Directors

1. Stephen Mills, Chairman FAICD

Term of appointment: 1 October 2007 to 30 September 2011

Stephen is a dairy farmer at Numurkah in Northern Victoria and also a director of Murray-Goulburn Co-operative Co Ltd, Australia's largest dairy processor.

Stephen is passionate about Australia's irrigation industry and the achievements of irrigators in making the irrigation industry a strong, vibrant and sustainable sector of the Australian economy.

Stephen was awarded the Centenary Medal for services to irrigation and he participated in the Prime Minister's 2010 Summit.  In September 2008 Stephen retired as Chairman of the Irrigation Australia Limited after 11 years as Chairman of IAL and its predecessor ANCID, the Australian National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage.

2. Craig Cook, Deputy Chairman B.Ec

Term of appointment: 1 July 2004 to 30 September 2011

Term of appointment: 1 July 2004 to 30 September 2011

Craig is a management consultant to business and government.  He is director of the Rural Finance Corporation, a Director of IM Medical and a deputy director of VicSuper Limited.  Craig operates a beef cattle property and vineyard at Tallarook.

3. John Brooke OAM, Director B.Comm, B.Ed, FCPA, CA

Term of appointment: 1 July 2004 to 30 September 2011

John is an irrigation farmer near Pyramid Hill.  He has extensive experience in local government, water resource management, business management and natural resource management.  He is Chairman of Coliban Water.

4. Catherine Scott, Director B.Sc (Hons1), B.Comm, FAICD

Term of appointment: 1 October 2007 to 30 September 2011

Catherine operates a beef cattle property at Bylands near Kilmore.  She has extensive experience in the finance/investment banking industry with a strong focus on infrastructure and agribusiness funding.  She is an experienced non-executive director and former director of entities in transport, natural resource and forestry industries.  Catherine is Deputy Chair of Goulburn Valley Water and a member of the Finance and Resources Committee of Edmund Rice Education Australia.

5. Suzanna Sheed, Director LL.B, LL.M

Term of appointment: 1 July 2010 to 30 September 2012

Suzanna has been a practicing lawyer throughout her professional career with a strong interest in rural issues. Until recently she was a partner for many years in an irrigated farming enterprise including rice growing in the southern Riverina. She is a Director of RACV Limited, Chairperson of Fairly Leadership, a Trustee of the Goulburn Valley Base Hospital Foundation and a Member of the VicRoads Advisory Board. She is a Fellow of the Williamson Community Leadership Program and a Graduate of the Institute of Company Directors.

6. Des Powell, Director

Term of appointment: 1 July 2010 to 30 September 2012

Des is a business consultant to industries such as transport, logistics, forestry and water.  During the reporting period to 30 June 2010 Des also held the positions of Deputy Chair of the Port of Melbourne Corporation (continuing as a Director from 1 July 2010), part time Commissioner of the State Services Authority (to September 2009) and Director of Barwon Water (to 30 June 2010).  Des is also Chairperson of the Alpine Resorts Co-ordinating Council and, from 1 July 2010, Deputy Chair of the Port of Hastings Corporation.

7. Claire Penniceard, Director B.A (Hons), M Ed

Term of appointment: 1 July 2010 to 30 September 2012

Claire is the owner of The Pig Pen Pty Ltd, a significant business at Euroa that grows out pigs on contract to service specialist export markets, notably Japan and Singapore.  The enterprise showcases exemplary environmental, animal welfare and production outcomes, is a multiple national award winner and has national reputation for excellence in the Australian pork industry. 

Claire is a member of the Federal Government Biosecurity Advisory Council and a member of several Victorian Ministerial Committees including the Ministerial Women in Primary Industries Advisory Panel, the Ministerial Animal Welfare Advisory Committee and the Ministerial Swine Industry Projects Advisory Committee.  Claire is also the 2010 Victorian Runner Up in the RlRDC Rural Women's Awards, an award that recognises and encourages the important contribution that women make to primary industries. 

8. David Stewart, Managing Director

BE (Hons), CPEng, FIEAust, GAICD

Term of appointment: 14 May 2008 to 30 June 2013

David has more than 25 years experience in water resource investigation, design and management projects throughout Australia and overseas.  He is a fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia a Chartered Professional Engineer and a graduate and Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.  He is Chairman of the Australian National Committee on Large Dams (ANCOLD) and a past Chairman of the Goulburn Valley Group, Institution of Engineers Australia.  He is a Graduate of Fairley Leadership Program 1999.  In May 2009, David was chosen from amongst his peers by Engineers Australia as being among Australia's top 100 influential engineers.

9. Russell Barnier B.Juris LL.B FCIS

General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Russell was appointed to his first company secretary position at National Australia Bank and has occupied several positions as Legal Counsel and Corporate Secretary since then, the most recent being 10 years in the public health sector with Melbourne Health.  Russell has had a long involvement with Chartered Secretaries Australia and has held the roles of National President and International President of the parent body, the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (UK).  Russell is a governance professional who has published articles on the subject and for several years presented to students of the Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance.