Rodney Warren

Rodney Warren had a 41 year career with the Victorian Government. Starting his career as a clerk of courts and after 14 years changed direction and became a statewide Fisheries and Wildlife enforcement Officer conducting many high profile investigations and prosecutions.

He was appointed Chief Prosecutor Fisheries and in later years was part of the Executive for the Department of Sustainability and Environment as Regional Director Port Phillip.
Rod developed, implemented and managed the infringement system including drafting the legislation. He conducted training for Fisheries and Wildlife Officers. He assisted in the creation of Marine Parks Legislation for Victoria.

He was a member of the Central Coastal Management Board. He was a member of AELERT (Australasian Environmental Law Enforcement and Regulators Network) and was the inaugural Chair of the Best Practice committee.

Qualifications

Clerk of Courts
Diploma Frontline Management
Diploma Project Management
Certificate 1V Government Investigations
Certificate 1V Assessment and Training

PAUL MILLAR

Paul Millar was a Victorian Fisheries Officer for over 35 years, departing the Victorian Public Service in July 2025. Paul spent most of his fisheries career in the west of coastal Victoria where his knowledge and experience was instrumental in implementing creative solutions in detecting and prosecuting offending, primarily in the abalone and rock lobster fisheries. He has extensive experience in managing investigations into fisheries crime. He finished his career as the Regional Fisheries Manager, Operations for Western Region.

Paul is the author of Fisheries Management Reports 57 & 60 ‘Marine Creel Survey’. These reports were integral in successfully lobbying for legislative change in the recreational rock lobster and abalone sector.

Qualifications

Advanced Certificate in Resource Management
Associate Diploma in Applied Science (Resource Management).
Certificate of Competency as Coxswain
Investigator's Development Crime Courses Unit, VicPol
Certificate IV in Government (Fraud Control Investigation)
Diploma in the Seafood Industry (Fisheries Compliance)
Diploma of Management

ROD BARBER

Rod Barber was the former Supervising Fisheries Officer at Mornington. He departed the Victorian Fisheries Authority in July 2025 after 41 years employment with the Victorian Government; of which 36 years was in service as a Fisheries Officer. He served over 30 years as the team leader of the Mornington Fisheries Compliance team. Rod also received an Australian Bravery Medal for his efforts on duty, saving the life of a person in the surf off the Mornington Peninsula back beaches.

Rod planned and led many operations and targeted tactical patrols focussing on serious non-compliance risks such as individuals and organised teams of offenders planning to harvest fisheries resources illegally, as well as sensitive areas vulnerable to exploitation.

Rod also developed and delivered training packages including Fisheries Compliance Dive training and VFA Personal Watercraft (PWC – Jet-ski) training, to help Victorian Fisheries Officers provide worlds best practice fisheries compliance services. He initiated and facilitated educational programs with local kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, helping young people to learn about the marine and aquatic environments on the Mornington Peninsula with the hope to develop future custodians and law abiding harvesters. (The Secondary School Fisheries Crime intervention program has now run for 21 years with various Mornington Peninsula Secondary Colleges).

Rod supported many local commercial fishers as they navigated the ever-changing commercial fishing landscape, preferring to help fishers understand fisheries management and legislation changes, rather than have them committing offences through accident or misunderstanding. He also served as the Fisheries Compliance Adviser for the Central Zone Abalone and Abalone Receiver fisheries, preparing annual reports and presenting at annual conferences.

Rod is a keen recreational fisher, both as a line fisher and diver; targeting local fish, crustaceans and shellfish.

Murray Donaldson

Murray Donaldson PSM was a Fisheries Officer for 37 years retiring as the Chief Investigator in 2014.
His knowledge and experience spans fisheries policy management, stakeholder liaison, intelligence, investigations, major operations, legislation and prosecutions.

Murray represented Victoria at Australia’s National Fisheries Compliance Committee for 15 years, 7 of which he was Chair. He has extensive experience in developing compliance strategies.

Qualifications

Associate Diploma Applied Science
Diploma of Government (Fraud Investigation)
Diploma of Fisheries Compliance
Advanced Diploma of Government (Fraud Control Management)
Diploma Statutory Investigations
Diploma of Management

David Burgess

David Burgess NEM, was employed by the Victorian Fisheries Authority and its predecessors for 47 years. Thirteen of those years were as a technician/diver/boat operator in research followed by 34 years as a Fisheries Officer, culminating as the Supervising Fisheries Officer of the Queenscliff Fisheries Station. During his last his last 7 years he also led the statewide training program for Fisheries Officers recruits.

His experience is broad covering fisheries compliance, game compliance, fisheries research, stakeholder liaison, investigations, prosecutions, recruit training, fisheries management, legislation development and implementation and marine safety.

During his 34 years as a Fisheries Officer he had originated and led numerous fisheries compliance operations and has liaised with numerous other agencies regarding interoperability.

Qualifications;