Directors

Diane James AM

Appointed to Board: September 2018

Diane James AM is a business consultant and company director. Her career includes establishing two start-up companies and serving on numerous state and national boards.

Diane is a former Chair of Southern Rural Water and a former Director of Barwon Water. She was also a founding Director of genU - a national disability, ageing and lifestyle services organisation. Diane was Chair of the Victorian Coastal Council for 12 years.

Diane was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2011 in recognition of her contribution to the environment and natural resource management.

She is an accredited leadership coach, holds a Graduate Certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Patrick McNamara AM

Appointed to Board: October 2015

Patrick is an irrigation farmer and customer of GMW at Nagambie.

He graduated from Business Studies at RMIT. Patrick McNamara was formerly a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly representing Benalla. He was Deputy Premier of Victoria from 1992 to 1999 and held several ministerial positions, including Minister for Agriculture and Resources (including water), Minister for Tourism, Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Minister for Corrections.

Patrick was appointed Chair of the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Advisory Panel in early 2020, after chairing the 2009 Bushfire Appeal. He is the Project Control Group Chair for the Connections, Mitiamo Pipeline and Water Efficiency Projects.

Patrick was awarded an Order of Australia (AM) in 2023 in recognition of his service to rowing, to the Parliament of Victoria, and to the community through a range of roles

Natalie Akers

Appointed to Board: October 2023

Natalie is a dairy farmer from Tallygaroopna, where together with her husband they operate an irrigated dairy farm.

Natalie has held a number of roles in the agricultural and water industry over the past 20 years, ranging from dairy research and extension, to working with milk-processing listed companies and senior water policy analysis.  She is currently involved in various water and community groups. 

For the last six years Natalie has worked as a private consultant on agricultural water policy.  Natalie has a Bachelor of Public Policy and Management with Honours, a Bachelor of Arts and as is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Andrew Cooney

Appointed to Board: October 2023

Andrew has worked for more than 20 years in the Loddon Mallee region and has worked on a number of major projects and joint initiatives that have required engagement with the community and collaboration with multiple government agencies. Andrew is a respected professional with experience in governance, finance, project delivery and community engagement.

Andrew is the Chief Executive Officer of the City of Greater Bendigo and has held previous executive positions across Victoria with the (former) Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Coliban Water and Gannawarra and Loddon shires.

He has been involved in various other community and sport roles including as Chair and Committee Member of Bendigo Strikers Victorian Netball League Team, Chair of the AFL Central Victoria Football Commission, Chair of the Bendigo division of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and as a Board Director with Bendigo Regional Institute of TAFE.

Andrew and his wife Chantal live in Bendigo with their four school-age daughters.

Jonathan Koop

Appointed to Board: October 2017

Jonathan previously served as a director of North East Water.

Jonathan owns and manages a 700-hectare grazing and cropping property in north east Victoria (part-time 12 years, full-time since 2010). Previously Jonathan had a career in senior finance positions with Murdoch Books Pty Ltd (2008 to 2011), where he was also Company Secretary, Fairfax Media Ltd (2003 to 2007) and TNT Express (2001 to 2003).

Jonathan has a Bachelor of Economics and is a Chartered Accountant and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

David McKenzie

Appointed to Board: September 2018

David is a property valuer based in Shepparton, specializing in the valuation of agricultural supply chain assets and water assets. He is regarded as one of the foremost experts in Australia in the analysis of water markets and valuation of water assets.

David has a long history in the Victorian water sector, having served as a director of Goulburn Valley Water for five years, and Chair of North East Water for six years, before joining GMW in 2018. David co-Chairs the GMID Water Leadership Forum, a water policy think tank. David was the inaugural Chair of the Committee for Greater Shepparton.

David also co-Chairs the Goulburn Murray Regional Prosperity Plan for Aboriginal economic inclusion. He has sat on multiple advisory groups and panels at both a State and Federal level, in relation to regional development and water policy.

Kris Peach AM

Appointed to Board: October 2021

Kris Peach AM has more than 30 years’ experience as a finance, accounting, audit and regulatory expert.

She is a former KPMG audit partner and former chair and CEO of the Australian Accounting Standards Board. Kris is an independent member of the Audit and Risk Management Committee of the Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing and a director of genU, a national disability, ageing and lifestyle services organisation, Uethical, an award winning ESG investment fund manager, and Permanent Care and Adoptive Families, a small charity. She also sits on a number of International committees.

Kris is a Fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and CPA Australia. She has a Master of Business (Accountancy) from the Queensland University of Technology and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Kris was awarded an Order of Australia (AM) in 2023 for significant service to the accountancy profession, and to the community

Larna Tarrant

Appointed to Board: October 2023

Larna is a lawyer with experience as both a solicitor and a barrister.  

Larna was on the Board of Echuca Regional Health for nine years, including three years as Chair.

She has a military background with the Royal Australian Air Force, has a Bachelor of Laws and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Charmaine Quick 

Charmaine commenced as the Managing Director of GMW in 2019.

She has more than three decades of experience in the water industry and a strong history of leading change.

Prior to her appointment at GMW, Charmaine was the Executive General Manager, Service Delivery at Melbourne Water. She is known for her ability to influence and drive change at an organisation level, nationally and internationally for asset management, relationship contract management and customer service.

Charmaine is also a board member of VicWater, Institute of Water Administration and LaTrobe University, Shepparton Campus, Regional Advisory Board.

Charmaine is a long-time Shepparton resident and grew up on the family farm in the Wimmera, which helped her understand the value of water and its importance to the region’s communities.

Charmaine’s qualifications include Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Melbourne University) and Master of Environmental Science (Monash University). She is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.