Board and Leadership

Chair: Mr Kevin Young, BEng(Hons)(Civil), MBA, FAICD, FIEAust

Mr Young has more than 20 years’ experience as a director and more than 40 years’ experience working for in the water and sewerage industry in Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom and brings a wealth of expertise in the management and operation of water utilities. He is the immediate past Managing Director, Sydney Water Corporation (2011-2019) and prior to that was Managing Director, Hunter Water Corporation (2004 – 2011). His previous board roles include CityCare, Apex Water New Zealand, Water Aid Australia and the Water Services Association of Australia. Mr Young also serves as the Deputy Chancellor of the University of Newcastle.

Director: Vincent (Tony) Kelly CPEng, Dip Civ Eng, MAICD

Mr Kelly has in excess of 40 years’ experience in the water and sewerage industry and most recently was the Managing Director of Yarra Valley Water.He is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Technology Sydney, former Chair of the Lower Yarra Future Directions Group, and a former member of the Board of WaterLinks. In addition, he has held numerous positions on other industry and not-for-profit bodies, including as Chairman of WaterAid Australia, the Savewater Alliance and the Victorian Water Industry Association’s Sustainability Taskforce. 

Director: Joanne Pearson BBus(Acctg), MBA, FCPA, GAICD

Ms Pearson is a qualified accountant and an experienced Chief Financial Officer with years of experience in the utilities sector, sitting on various boards and committees. She has significant understanding of governance and risk management, including through her role on the Board of Westernport Water in Victoria. She has served as a Director and Alternate Director on various Board in the utilities sector, including Zinfra Pty Ltd, ActewAGL and United Energy Ltd. As part of her TasWater role, Ms Pearson joins the Audit and Risk Committees and the Environment and Public Health Committee.

Director: Yvonne Rundle B.Bus, FCA, FAICD

Yvonne is a former owner and director of a state-wide Chartered Accounting practice and has over 30 years’ experience in consulting practice, as well as extensive board experience across Tasmanian public sector, government-owned, not-for-profit and private organisations. Her past Board roles include TasTAFE, Metro Tasmania, Aurora Energy, AGW Funds Management Ltd, the University of Tasmania, the Port of Devonport Corporation and a number of not-for-profit entities.

Director: Kathryn Westwood, BComm, GAICD, FIPA, ASA, MRMIA

Kathryn has over 25 years’ experience in commercial, finance and risk management within forestry, water, metals processing, insurance industries and local Government in Tasmania and extensive board experience across government, commercial, mutual and ‘for purpose’ sectors. She is currently a non-executive director of Sustainable Timber Tasmania. Kathryn has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Tasmania and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Director: Lucia Cade BE(Hons, Civil) BEc MEngSc MBA FAICD FIEAust CPEng EngExec NER

Lucia is an experienced non-executive director and chair, with a professional engineering and commercial background in the private, listed and government sectors. Over the last 20 years, her portfolio as director has spanned utilities, infrastructure, advanced high-tech manufacturing, waste recycling, energy research and investment. Lucia’s water sector directorships include being a director of Urban Utilities in Queensland, the past Chair of South East Water and Western Water in Victoria, a former director and National President of the Australian Water Association.

Chief Executive Officer: Mr George Theo

George joined TasWater in March of 2022, following a successful stint as Chief Executive Officer of Unitywater in South East Queensland. He has over 30 years of water industry experience, having held positions at GHD, Brisbane Water, and City West Water in Victoria. Mr Theo has overseen transformation in the way businesses approach productivity improvements, capital planning and delivery, asset management, digital solutions, pricing, community, and customer outcomes. Mr Theo has a Master’s in Business Administration, a Degree in Engineering (Civil), and an Associated Diploma in Municipal Engineering. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Engineers Australia and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

General Manager Operations: Brendan Windmeyer

Brendan holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Human Resources & Management), Advanced Diploma of WHS, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Brendan has a decade of operational management experience in the water sector with the last five of these years as an executive leader.

General Counsel and Company Secretary: Kate Crawford

Kate is a lawyer, Chartered Governance and Risk Professional and Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia (FGIA FCG). Kate has held legal, risk & corporate governance roles in Tasmania and Queensland and brings multi-sector, ASX listed and government-owned corporate governance experience. Kate holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons 1) and a Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance and Risk Management.

 Chief Financial Officer: Kane Ingham

Kane holds a Bachelor of Commerce (majoring in Accounting and Finance), is a member of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Kane is experienced in leading teams of finance, commercial analysis, strategy, and human resources from positions held within the National Electricity Market.

General Manager Customer and Community: Matt Balfe

Matt brings over 20 years of leadership experience in strategy, communications, customer experience, and culture transformation to TasWater. Prior to joining TasWater, Matt spent thirteen years at Victoria’s largest water business, Yarra Valley Water. Matt holds a Bachelor of Communications from RMIT with Distinction, and a Graduate Diploma of Public Relations from Deakin University with High Distinction.

General Manager Project Delivery: Tony Willmott

Tony and his team, which includes the CDO and our internal Project Delivery Group, are responsible for the delivery of TasWater's large and ambitious capital works program. The program encompasses many projects that have been identified by our Customers, Regulators, and Owners through to the delivery phase and handover to our Service Delivery Teams. Tony has had an extensive career within the Local Government sector, along with the Tasmanian Water and Sewerage Industry over the past 30 years. Tony's previous experience includes senior leadership roles in TasWater's operational environment within the Service Delivery and Asset Management Services Divisions.

General Manager Sustainable Infrastructure Services: Matt Derbyshire

Matt is a graduate of the AICD and a chartered professional engineer with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. His career spans public and private sectors in Victoria and Tasmania, operating in dynamic environments such as the National Electricity Market and regulated Water and Sewerage services. He has worked with companies including AGL, Alinta, Jemena, and Zinfra. Matt has made significant contributions in electricity, water, and wastewater asset management, as well as infrastructure strategy, planning, program delivery, and responding to regulatory and compliance issues, along with customer and stakeholder expectations. The Sustainable Infrastructure Services Business Group oversees infrastructure planning, asset performance, SCADA, electrical infrastructure, water and environmental compliance (including sampling and laboratory), dam infrastructure, asset information, and development services. The team delivers technically robust, sustainable, and commercially focused strategies and plans for customers and communities, while supporting all facets of development activities.

General Manager People, Culture and Safety: Angela Merriott

With 20 years' experience across global industries, including energy, manufacturing, and automotive, Angela brings great expertise in change management, leadership development, and HR strategy. Twelve of those years were in senior leadership roles, where she successfully guided organisations through transformative change - prioritising a people-first approach, while optimising business processes for sustained growth. Angela holds an executive MBA, along with certifications in executive, team and business coaching, and Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR).