The bid team

Susan is the World Heritage and Regional Development Lead at the City of Ballarat. In this role she is co-coordinating the roll out of the Central Victorian Goldfields World Heritage Bid program for the 13 local government partners. She shares this role with Trevor Budge representing the City of Greater Bendigo.

Since 2012, Susan has led the implementation of UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) at the City of Ballarat as part of their international pilot program and has integrated UNESCO’s HUL approach and sustainable tourism framework into the Goldfields’ World Heritage bid.

Susan is an active member of the global HUL and World Heritage program, contributing both internationally and in Australia.

Susan is a full international member of Australia ICOMOS, member of international ICOMOS’ World Heritage and Sustainable Development Goals Working Group, founding member of the Heritage Asia-Pacific Network and, until December 2022 Co-Convener of the Australia ICOMOS National Scientific Committee (NSC) on Cultural Landscapes and Cultural Routes.

Trevor Budge AM is the Strategic Projects Officer – World Heritage at the City of Greater Bendigo. In this role he is a one of the Goldfields World Heritage bid coordinators and he shares this role with Susan Fayad.

Trevor coordinates City of Greater Bendigo’s key strategic projects, including the Goldfields World Heritage bid and UNESCO City of Gastronomy. He is a former Associate Professor at the Bendigo Campus of La Trobe University and Adjunct Professor at RMIT University. He served as State President of the Victorian Division of the Planning Institute of Australia for three years and is a Life Fellow and has a National Lifetime Achievement Award from the Planning Institute.

Trevor became a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia in June 2011 for services to town planning, particularly the development of regional and rural communities in Victoria, and to education. He was a Ministerial appointee on the Victorian Catchment Management Council for six years and since 2016 he has been a Ministerial appointee on the Board of the Victorian Planning Authority. His involvement in a World Heritage Bid for the Central Victorian Goldfields commenced in 1989 when he undertook work for John Brumby MHR who championed the first efforts for international recognition.

Lana Epshteyn has joined the City of Ballarat’s bid team in late September 2023 to support the project and increase the effectiveness and reach of bid communications, media, and engagement. Lana’s previous roles include Communications Manager at Australian Museums and Galleries Association (AMaGA), and Marketing Officer at Shrine of Remembrance.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss any opportunities how you can be involved, please get in touch.