Our Board

Southern Rural Water has nine board members, including the Managing Director and eight non-executive directors.

The chairman and non-executive directors are appointed by the Minister for Water; the Managing Director is appointed by the board.

Our directors are:

Our Board

Ms Diane James

Chairman

Ms James AM is a business consultant and company director. Her career includes establishing two start-up businesses and serving on numerous State and National boards. She is also Chairman of Goulburn-Murray Water and a former director of Barwon Water. Diane was a founding director of GenU, a national disability, ageing and lifestyle services organisation and was Chairman of the Victorian Coastal Council for 12 years. She was also a member of the EPA of Victoria Advisory Board. In recognition of her contribution to the environment and natural resource management, Diane was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2011. She is an accredited leadership coach, holds a Graduate Certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She was appointed to the board on 1 October 2015.

Mr Michael Malouf

Deputy Chairman

Mr Malouf is a director of Malouf Management Services Pty Ltd and is a Sessional Member at Planning Panels Victoria. He is also the chair of the Kardinia Park Stadium and was a Director on the Western Victoria Primary Health Network. During his career, he has held CEO positions at Melbourne, Geelong and Wyndham City Councils, was the CEO of the Carlton Football Club, held executive roles for Pratt Holdings, and was the Managing Director at Barwon Water. More recently he was the CEO at VicRoads. Michael has a Master of Business Administration, Bachelor of Civil Engineering and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Institution of Engineers, and the IPAA. He was appointed to the board on 1 October 2015 and to Deputy Chairman in October 2019.

Ms Naomi Cleary

Director

Ms Cleary has extensive experience in the property sector. She is the former Chief Financial Officer of the Elmstone Property Group, and a current director of SANB Valhalla, a property investment vehicle. Ms Cleary is a director of Sport Climbing Australia. She holds a Bachelor of Business Studies and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and and CPA Australia. Ms Cleary was appointed to the board on 1 October 2015 and represents SRW on the VicWater board.

Mr Angus Hume

Director

Mr Hume holds qualifications in education and company directorship. He is the Chairman of the Victorian Catchment Management Council, and formerly Co-Chairman of the Gippsland Lakes Coordinating Committee, Chair of the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (WGCMA) and Chair of NRM Regions Australia. Mr Hume has a strong understanding of natural resource management through his South Gippsland dairy farming experience and Landcare membership, with the Department of Primary Industries, and as a past CEO of WGCMA. He is also a past board member of the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority. He was appointed to the SRW board on 1 October 2017.

Ms Peta Maddy

Director

Ms Maddy has a background in water engineering and management including her current role as an associate at the consulting firm Aither. She is a past President of the Victorian branch of the Australian Water Association and came to SRW from Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water where she was for two years and chaired its Water Resources Committee. She chaired the interdepartmental reference group for the Victorian Rural Drainage Strategy and is currently a member of the Victorian Catchment Management Council. Maddy has a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering, a Bachelor of Science (Pharmacology and Toxicology) and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She was appointed to the SRW board on 1 October 2017.

Ms Michelle Murray

Director

Ms Murray was appointed a director of the board on 30 April 2019 and she brings extensive management consulting, leadership and project delivery experience to the SRW board. She is also a director and chairperson of the board of Knox Basketball Inc. Michelle has held previous executive director and secretary roles at CBUS Industry Super and Hawthorn Citz Junior Football Club. She has a Bachelor of Science, Maths (Hons), from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia USA, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Ms Kylie Steel

Director

Ms Kylie Steel has professional specialisation in environmental science and climate change. As a holder of several postgraduate qualifications in environment and scientific fields, she is a founder and director of SCB Consult, a niche consultancy specialising in climate change, bushfire science and emergency management. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course. She is Deputy Chair of the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee and Director of the Barwon Health Foundation. Ms Steel was appointed to the Board on 1 October 2019.

Mr Christopher Edwards

Director

Mr Christopher Edwards was previously a board director of Westernport Water and holds current directorships of the National Stroke Foundation, Arch Mortgage Insurance (Hong Kong) and Manulife International (Hong Kong and China). He has held numerous senior accounting roles and audit committee appointments in Australia, the United Kingdom and the Asia Pacific region. Christopher holds a Bachelor of Science (Economics) and is a Certified Practising Accountant and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Mr Edwards was appointed to the Board on 1 October 2019.

Mr Cameron FitzGerald

Managing Director

Mr FitzGerald has two decades of professional experience with 14 of these years in the water sector. Having successfully delivered high profile transformative programs across the sector, Mr FitzGerald is committed to driving outstanding outcomes for Southern Rural Water’s customers and local communities. Mr FitzGerald has worked at EPA Victoria, KPMG, City West Water and Melbourne Water and holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical) with Honours from the University of Melbourne. He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Board Bulletins

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning provide a governance framework for the water industry to assist directors, executives and staff.