Our Board Members

Terry Lawler

TH Lawler

B. Com, FCA, FAICD, FAIM

Terry Lawler was appointed as the Chairperson of Hunter Water in January 2012.

Terry's expertise is widely recognised and he has served on national, state and local boards along with a number of business and community organisations providing business, internal audit, operational and strategic advice.

In addition to being the Chairperson of the national Lawler Chartered Accountants group, Terry is also a Director of Ampcontrol Pty Limited, Powerdown Australia Pty limited, the current Chairman of NIB Foundation, Chairman of Life Without Barriers Limited and Chairman of  Special Olympics Australia 2012 Junior National Games Committee.

Previously, Terry was also a Director of NTSCorp Limited and Director, Chairman of internal audit of Newcastle Port Corporation and Chairman of the Newcastle Knights Ltd.

Kim Wood

K Wood

B Eng, MBA, FIE (Aust), FAIM

Kim Wood was appointed as Managing Director of Hunter Water in November 2011.

He was previously the CEO of Queensland's Allconnex Water, which he helped establish in 2010, and has extensive experience, having led a number of power and water utilities across Australia. Kim was the inaugural CEO of City West Water and then went on to lead Queensland power generator Stanwell Corporation, followed by Power and Water Corporation in the Northern Territory. His experience extends to the telecommunications industry, as CEO of Victorian GPU PowerNet and Managing Director of GEC Plessey Telecommunications.

Barbara Crossley

BL Crossley

B. Nat. Res. (Hons), MEIA, MAICD

Ms Crossley was appointed as a Director on 1 February 2004. Ms Crossley is a Director of Umwelt (Australia) and Umwelt Services Pty Ltd, a local environmental consultancy firm and is a former Chairperson of Hunter Environment Institute.

She has extensive knowledge of local environmental issues, has managed numerous major project approvals and has a business and marketing focus.

Richard Chappel

RA Chappel

BE (Civil), Dip T & RP, Hon FIE Aust, FTSE 

Mr Chappel was appointed as a Director on 1 February 2004 and is a Director of Hunter Water Australia Pty Limited. Mr Chappel is a former Managing Director of Connell Wagner and former Chairman of the Australian Underground Construction & Tunnelling Association.

He has vast experience in managing large technical projects involving water and wastewater.

Jeff Eather

JR Eather

B. Com (Newcastle), CPA, FCIM, MAICD 

Mr Eather was appointed as a Director on 1 January 2008 and is also a Director of Hunter Water Australia Pty Limited. 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 University of Newcastle Foundation and is a Director of The Heal for Life Foundation, a healing centre for survivors of child abuse.

Cristina Cifuentes

CP Cifuentes

B Ec (Sydney), LLB (UTS) (Hons)

Ms Cifuentes was appointed as a Director on 1 February 2011. She is a public policy and investment markets professional, with over 25 years experience in economics, policy and finance. She is currently a Board Member of the Australian Energy Regulator, a Trustee Director of First State Super, Director of the NSW Treasury Corporation (the State's central borrowing authority), an Independent Member of Perpetual Multi Manager Investment Committee and a Member of the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees Governance Committee. She has extensive experience as a non-executive director with a strong background in corporate governance; strategic and budget planning; audit and risk management and compliance.

Ms Cifuentes has spent many years in the public sector formulating and implementing government policy across a range of areas including regulated utilities, superannuation, corporations law and finance.

S Ivens

BA, Dip Ed, MBA, LLB 

Ms Ivens has made a strong contribution to the Hunter business community, particularly through roles in the health industry, including Managing Director of Toronto Private and Maitland Private Hospitals.

She has a high level of experience in the planning, development and management of successful businesses, as well as corporate governance and involvement with various Boards and Committees. She is currently a member of the Regional Development Australia Hunter Committee and was the first woman to receive the prestigious Hunter Businessperson of the Year award in 2006.

Ms Ivens holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and Diploma in Teaching, and has completed a Master of Business Degree, all through the University of Newcastle. She also obtained a Bachelor of Laws from Macquarie University in 2005.