A new Industry (Utility) Director, Renee Ingram from Sydney Water, has replaced Steven Porter from Northern Territory’s Power and Water, who stepped down from the Board in September 2022. Renee will serve until the AGM in October 2023.

Renee Ingram is the Head of Western Sydney Development at Sydney Water, working alongside, and partnering with government agencies, developers, and businesses to help forge a liveable and sustainable approach to water servicing for Western Sydney.

WaterRA has also appointed a new Independent Director Collene Castle as part of our commitment to bring First Nations people’s perspectives to all that we do, including decisions at the Board table where our strategy is set and our performance monitored.

Collene is a Menang Gnudju yok from Western Australia. Through her work as Director with Wonnil Partners, Collene passionately supports businesses across WA to deliver reconciliation initiatives. Collene also has a long history in leading successful training and employment outcomes for First Nations people. She was the recipient of the 2022 NAIDOC Perth Outstanding Achievement award through her work with Water Corporation leading reconciliation and First Nations engagement and employment outcomes.

WaterRA CEO Karen Rouse congratulated the new Directors on their appointments to the Board.

“We are pleased to welcome Renee and Collene to our Board,” she said. “They join a strong, committed and passionate group of individuals.

“Each director brings a diverse range of skills, expertise and experience ensuring diversity of opinion and a strategic direction which is beneficial for our BIG Team and encourages interconnectivity across the sector.”

Pictured from L-R: Renee Ingram & Collene Castle.

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This position is reflective of WaterRA Constitutional amendments— completed in 2020—which saw the inclusion of an additional Independent Director position to allow flexibility in Board composition, skills and diversity.

The new Independent Director position is an exciting opportunity for our Board to continue to grow and embrace a wide spectrum of ideas and experiences. Our Board welcomes applications from individuals of all ages, cultural backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations, as well as individuals living with a disability or who have family or carer responsibilities. We particularly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to apply for the position. As WaterRA is a national organisation, applications are open to individuals from every state and territory in Australia.

The position is for an independent director and is a paid position exclusively available to individuals outside of the WaterRA membership.

For further information about the Independent Director position including Position Description and eligibility requirements please view the information pack here or view the full job ad on SEEK searching keywords ‘WaterRA’ and ‘Board’.

Applications close on 15 November 2022 and should include details on how you meet the essential and desirable criteria as listed in the job ad. All applications will be reviewed by the Board of Directors and short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview during November 2022.

If you wish to discuss this opportunity please contact Michelle Pfitzner, Business Manager & Company Secretary by email [email protected].

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The meeting saw our Chair Mark Gobbie, deliver an update on Board activities over the past year including the announcement of the 2022 Director Election results, which saw Dr David Bergmann (South East Water) and Dr Dan Hoefel (AWQC, SA Water) re-elected to their positions as Board Directors.

Additionally, Mark announced that Steven Porter from Northern Territory’s Power & Water has unfortunately needed to step down as a Board Director, resulting in a Casual Vacancy to be filled by Expression of Interest (EOI). To find out more about the EOI click here.

Deb Evans, Chair of our Risk and Audit Committee, from Water Corp, advised the membership of our Corporate Financial position for the year that was.

Our CEO Karen Rouse provided the company update, sharing a snapshot of our successful activities and our performance over the past year, which can also be found in our 2021-2022 Annual Report.

Attendees were also able to witness the presentation of the Nancy Millis Memorial PhD Award by Deakin University and Barwon Water and congratulate this year’s winner Mariah Sampson.

Thank you to all members and partners for joining us online!

View the video highlights of the Chair Update, CEO Update and presentation of the Nancy Millis Memorial PhD Award.

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Our Board would sincerely like to thank Steven for his tireless efforts and commitment to WaterRA during his tenure as a Board Director.

As a result of this departure, Water Research Australia is seeking expressions of interest (EOI) from appropriately qualified members to fill this casual vacancy on our Board of Directors until October 2023, our next Annual General Meeting.

As the casual vacancy is for an Industry (Utility) member position, individuals interested in submitting an EOI must be a current Industry (Utility) Member.

EOIs close on Monday 31 October 2022 and will be reviewed by the Board of Directors. Short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview during November with the successful candidate presented to Utility members for endorsement later in the year.

If you are a Utility member interested in this opportunity, please click here to find out more.

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Our member community is key to WaterRA’s success, and the Board plays a crucial role by ensuring a strong strategic focus and good governance for WaterRA.

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Anna was nominated to the Board by the Australian Water Quality Centre (SA Water Corporation) and during her time as a Director achieved a significant and positive impact for WaterRA’s future.

“Anna’s contribution to WaterRA’s success over the past year has been invaluable,” WaterRA CEO Karen Rouse said. “We wish her the very best for the future and look forward to working with Daniel.”

Daniel is Senior Manager of Water Expertise & Research at SA Water. With over 20 years’ experience in the water industry, Daniel brings to the Board experience in leading water research and innovation, development and implementation of water related strategies, water utility operations, governance and risk management, business improvement, and expertise in customer and stakeholder management. He will serve on the Board until the AGM in October 2022.

Please join us in welcoming Daniel to the BIG Team. Nominations will be called for Board Directors later this year, ahead of our 2022 Elections.

Other news from the Board includes changes to the membership of the Strategic Advisory Committee where we now welcome Prof Stephen Gray from Victoria University as Chair; Assoc Prof Helen Stratton from Griffith University as Deputy Chair; and Steven Porter from NT Power and Water.

The Board extends its thanks to Nicola Nelson from Sydney Water for her much valued contributions to the Committee over the past few years.

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