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Our Board

Shannon Smit President

Shannon is Director of SMART Business Solutions, which under her leadership has become the Mornington Peninsula's most awarded accounting firm, with a reputation for working proactively with clients to help them manage their tax obligations and grow their wealth. Shannon has also owned several successful businesses and property developments, so she understands the challenges business owners face.

Shannon's career has spanned global firms in New York, Prague, Amsterdam and Melbourne, before she settled back on the Peninsula and set up SMART Business Solutions in 2007. She wanted to give local business owners access an advisor with extensive global expertise, without having to travel to the city. On weekends, you'll find her organising fundraising events for her children's school or sporting clubs.

Matt McDonald Vice President

Matt is the Chief Executive Officer of Searoad Ferries, Australia’s busiest car and passenger ferry service, operating between Queenscliff and Sorrento.

Matt has expertise and experience in strategic planning, business development, marketing and communications. Matt holds a Masters of Business Administration, is a qualified Ships Master and Marine Biologist and was previously captain of Luxury Super Yachts.

Through his time at Searoad Ferries, Matt has transformed the once traditional transport business into a flourishing tourism operation which transports over 800,000 passengers per year.

Chris Procter Treasurer

Chris is the past Chief Executive Officer of Sealite, an international designer and manufacturer of marine and aviation navigation aids. The company is headquartered in Somerville and has manufacturing and office locations in the United States, United Kingdom and Singapore.

Chris is also Vice-President of the Industrial Members Committee of IALA, an international organization responsible for the guidelines and recommendations of international maritime navigation to ensure that movements of vessels are safe, expeditious and cost effective, whilst protecting the environment.

A Mornington Peninsula resident for more than 20 years, Chris holds a Bachelor of Science  from Melbourne University and a Masters of Marketing.

Jackie Prossor Secretary

Jackie Prossor is the Director of Prossor Town Planning, a professional planning consultancy specialising in technical planning advice and projects.

Jackie has a Masters of Social Science, Planning & Environment and over 20 years of planning experience in both local government and as a private planning consultant.  With extensive knowledge of legislation and planning schemes, Jackie is an experienced negotiator for planning outcomes and strategy development.

Highly engaged across the both the Mornington Peninsula and Melbourne business community, Jackie has built a strong professional network, reflective of the success she has delivered for her clients.  

Rod Evenden Board Member

Rod is the head of the Commercial Services team with lawyers, White Cleland.

Commencing legal practice in Frankston in 1954, White Cleland now has a team of over 30 staff and also operates offices in Melbourne’s CBD and Rosebud.

Rod has decades of experience as a commercial lawyer and is one of the firm’s partners.

He has a degree in science and a masters of commercial law, and is both an accredited business law specialist and registered Trade Marks attorney.

Rod was the former President of the Committee for Greater Frankston. 


Jade Phelan Board Member

Jade is the CEO of the Bays Healthcare Group, an independent not-for-profit healthcare provider based in Mornington and has more than 10 years of senior management experience in the healthcare industry.

Jade’s background includes working for ASX listed healthcare operators and, prior to becoming a healthcare professional, spent ten years working for two of the ‘Big 4’ accounting firms. Jade holds a Master of Business Administration, Bachelor of Business and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment.  

Like healthcare, Jade was drawn to the Committee for Mornington Peninsula to make a difference in people’s lives.

Pippa Hanson Board Member

Pippa Hanson is the CEO of The Sports Injury Clinic, she co-founded the progressive allied health business in 2004, which has now grown to employ over 60 skilled allied health professionals and support staff.

Her educational background includes a Graduate Certificate in Management and a Masters of Business with a specialization in HR Management. Prior to venturing into entrepreneurship, Pippa's expertise was recognized through her lecturing roles in Business Management and Human Resource Management.

With an extensive 18-year career in the Government sector, Pippa possesses a wealth of experience and insights that have contributed to the success of her business. Her commitment to the local community in Mount Eliza, where she has lived and raised her family for over 25 years, is evident through her active involvement and strong connections across Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula.

 Pippa's passion for supporting the community aligns with her role as a prominent business leader, driving both professional growth and positive social impact through The Sports Injury Clinic's operations and engagement with the local area.

Jereome Keating Board Member

Jereome Keating is a Senior  Associate at Macpherson Kelley. He commenced his specialisation in Commercial Litigation in 2018, after acquiring a unique depth of knowledge through his experience in government advisory.

Jereome’s early work for the Office of Public Prosecutions, Supreme Court of Victoria, Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, and Victoria Police provided him with a useful insight into the intersections between public and private operators.

His experience dealing with government advisory, environment and public health enforcement, complex contractual & development disputes, compulsory acquisition and shareholder/partnership disputes has led to numerous successful client outcomes.

Jereome lives in Mornington and is excited about the vision of the Committee and what it can achieve.


Peter Beale Board Member

Peter is a Senior Asset Manager with Australian Unity, based in Spring St Melbourne.

Peter works in Healthcare Real Estate Investment and has tertiary qualifications in Town Planning.

He brings insight from both fields to the Committee for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula. 

Peter was a Board Member of the Committee for Greater Frankston for the past 3 years and Australian Unity has been a member of both Committees since their inception. 

He views the Committee for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula as an opportunity for people to help shape the future of the region through advocating for projects and processes to improve living, working and relaxing in the area.



Trudy Poole Board Member

Trudy and her husband Russell owned the transport business Tiltaway for 25 years, which ran a fleet of 12 trucks that transported equipment for the construction industry throughout Victoria.

They sold their business six years ago. Trudy is a foundation member of Rotary Peninsula 2.0.

As a result of her deep involvement in many volunteer organisations throughout the community, she was awarded Frankston’s Volunteer of the Year in 2016 and Frankston City, Citizen of the Year 2022.