Graham Freestone

Landowner Engagement Officer

Graham is a highly experienced project manager and engagement officer dedicated to achieving win-win outcomes for both clients and stakeholders. Having spent many years working in personnel and stakeholder engagement, Graham has the ability to bring all parties together, to give them the confidence to share their views and expectations freely and to bring them to a consensus that ensures no-one feels left behind or that their opinion does not matter. 

Qualified

  • Diploma of Civil Engineering, Caulfield Institute of Technology (1971)

  • Graduate Diploma of Municipal Engineering, Warrnambool Institute of Technology (1987)

  • Lead Assessor, Quality Society of Australasia

  • Road Safety Assessor (VicRoads Road Safety Course)

  • IAP2 training

  • Leadership and development training, Media Training (Red Door, 2008) 

Connected

Graham’s vast experience in developing constructive relationships that focus on the best outcome for everyone underpins his ability to conduct successful discussions and negotiations. He has demonstrated his ability to engage and consult, whether at ministerial level, through the media, at large and small meetings or on an individual basis through the management of numerous sensitive and contentious projects. He also offers strong leadership, organisational, project management and financial skills as demonstrated by many years heading up regional departments and working with multi-million dollar budgets. 

Technical Experience

  • Negotiated with land owners for land acquisition for road works on major Victorian roads including Western Freeway, Thompsons Road and Hume Freeway. 

  • Provided community liaison, including public communication in state wide emergencies (2007 Black Saturday bush fires and various major floods).

  • Conducted numerous public and stakeholder meetings and open line talk-back radio sessions with ABC Wodonga for six years. 

  • Consultant for VicRoads Eastern and South Western Regions in developing and awarding Maintenance Alliance contracts ($350m over 5 years) 

  • Integral in developing the concept, negotiating organisational and ministerial endorsement and preparing the documentation for the North Eastern Region Maintenance Alliance, Victoria’s first road maintenance alliance. 

  • Leading the proponent selection, award and implementation of the Alliance contract in North East Victoria ($150m over 5 years). 

  • Member of the Alliance Leadership Team (Governance Board) for the VicRoads North Eastern Region Maintenance Alliance (2010 to 2013). 

  • Chairman of VicRoads Roads and Bridge Contractor Evaluation Panel (2005 to 2013). 

  • Member of VicRoads Specification Review Committee (2005 to 2013). 

  • VicRoads representative on the Victorian Community Road Safety Advisory Panel (2007 to 2013). 

  • Development of the state wide Safer Roads Infrastructure Program (SRIP) in conjunction with Victoria’s Transport Accident Commission (TAC) (2005 to 2007).

  • Assessment of $120m worth of state wide SRIP bids (in conjunction with TAC), over two years for road safety programs (2005 to 2007). 

  • Superintendent for road and bridge contracts on projects ranging from $100k to $150m including freeway, bridge and road construction and maintenance contracts (2007 to 2013).