Diane James AM

Diane James AM is a business consultant, leadership coach and company director. Her career includes establishing two start-up companies and serving on numerous State and National boards. She is Chairman of Southern Rural Water and a former Director of Barwon Water.

Diane was a founding director of GenU, a national disability, ageing and lifestyle services organization and was Chairman of the Victorian Coastal Council for 12 years. In recognition of her contribution to the environment and natural resource management, Diane was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2011.

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.

Margot Henty

Margot Henty has been an irrigation dairy farmer at Cohuna for 30 years and has strong understanding of water use and management in the Goulburn Murray region.

She is a director of the board of Water Partners Australia, a water trading business operating not-for-profit. Margot has contributed extensively to regional resource management plans over the last thirty years of changing times, including Torrumbarry Reconfiguration and Asset Modernisation Strategy and the Barr Creek Salinity Management Plan.

Ms Henty has a Bachelor of Arts and Graduate Diploma in Education (Geography). MAICD.

Alana Johnson AM

Alana Johnson AM is a rural development specialist and principal of Lurg Cattle Co.

She is Acting Chair of the Victorian Catchment Management Council, Chair of the Victorian Women's Trust, past President of Voices for Indi and founding member of Australian Women in Agriculture.

Alana has served on a range of Ministerial advisory committees and statutory and not-for-profit Boards. She was named in the inaugural 100 Women of Influence in Australia by the Australian Financial Review and the inaugural 100 Women in Australian Agribusiness by Rural Press and was the Rural Women's Award Victorian winner and Australian runner up in 2010. Alana was inducted onto the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2018.

Alana is a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program and the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a BA and BSW.

In recognition of her service to women through leadership and advisory roles, Alana was awarded an Order of Australia (AM) in 2020.

Jonathan Koop 

Jonathan Koop was appointed a Goulburn-Murray Water Director in October 2017, having previously served as Director with 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 - 2011) where he was also Company Secretary, Fairfax Media Ltd (2003 - 2007) and TNT Express (2001 - 2003).

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

David McKenzie

David McKenzie 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 Chairs the Goulburn Regional Partnership and the Regional Development Advisory Committee, reporting directly to the State Minister for Regional Development.

David has also served as a member of the Federal Water Minister's independent socio-economic advisory panel, exploring the impact of water reform on the communities and industries of the Murray Darling Basin.

Patrick McNamara (Deputy Chair)

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. Chair of the Connections PCG.

Margaret O'Rourke

Margaret O'Rourke is a former General Manager of Telstra. Margaret’s leadership roles in Telstra involved working extensively in regional, rural and remote communities throughout Australia. These roles also included infrastructure, sales and customer experience.

Margaret is a consultant to industry using her specialist skills in digital economy strategies, community facilitation, telecommunications infrastructure and leadership consultancy; which has taken a back seat since becoming a Councillor at the City of Greater Bendigo (CoGB) in 2016.

She is currently Mayor of CoGB and Deputy Chair of Bendigo Kangan Institute.

Margaret is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Charmaine Quick (Managing Director)

Charmaine Quick joins GMW with more than two decades of experience in the water industry and a strong history in 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's qualifications include Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Melbourne University), and Master Environmental Science (Monash University), and she is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Dennis Quinn

Dennis Quinn has a background in engineering, marketing and sales management.  He operates a small beef farm in North East Victoria.

Dennis’s previous roles have included CEO at Engenco Ltd and Managing Director and General Manager of Cummins South Pacific. Dennis has also spent many years in senior positions in large multi-national industrial businesses. These businesses operated both in Australia and the USA in the agricultural and construction sectors.

Dennis has a Master of Arts (Marketing) from Macquarie University, a Bachelor of Engineering (Agr) from Melbourne University and is a graduate member of Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Ari Suss

Ari Suss is CEO of Fox Special Projects, part of the private family investment arm of the Linfox Group, joining the company in 2004. Ari is also a Board Member of Avalon Airport Australia.

Between 1999 and 2004, Ari was a senior adviser to former Premier Steve Bracks. During this time, he specialised in policy and advice in the areas of infrastructure development, transport, ports, major projects, multicultural affairs and parliamentary strategy.

In 2011, Ari also commenced in his role as General Manager of the Linfox-owned Australian Automotive Research Centre, an 1100-hectare vehicle test facility in Anglesea, Victoria.

In 2018, Ari was appointed a Director of Fed Square Pty Ltd.

Ari has a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Management from Monash University, is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has completed leadership studies at Harvard Business School.