Our board
Southern Rural Water’s board currently comprises of eight board members including the Managing Director and seven non-executive directors.
The chair and non-executive directors are appointed by the Minister for Water; the Managing Director is appointed by the board.
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Ms Joanne Butterworth-Gray Chair Joanne is a highly accomplished leader with a 45-year agribusiness and regional leadership legacy. Her extensive farming and water policy knowledge has been pivotal to her role as Chair of the Southern Rural Water board. Her diverse career, spanning across agriculture, agritourism and executive roles within the Victorian wine industry and Victorian Government, has been instrumental in fostering a shift in agribusiness mindsets and promoting the adoption of innovative technologies and sustainable agribusiness practices in Victorian farming communities. An entrepreneur by nature, Joanne has contributed to transforming the Gippsland agricultural region and establishing a collaborative sector-based approach to agriculture that encompasses all food and fibre production. Joanne’s hands-on experience as a farm gate agritourism business owner for 14 years has instilled a profound understanding of customer needs and a deep appreciation for collaborative work. Joanne sees her role at Southern Rural Water as an advocate for the Victorian food and fibre economy and is committed to leading Southern Rural Water as an agile and future-ready business partner for food security and through the regional renewable energy transition. Her forward-thinking approach and unwavering dedication to agribusiness are evident in the various Chair positions she holds, including with Fairtrade Australia & New Zealand. She is highly strategic and facilitates conversations to ensure everyone can contribute and feels respected and valued. |
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Mr Michael Browne Director For over two decades, Michael has worked in planning, project management and asset delivery across the water industry. Through his positions at Sydney Water and Yarra Valley Water and roles in integrated water management (IWM) across the Victorian Government, Michael brings expertise in urban water cycle management to the Southern Rural Water board. A Barkandji-Wamba Wemba man from rural NSW, Michael is currently working closely with Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation to help embed IWM policies, improve planning for Country and support effective water allocation conversations. He recognises Traditional Owner aspirations must be met through collaboration. Through his engagements with water corporations, government agencies and the community, Michael advocates for optimistic collaboration to address challenges and opportunities across Southern Rural Water's service area. Michael's vision extends to treating water as a valuable community asset, with water corporations, such as Southern Rural Water having a social responsibility to manage this resource. He envisions an industry that places the community and cultural values at the core of decision-making for water management. Michael is dedicated to fostering open conversations and to deep listening to understand the diverse needs and challenges within communities. He seeks to integrate flexibility into decision-making processes to ensure that these include consideration of future generations and challenges, such as drought, emerging technologies and shifting community expectations. |
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Mr Jackson Chatfield Independent Aboriginal Board Delegate Jackson is a proud Gunditjmara-Kirrae Whurrong man born and raised on Country in Warrnambool, South-West Victoria. After moving to Melbourne in 2016 to pursue work and personal opportunities, he returned home to his Country and is now based in Port Fairy. He has been serving as the Executive Officer for the Birrarung Council since March 2022 where he provides cultural and strategic leadership. The Birrarung Council, established under the Yarra River Protection (Wilip-gin Birrarung murron) Act 2017 (the Act), provides advice to the Victorian Government on protecting and improving the Birrarung (Yarra River) and its lands. Jackson also supported DEECA’s Water Catchment Group preparations for and responses to the Yoorrook Justice Commission's Land Injustices Inquiry. This experience gave Jackson great insights into the State's water reform agenda and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities to support Aboriginal self-determination and strengthen Traditional Owners’ role in Victoria's water sector. Jackson has also served as Statewide Aboriginal Landcare Facilitator with the Victorian Landcare Program at DELWP as well as a Cultural Ambassador for the Victorian Nature Festival. You can read more about one of Jackson's most important places on Country and why the history of Australia is important to him here: https://www.vic.gov.au/nature-festival-smoking-ceremony |
