Stakeholder Advisory Forum (SAF)
Group overview
Hunter Water’s Stakeholder Advisory Forum (SAF) brings together representatives from a diverse range of community organisations and interest groups across the Lower Hunter. These members provide valuable insights and advice on behalf of their representative groups and constituents, helping us stay connected to the needs and priorities of our community.
Putting customers at the heart of what we do, the SAF is one of the key ways we engage with our community to ensure our services reflect community values and expectations.
Previously known as the Customer and Community Advisory Group (CCAG), the SAF builds on our legacy of maintaining similar community forums since the early 1990s.
The forum is independently chaired by Councillor Brian Adamthwaite, representing Lake Macquarie City Council, and meets at least three times per year.
You can learn more about the SAF’s purpose and function by viewing the SAF Charter below.
We also provide access to recent meeting minutes, presentations, and agendas from both the SAF and the former CCAG below.
Join the SAF
Are you part of a community interest group or organisation in the Lower Hunter? We welcome expressions of interest to join the SAF.
Before submitting your expression of interest, please review the SAF Charter to ensure you meet the eligibility criteria and other membership requirements.
Group members
Our SAF members reflect a broad spectrum of perspectives from interest groups across the Lower Hunter community. To ensure inclusive and balanced input, the forum membership aims to include at least one representative from each of the following interest areas:
- Business and industry
- Organisations representing low-income households
- Customers living in rural and urban fringe areas
- Residential customers
- Local government
- Pensioners, seniors and older people
- Customers with disabilities
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- Customers from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
- Renters
- Young people
- Environmental groups
| Member name | Organisation |
|---|---|
| Cr Brian Adamthwaite (Chair) | Lake Macquarie City Council |
| Dr Cameron Archer | Paterson Historical Society, Dungog Regional Tourism |
| Ms Amy De Lore | Business Hunter |
| Cr Michael Dowling | Dungog Shire Council |
| Mr Robert (Bob) Doyle | |
| Dr Craig Evans | The University of Newcastle |
| Cr Peter Francis | Port Stephens Council |
| Ms Nicole Grgas | Hunter Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service |
| Mr Lindsay Hardy | Wollotuka Institute |
| Ms Sue Johns | National Seniors Association |
| Ms Rosa Krilic | Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW |
| Cr Mark Mason | Cessnock City Council |
| Mr Douglas McCloskey | Justice and Equity Centre |
| Mr Boris Novak | HunterNet Co-Operative Limited |
| Cr Warrick Penfold | Maitland City Council |
| Cr Deahnna Richardson | Newcastle City Council |
| Ms Elizabeth York | Urban Development Institute of Australia NSW |
This diversity helps ensure that the SAF captures a wide range of community needs, values, and experiences.
Key dates
13 October 2025
SAF Meeting
Agenda TBC
