Meet the new BREAZE president

WITH decades of experience across private and public sectors, Peta Guy is no stranger to tackling environmental issues.

She’s had a passion for creating a sustainable environment since her time studying physics at the University of Melbourne during the 1970s when she came across the Club of Rome’s Limits to Growth report.

From there, she’s gone on to do things like help bring international aid reforms on behalf of organisations like the Council of Australian Governments, and sponsor the Australian Capital Territory’s first grid-connected solar-battery systems from 2014 to 2016.

In her latest environmentally-minded undertaking, she’s now president of the Ballarat Renewable Energy and Zero Emissions advocacy group.

“There’s no change in what we want to do,” Ms Guy said.

“Our purpose is exactly the same as it’s always been, which is to help people reduce their cost of living while at the same time getting some nice, free fringe benefits.

“We want to give people the opportunity to have a sustainable, bright future for generations.”

Ballarat-born and raised, Ms Guy returned to the region during the pandemic, after three decades in the ACT, and more than 30 years in Melbourne.

She said she’s been involved with BREAZE since its 2014 establishment, tracking its development while based in Canberra, and was more than ready to become more active with the group following her retirement and return to her hometown after 61 years away.

“I’ve served on the board of the group and otherwise been an interested bystander who thought BREAZE was an excellent organisation,” Ms Guy said.

“We’re moving to make sure we’re on a really solid administration footing to make sure we can work in today’s complex world where we have to justify everything we do.”

Ms Guy was declared the group’s president during the annual general meeting in November last year.

She said part of her taking on the top role at BREAZE is to “increase its capacity to operate as a professional organisation.”

“[It’s to help in] dealing with government contracts and the rising tide of attacks on individuals and organisations like ours by lobby groups,” she said.

“Having experience with a number of those matters, I agreed to stand and take on the baton from previous presidents.”

The early 1970s was when Ms Guy discovered her other passion.

Since the beginning of that decade, she’s been an avid cricket player, coach and umpire.

Currently on the boards of the Australian Cricket Association, as well as Central Highlands Cricket, Ms Guy is passionate about promoting the sport for women.