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Dr Jane Doolan Director and Chair of Asset Governance Committee Jane has dedicated over 30 years to sustainable water resource management. She brings to her role invaluable expertise in policy development for urban and rural water supply and security, national water reform, river health, environmental water allocation and catchment management. Formerly the Deputy Secretary for Water at the Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries, Jane has extensive knowledge of river systems and irrigation areas across Victoria. Currently serving on the Murray Darling Basin Authority board, Jane has seen the pressures that water scarcity has put on northern Victoria. She brings these insights into her role at Southern Rural Water to provide advice and early intervention solutions to managing a drying climate and water supplies in the south. She also recognises the importance of Southern Rural Water's role in compliance and enforcement as a key component of sustainable water management protecting both existing water users and healthy rivers. Through her position on the Southern Rural Water board and Chair of Asset Governance Committee, Jane aims to facilitate a sustainable and high-value irrigation industry that operates within sustainable limits, is robust in the face of climate change and ensures the protection of the environment. |
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Mr Brendan Flynn Director Brendan brings a wealth of expertise in finance, economics and government policy analysis from the private and public sectors to the Southern Rural Water board. His experience as Deputy Secretary at the Victorian Department of Treasury and Finance and the Department of Premier and Cabinet provides a deep understanding of economic and social policies. With a strong economic background, Brendan understands the importance of robust financial management and the pivotal role water and agriculture play in the broader Victorian economy. He recognises the significance of a thriving agricultural sector for Victoria and sees Southern Rural Water as a crucial entity that delivers a vital resource for the environment, economy and communities. Brendan also understands the importance of local agriculture and the integral role the agricultural sector plays within rural communities. He actively listens to customers to understand the challenges and issues associated with rural water management and places great importance on promoting the value of water and the services Southern Rural Water provides. Brendan is the newest member of the Southern Rural Water board and is excited to contribute to fulfilling the vision of delivering exceptional value to customers and the community through excellence in rural water management. |
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Mrs Michelle McCrum Director and Chair of People, Safety and Culture Committee Michelle is the longest-serving member of the current Southern Rural Water board and brings over 25 years of strategic expertise and leadership experience to the organisation. Married to a fifth-generation farmer and living within the agricultural community, Michelle sees the impacts of climate change and water security firsthand and understands how important water is to farming and the economy. Michelle prides herself on listening to customers to understand their needs but also helping farmers consider new solutions and exploring how Southern Rural Water can assist them. She considers the full ecosystem in which customers, communities and Southern Rural Water interact. As Chair of the People, Safety, and Culture Committee, Michelle is committed to fostering a safe and inclusive workplace for staff. Her advocacy for diversity and cultural safety underpins the importance she places on creating an environment where individuals feel heard and valued. Michelle is excited about Southern Rural Water’s future and is empowering the next generation of board members and executives by sharing her knowledge and experience to help them navigate challenges, such as evolving technologies and liabilities. |
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Mr Anthony Scarff Director and Acting Chair of Audit, Risk and Governance Committee Anthony brings a vibrant curiosity and energy to the Southern Rural Water board and is deeply committed to the economic, agricultural and environmental sustainability the corporation provides for our community. |
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Ms Kylie Steel Director Kylie comes from a family with a rich legacy in orchard growing, spanning five generations of apple and cherry farmers in Bacchus Marsh. As a member of a farming family, Kylie has seen business practices modernise and evolve in response to climate change and emerging technology. Significant environmental events, such as the Millennial Drought and Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria, have helped shape Kylie's career. These events motivated her to pursue further studies in bushfire science and establish SCB Consult, a business dedicated to providing specialist consulting on climate change, bushfire science and emergency management. Her forward-thinking leadership and passion for making a meaningful difference in the lives of people and the communities she serves are evident in her commitment to sustainability, environmental protection and resilient farming practices. Risk management is ingrained in Kylie's work, and she sees the benefits of establishing strong relationships with farming communities to prepare for future climate change challenges. She actively seeks to build these connections to further her understanding of stakeholders' evolving needs and help build Southern Rural Water into a future-ready organisation that supports farmers. Kylie is also a member of the Expert Technical Panel of the Resilient Building Council of Australia and the Bushfire Building Council of Australia and a director of the Barwon Health Foundation. |
