Motorcycling Community Engagement Panel

The role of the Motorcycling Community Engagement Panel (MCEP) is to provide a forum for the exchange of information between the motorcycling community, road safety partners, and the Minister.

It also provides opportunities for the motorcycling community to present ideas and proposals to improve road safety for Victorian riders.  

Who is on the MCEP?

The Panel is made up of 12 members – 8 riders from a range of backgrounds and 4 members who hold executive positions across the Victorian government and who have a focus on motorcycle safety.

Why have a community engagement panel?

Motorcycles are an important way that Victorians choose to travel, and more people are riding for commuting, work, and recreation. There’s been an enormous increase in motorcycle sales, registrations, and licences over the past few years.

Motorcycling presents its own set of unique safety challenges and riders are one of the most unprotected road users. Government cannot address motorcycle safety alone, so we want to hear directly from riders about how we can make getting on the bike safer - both on and off the road.

Road Safety Victoria and its road safety partners are committed to listening to riders to understand the issues that are important to them. We know that motorcyclists are a very diverse group of road users with different attitudes, motivations, experiences, and behaviours. We want to hear those varied opinions and make sure that all riders are represented in the way that we approach road safety.

What does the panel do?

The panel provides a forum for exchange of information between the motorcycling community, other stakeholders, the Victorian Government and the Minister for Roads and Road Safety.

It provides an opportunity for the motorcycling community to table ideas and proposals to improve rider safety. Panel members also advise on motorcycling trends in Victoria and provide input on how a proposed policy or project may impact the motorcycling community.

Importantly, the panel members collaborate and work closely together using their individual experiences to provide government with a genuine and robust contribution to improving rider safety.

What has the panel been doing so far?

Since it was established, panel members both as group and individually, have utilised their unique and shared experiences to provide government with advice on projects such as (but not limited to):

• The TAC’s latest protective gear campaign
• How to improve the safety of riders working in the gig economy
• The Gippsland Trail Bike Pilot Project currently planned at Neerim
• Input into the Victorian chapter of the Australasian College of Road Safety’s Motorcycle forum
• Assisting Department of Transport and Planning and Regional Roads Victoria to identify popular motorcycle riding routes so that these can be prioritised for upgrade and maintenance 

How are panel members selected?

When established in 2020, MCEP community members were selected from a field of more than 800 candidates identified in an expression of interest process.

• Broad expertise across a range of motorcycling experiences and preferences
• Honest, collaborative, and open to working with other riders and government representatives 
• Strong reach within their motorcycling community
• Enthusiastic – not just about motorcycle safety but about promoting the wider benefits of motorcycling 
• Confident in conveying their views to government and the ability to challenge traditional ways of thinking

Who are the panel members?

Rob Salvatore

Rob is the Chair of the Victorian Motorcycle Council and a significant contributor to VMC policy and its submissions. He also holds it as a privilege to have served on the previous two antecedent motorcycle advisory panels. A passionate rider of some 25yrs riding experience, his riding is mostly on road (commuting, recreational and touring), but also includes some track and a little off-road.

Rob bleeds green, with his main ride being a Kawasaki Ninja Z1000SX after reluctantly retiring his beloved Kawasaki ZX9r. The garage also includes a club plate registerable KLR650 that has a lot of "character". He earned a RoADAR coaching diploma from ROSPA UK in on-road delivered advanced motorcycle roadcraft and brings his professional engineering skill set to all things motorcycling.

Brian Rix

Brian has been riding motorcycles for more than 50 years, learning on the sandy tracks along the Murray River. Now retired after a career in policing, he has a collection of motorcycles ranging from classics from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s to current regular rides for trail, road and adventure motorcycling.

He and his wife, Shirley Hardy-Rix, have ridden around the world through 68 countries on six continents, over 20 years, writing three books on their motorcycling adventures.

Brian is a regular contributor to motorcycle magazines, participates in an international podcast on motorcycling and is passionate about improving conditions and safety for motorcyclists.

Simon Bailey

Simon is a member of the Ducati Owners Club of Victoria and former motorcycle racer. His previous bikes include singles, twins, triples and both inline and V fours dating from the mid-seventies. He’s currently riding a KTM 1290GT, Ducati Panigale V4 Speciale, Ducati V4 Streetfighter and 250GTS Vespa – with a Ducati V4 Pikes Peak Multistrada due soon.

Simon used to run ride days at Broadford and Phillip Island and has trained many riders (and drivers) over the years – both on road and on track. He rides most weekends and does multi-day trips several times a year.

Stacey Ciriello

Stacey is the founder of Biker Babes Australia which is a network to support and empower female riders. The group also supports charity rides and other clubs, businesses, and organisations in the motorcycle industry. She is passionate about keeping all riders safety and is an active participant in custom motorcycle workshops.

Stacey has over 20 years riding experience that includes road, dirt and quad bikes. She has ridden overseas and is currently enjoying her 2019 Honda Rebel Bobber and 250cc quad bike, and is working on repairing her 250cc V5 cruiser.

Anne-Maree Kaser

Anne-Maree has first-hand knowledge of the unique hazards associated with riding in regional Victoria, together with extensive experience in riding internationally. Her passion for motorcycling took hold early, riding minibikes and Ag bikes on the family farm. These days, she owns and rides a BMW 1250 RS, Moto Guzzi Griso 1200 8V SE, Triumph Daytona 1200 and her favourite, a Ducati MHR Mille.

Anne-Maree has well-established relationships with Victoria’s motorcycling fraternity. She has more than 20 years of executive experience, including 10 years as CEO and brings a wealth of experience in health and community services advocacy.

Rachael Alexander

Rachael started to ride motorbikes in the halcyon days for two-strokes, learning to ride in the gravel pits and surrounds near Anglesea.

She has a passion of all things Ducati. Her current stable boasts a Multistrada GT 1260 and a Supersport S. She also the Vice-President of the Ducati Owners Club of Victoria (DOCV).

Rachael brings her extensive professional communication experience which includes a Master of Communication and a couple of terms as editor for the DOCV’s monthly magazine, Desmoto. She is also a member of the Motorcyclist Awareness Month consultation group and is involved in motorcyclist research.

Tayne Forrest

He has been a passionate road rider for more than 20 years and regularly enjoys recreational riding, including attending track days at various racetracks around the country, enduro and has had some success racing historic motorcycles.

Tayne has been a motorcycle instructor in Victoria since 2012 and was one of the key instructors who supported the introduction of the Motorcycling Graduated Licensing Scheme (MGLS) in 2016.

During 2019, Tayne was a technical advisor for the ‘Every Second, Always On’ safety campaign, and had a leading role in developing training videos to support motorcycle instructors deliver the MGLS syllabus.

Bronwyn Sorensen

Bron is a daily rider who represents a range of motorcycling communities – recreational road, community and race/track – and brings a diverse and comprehensive professional experience in the motorcycling industry.

While working with Motorcycling Australia, Bron’s achievements included the provision of on-road rider training and delivery of women in motorcycling events. She has also served as secretary of the Victorian Motorcycle Council and been a race organising committee member for the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, the Australian round of FIM World Superbike Championship and the Australian Superbike Championship.

Bron is passionate about providing women with opportunities to improve their riding skill to further enhance their enjoyment of motorcycling.