has a portfolio of appointments as a director and is a part-time industry focused academic at the University of Tasmania.

Returning to Tasmania in 2007, she held senior roles with a privately owned group with operations in construction, manufacturing, agriculture, tourism and hospitality sectors. In 2014 she was awarded the Telstra Business Women’s Award, Tasmania Corporate sector recognising her leadership in the Tasmanian construction industry.

See more

Naomi is Vice President, a councillor and board member of the Chartered Accountants (CAANZ) and Tasmanian regional councillor.  Her board appointments include non-executive director of the Motor Accidents Insurance Board, TasTAFE, Launceston Chamber of Commerce, Australian Collaborative Education Network Ltd and Commissioner for Tasmanian Legal Aid. She has previously been a board member of the Mental Health Council of Tasmania, Tasmanian Building and Construction Industry Training Board, Tasmanian Traineeships and Apprenticeships Committee, Civil Contractors Federation and Tasmanian Hospitality Association. Naomi has a strong interest in contributing to a positive future for all Tasmanians in the areas of workforce development, industry sustainability and equality.