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Mr Cameron FitzGerald Managing Director As Managing Director, Cameron is passionate about providing water services that enable the prosperity of the agriculture sector. He deeply respects the work of farmers who put top quality, healthy and nutritious food on our plates and is driven to deliver world class water services to enable their prosperity. Cameron has led crucial water security initiatives, playing a pivotal role during the Millennium Drought through his leadership of the Target 155 task force which set new water-saving behaviours for Melbourne, with many still being practised today. He understands the wider value that sustainable long term water management creates for both regional and urban communities. He is committed to planning for a water future that is sustainable in the face of a changing climate. His highlights at Southern Rural Water include generational changes in infrastructure through modernisation. This has opened opportunities for expanded access to agricultural and environmental water, and broke new ground by issuing of the first ever water licence to Traditional Owners in Victoria. A key aspect of Cameron's role is empowering people to succeed. He does this by assembling a diverse team, amplifying all voices, agreeing on pathways together and translating innovative ideas into impactful actions and results. |
Our executive team
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Craig Smith General Manager Customers and Technology (Acting) Craig leads our customer service and technology teams at Southern Rural Water, with responsibilities for customer service team, information management, privacy and technology. Having worked across a wide range of functions at Southern Rural Water, from operations through to environmental management, corporate sustainability, strategy and more recently, our Price Submission, Craig brings considerable organisational knowledge and an enterprise-wide approach to the role. Prior to working at Southern Rural Water, Craig held senior roles in the consulting sector. |
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Scott Cornish General Manager, Asset Futures Scott is responsible for developing and delivering SRW’s capital plan including critical modernisation projects, with a focus on outstanding asset management and dam safety management. With 19 years of experience as a Civil Engineer in private consulting for diverse clients, including State Government Authorities, Local Government, and private industry Scott joined SRW Executive Team in July, 2021 bringing with him a wealth of experience as a Civil Engineer and multi-disciplinary senior leader having managed programs across teams in the Middle East, India, South Australia, New South Wales, metropolitan Melbourne, and rural Victoria. Scott joined SRW, from Western Water, with a personal commitment to the sustainable growth and well-being of local communities. |
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Elisa Hunter General Manager Strategy, People and Culture Elisa leads our strategic planning, including of our water resources, business performance monitoring, pricing and communications and engagement activities for customers, stakeholders and communities. In addition to this she is responsible for our people and culture and driving a culture of excellence at Southern Rural Water. Elisa joined Southern Rural Water in April 2020, having held senior leadership roles in both the public and private sector. With over two decades in the water industry, she has worked in a wide range of roles across the whole asset lifecycle bring a unique perspective to strategy development, community engagement and water resource planning. She holds a Bachelor Degree in Environmental Engineering. |
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Stuart Wrigglesworth General Manager Finance, Safety and Risk As our CFO Stuart is responsible for supporting and delivering financial management as well as oversight of our risk management framework. Stuart is also responsible for our safety and delivering on our value of ‘always safe’. Having grown up on a family farm supplied from the Macalister system, Stuart joined Southern Rural Water as Finance Manager in late 2005 and was appointed Chief Financial Officer in March 2011. He has 6 years’ experience working in professional practice for PriceWaterhouse Coopers in Melbourne and South Africa, as well as over 5 years in the UK working in Finance and Accounting roles for a number of commercial and public sector businesses. Stuart holds a Bachelor of Commerce and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. |
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Simon Wilkinson General Manager Service Delivery Simon is responsible for the delivery of services to our customers through our regulated and unregulated water supply systems. Having first joined Southern Rural Water in 2020, Simon brings a breadth of experience in senior leadership from across the water industry. A key focus for Simon is how we connect service delivery with outstanding asset management. This relates to enhancing operational outcomes at an everyday task level; in parallel with bringing a whole-of-life and sustainability perspective for solutions to improve our water supply performance. He holds a Bachelor of Natural Resource Management and Honours (Science). |
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Melissa Jeal Corporate Secretary Melissa is responsible for corporate governance and compliance. Melissa joined Southern Rural Water in April 2021, having previously held senior governance and finance positions. With over two decades in the public sector, she brings a strong background in leading, developing and implementation of best practice frameworks in governance, compliance, risk management and finance. She holds a Bachelor Business (Accounting) and is a member of the Governance Institute of Australia and Certified Practicing Accountants. |