Our Board

Hunter Water’s Board comprises the Managing Director and a maximum of eight people, one of whom is the chairperson, appointed by the shareholders.

Our Board of Directors are currently Mr Ron Robson, Chairman, Mr Kevin Young, Managing Director, Mr Ross Knights, Deputy Chairman, Mr Gary Kennedy, Mr Warren Elliott, Ms Barbara Crossley, Mr Alan Chappel and Mr Jeff Eather. The Board oversees the Corporation’s policies, management and performance. It sets strategic direction for the organisation and ensures Hunter Water achieves its business and regulatory commitments.

Next Meeting

Hunter Water also has a subsidiary company, Hunter Water Australia Pty Limited (HWA) that operates autonomously with its own Board.

INFORMATION ON HUNTER WATER’S DIRECTORS

R ROBSON OAM, FAIM, FAICD, JP

Mr Robson was appointed as Chairman of the Board on 1 August 1995 and previously held the position of Director since 1 January 1992. Mr Robson is Chairman of Hunter Water Australia Pty Limited and the Regional Land Management Corporation Pty Ltd (the Corporation’s subsidiary companies), a Director of Robson Health Care Pty Limited, Chairman of the Newcastle Knights-Wests Hospitality Group Business Development Committee, Chairman of Banlaw Pipeline Pty Ltd and Patron of Newcastle/Hunter Valley Rugby Union.    

K J YOUNG B Eng, MBA, FIE Aust, CPENG, GAICD

Mr Young was appointed Managing Director on 19 July 2004 and is also a Director of Hunter Water Australia Pty Limited. Mr Young has extensive experience working in private consulting both in Australia and overseas and working for government utilities. He has previously held a diverse range of positions at Hunter Water Corporation including Chief Operating Officer, Company Secretary, Manager Corporate Planning & Government Regulation and Manager Assets. Mr Young is also on the Board of the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) and chairs WSAA’s Water, Health, Environment and Sustainability Committee.  

BL CROSSLEY B.Nat.Res. (Hons), MEAI, MIACD

Ms Crossley was appointed as a Director on 1 February 2004. Ms Crossley is a Director of Umwelt, a local environmental consultancy firm and was a former Chairperson of Hunter Environment Institute. She has extensive experience in assessment of major projects, knowledge of local environmental issues and has a business and marketing focus.

RA CHAPPEL BE (Civil), Dip T & R.P, Hon FIE Aust, FTSE

Mr Chappel was appointed as a Director on 1 February 2004. Mr Chappel is a former Managing Director of Connell Wagner and Chairman of the Australian Underground Construction & Tunnelling Association. He has vast experience in managing large technical projects involving water and wastewater.     

GT KENNEDY

Mr Kennedy was appointed as a Director on 1 January 2006. Mr Kennedy is the Secretary of Newcastle Trades Hall Council and currently serves on the Hunter Economic Development Corporation (HEDC). He is part of the Honeysuckle Development Corporation and is the chairman of Newcastle and Cardiff Panthers and a director on the Group Board of the Penrith Panthers. Mr Kennedy holds positions on the Industry Development Centre and Disability Advocacy Services Hunter and is the chair of the IDC Human Resource Committee. He was previously the NSW President of the Communications Workers Union and has extensive experience in the communications area.

J R EATHER B.Com (Ncle), CPA, FCIM

Mr Eather was appointed as a Director on 1 January 2008. Mr Eather is the Managing Director of the Callaghan Institute, a Business and Economic Research and advisory practice he established in 2007. Previously, he was CEO Media for the SOUL Group, where he was directly responsible for the running of NBN Television. During his 27 years with the NBN and SOUL Groups, he was actively involved in the expansion of the Group from its media base to the converging world of telecommunications. Mr Eather is Chairman of the Newcastle University Foundation and sits on the Business Development Committee of the Newcastle Knights.