Shelley Lavender is the CEO of YHA Victoria, a not-for-profit accommodation and travel company with international affiliations.

In 1998, under Shelley’s leadership, YHA Victoria adopted an Environmental Charter and commenced the process of actively minimising the impact of its operations on the environment. Consequently, in 1999, Australia’s first purpose built ‘eco-hostel’ (60 beds) was built at Halls Gap in the Grampians, followed by a second one at Apollo Bay (72 beds) on the Great Ocean Road, in 2005. Both hostels are passive solar designed and have a range of measures aimed at creating renewable power, reducing energy and water use and minimising waste.

Simultaneously, YHA Victoria put in place measures to ‘retro-fit’ its other existing hostels. As a consequence, all the hostels owned by YHA Victoria have Ecotourism Australia accreditation and AAA green stars. The hostels also have prominent signage recognising the traditional custodians of the land on which they are built.

Shelley has 30 years experience in the management and directorship of not-for-profit organisations and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.