New G-MW Chairperson and Directors appointed to Goulburn-Murray Water.
The Water Minister, Hon. Tim Holding, has announced the appointment of Stephen Mills as the chair of Goulburn-Murray Water (G-MW). He has also announced the appointment of two new directors.
G-MW's new chairperson Stephen Mills and new directors Catherine Scott and Claire Penniceard with ongoing directors Des Powell, John Brooke OAM, Craig Cook, Peter Fitzgerald and Russell Cooper will ensure an energetic mix of skills, experience and local insight guides the future of Australia's largest rural water corporation.
According to G-MW Managing Director Russell Cooper, prolonged and severe drought is fundamentally changing how local communities, farmers and governments view and value water.
"It is a new era that will demand new answers tempered by experience. Our new Board brings a mix of skills, experience and local insight with the potential to deliver outcomes that are best for our customers, communities and stakeholders" said Mr Cooper.
Stephen Mills, a dairy farmer from Numurkah, has been appointed chairman of the eight-member board. Stephen is a director of Murray Goulburn Cooperative, chairman of the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (Stephen will remain as chair of the Goulburn Broken CMA until a new chair is selected), and was appointed to the FoodBowl Modernisation Steering Group in July this year. This role is completed on 31 October 2007.
"I am looking forward to leading G-MW at this important time, as we participate in a major modernisation of irrigation infrastructure in Northern Victoria," said Mr Mills. We will focus on increased customer service and engagement with all customers to ensure the best outcome of the FoodBowl Modernisation Project.
"With the FoodBowl Modernisation Project we have the potential to realise a much larger vision for our region that will underpin the long term viability or irrigated agriculture. G-MW will play a key role in the delivery and future management of a modernised irrigation network, and we will work closely with all stakeholders to maximise the outcomes for our region" said Mr Mills.
Catherine Scott, who operates a beef cattle stud in Bylands near Kilmore, is one of two new appointees and brings over 15 years experience in the finance/investment banking industry with a strong focus on infrastructure and agribusiness funding to her role. Catherine is also a director of V-Line Passenger Pty Ltd, former director of the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (GBCMA). Catherine is currently a director and deputy chairperson of Goulburn Valley Water.
Claire Penniceard, of Euroa, is the owner and sole director of The Pig Pen Pty Ltd an enterprise that grows-out pigs for domestic and export markets. Claire has specialist expertise in sustainable agriculture and is the sole representative of agriculture on the Essential Services Committee. Claire was a District Principal for the Department of Education. More recently Claire was the 2006 winner of the Telstra Business Women's Award for Australian Government Business Innovation, and in 2007 was the only farm enterprise to become a national finalist in the sustainability category of the Banksia Environmental awards.
"G-MW has been extremely well served by the two outgoing directors (Jean Sutherland and John Pettigrew) and the former chairman Don Cummins. We have valued their guidance and leadership during a period of prolonged drought." said Mr Cooper.
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