Dr Amber Clarke
Dr Amber Clarke is an experienced public sector executive, currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority. With a career spanning leadership, strategy, policy and on-ground delivery, she is known for her collaborative and innovative approach to natural resource management at both state and national levels.
Dr Clarke was appointed to the CEO role in September 2023 and prior to that was Acting CEO at the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority. Dr Clarke has more than 15 years’ experience in the Victorian public service, with state and regional leadership roles over the past decade. She was previously the Director, Waterway Programs at the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action for seven years. In this role, Dr Clarke worked in partnership with Victoria’s CMAs, Melbourne Water and the Victorian Environmental Water Holder, overseeing policy, programs, investment, monitoring and reporting to improve the health of rivers, estuaries and wetlands statewide. This position built on earlier career experience developing statewide policy for waterway management.
Dr Clarke’s academic expertise was gained at Monash University, including a PhD in freshwater ecology at the School of Biological Sciences. Her thesis investigated spatial patterns and determinants of macroinvertebrate diversity in headwater stream networks. Dr Clarke published several journal articles for her thesis, including a review of macroinvertebrate diversity in headwater streams that has since been cited almost 500 times. Dr Clarke also completed a Master of Environmental Science and Bachelor of Environmental Science with first class honours in freshwater ecology. Her PhD and honours research was guided by the late Emeritus Professor Sam Lake AO, Professor Ralph Mac Nally, Dr Dennis O’Dowd and Professor Nick Bond.
Dr Clarke has led the development and implementation of significant policy frameworks and programs for waterway and catchment management across Victoria, including securing major government investment in the sector and co-authoring the Victorian Waterway Management Strategy. She has recently led Corangamite Catchment Management Authority through a strategic transition to address climate change and biodiversity loss through innovative approaches to natural capital and nature finance, unlocking new investment in ecosystem services and their benefits.
Dr Clarke is 2013 Fellow of the Peter Cullen Trust and a recent Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.