Board and Representatives

Chairman: Dr Stephen Gumley AO, HonDEng(Tas) D.Phil(Oxon) MBA(Tas), FIE(Aust), FTSE

Dr Gumley is a professional engineer and business manager with over 30 years’ experience at senior level working with technology project/program delivery, the public-private sector interface, and asset management. Since 1993, he has held seven Chief Executive roles in both the private and public sectors, including in the ports, irrigation, defence, irrigation, aviation, and engineering industries. Dr Gumley has also held a diverse portfolio of board positions since the 1980s including at the University of Tasmania, Tasmanian Development Authority, AMOG Holdings, the Victoria Defence Council and as a Board advisor on Goulburn Murray Water’s $2billion irrigation asset renewal program and Murray Irrigation’s $200million infrastructure program.

Director: Dr Helen Locher B.Sc., M.Env.Sc., PhD (Civil Engineering), GAICD

Dr Locher has a PhD focussed on river hydraulics and water resources management, and more than 25 years’ experience working within Australia and overseas on environmental, social and sustainability issues for water and energy developments. Helen provides independent consulting services to agencies including the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Mekong River Commission, and the International Hydropower Association (IHA), and was recognised by the IHA with the 2015 Mosonyi Award for her globally-significant contributions to sustainable hydropower. She was awarded a scholarship by the AICD for the Company Directors course in 2015, and has previously held Board roles on the Environment Protection Authority and the former Resource Planning and Development Commission.

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, the Chair of the Lower Yarra Future Directions Group, and a 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.
 
In addition to her role at TasWater, Ms Rundle is a non-executive director at TasTAFE, TT-Line and Metro Tasmania. Her past Board roles include Aurora Energy, AGW Funds Management Ltd, the University of Tasmania, the Port of Devonport Corporation and a number of not-for-profit entities.

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

Mr Young has more than 17 years’ experience as a Director. He is currently a Director (and Deputy Chair) of WaterAid Australia, including Chair of the Finance and Risk Management Committee. He is the immediate past Managing Director, Sydney Water Corporation (2011-2019) and prior to that was Managing Director, Hunter Water Corporation (2004 – 2011).

Mr Young comes to TasWater following a career spanning 40 years 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.

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, Independent Chair of the Risk and Audit Committee for DPAC and Chair of Blueline Laundry Inc. Kathryn has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Tasmania and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Chief Executive Officer: Mr George Theo

George has joined TasWater following a successful stint as Chief Executive Officer of Unitywater in South East Queensland. He has over 30 years 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. He is also the current Chairman of SWAN Asia Pacific Alliance, a not for profit organisation that brings together key players in the water industry across the region with a focus on research, technology and digital transformation. 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 Service Delivery: 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 decades’ 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.

General Manager People, Culture & Safety: Jo Giannini

Jo has over two decades of professional experience with the last five of these years as an executive leader in the water sector. Jo has successfully designed and led cultural transformation programs and significant industrial relations reform and is driven to connect and collaborate with team members to deliver outcomes that benefit all. Jo strives to help team members find purpose in the work they do and achieve more than they ever thought possible.
Jo has held senior positions at the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services and in the private and community service sectors. In 2020 Jo was selected for the inaugural Women in Water Insight Leadership Program, and was awarded the Top 50 Women in the Public Sector. Jo holds a Bachelor of Business (Human Resources) and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Director. 

 Chief Financial Officer: Kane Ingham

Kane holds a Bachelor of Commerce (majoring in Accounting and Finance) a member of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants and 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 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 chartered professional engineer with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. His career draws on public and private sector experience gained in Victoria and Tasmania, in dynamic operating environments, including the National Electricity Market and regulated Water and Sewerage services sector, working within businesses such as AGL, Alinta, Jemena and Zinfra. Matt has made significant contributions in the areas of electricity, water and wastewater asset management, infrastructure strategy, planning and program delivery, responding to regulatory and compliance issues and customer and stakeholder expectations. The Sustainable Infrastructure Services Business Group includes infrastructure planning, asset performance, SCADA and electrical infrastructure, water and environment compliance including sampling and the laboratory, dam infrastructure, asset information and development services.  The team delivers technically robust, sustainable and commercially focused strategies and plans for our customers and communities as well as supporting all facets of development activities.