Justin Hanney

Appointed: October 2025

Justin is a seasoned leader with extensive experience in public policy, governance, and regional development. He has served as CEO of the Rural City of Wangaratta, City of Melbourne, and Regional Development Victoria, as well as Deputy Secretary in multiple Victorian government departments including Premier and Cabinet, with responsibilities spanning trade, industry, investment, and major projects.  

Justin holds a Master of Public Policy and Governance from Deakin University, a Graduate Diploma of Business Management, and a Bachelor of Arts from Monash University, and is a Williamson Community Leadership Program fellow.

He has been on the Boards of Save the Children since 2018 and Yurringa Energy since 2023, chairs the Australian Regional Leadership Program and is a Partner and Director at Strategy EQ.

Justin previously had a farm in Tarrawingee and now resides in Clonbinane and Melbourne.

Natalie Akers

Appointed: October 2023

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. Together with her husband, Natalie operates a large irrigated dairy farm in Tallygaroopna.

For the last eight 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: 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.

Rob McMillan

Appointed: October 2025

Rob is an infrastructure economist and utility sector leader with over two decades of experience in policy, regulation, and commercial strategy across energy, water, and transport. 

He is a director of Energy Locals and of Farrier Swier Consulting, and a member of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency’s expert advisory panel.

Rob specialises in utility investment, governance, pricing, and stakeholder engagement, and is recognised for his expertise in regulatory design, customer participation, and renewable energy integration.  Based in Heathcote, he advises regulators, utilities, and government agencies across Australia and New Zealand, combining deep commercial and policy understanding with proven leadership in multi-disciplinary teams.

He has held governance roles with Victorian Indigenous Nurseries Cooperative and Open Gardens Victoria, and executive roles at Jemena with accountability for regulation of its electricity, gas and recycled water assets.

Rob holds qualifications in economics, regulatory economics, management, and governance, and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Sue Oddie

Appointed: October 2025

Sue is an experienced non-executive director and advisor with deep expertise in business transformation and growth, sustainability strategies, and governance across diverse industries, including financial services and media.​

Sue brings more than two decades of executive and board-level experience leading growth and transformation initiatives, delivering strategic outcomes. She has worked extensively with boards and executive teams to shape strategy, embed governance frameworks, innovate and develop new business models, and develop sustainability strategies and climate transition plans to help organisations achieve net-zero objectives.​

Her career includes senior roles at ANZ Group, including leading transformative initiatives across the Pacific region, and spearheading growth in Australian markets. Earlier, as General Manager of Business Affairs at Network 10, Sue played a key role in the network’s recovery and growth, leading major strategic partnerships, policy advocacy, and industry innovation initiatives.​

Sue holds an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management, a Master of Laws from Sydney University and a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws from the University of New South Wales. She has also completed Business Sustainability Management studies at the University of Cambridge.​

Passionate about advancing sustainable development and regional resilience, Sue contributes a forward-looking perspective to Goulburn-Murray Water’s stewardship of vital water resources and infrastructure.

Liz Ryan

Appointed: October 2025

Liz Ryan is an experienced executive and non-executive director with over 20 years’ experience across the infrastructure, energy, agribusiness, and financial services sectors.

Liz is currently Executive General Manager – Transmission at AusNet, where she leads the safe, reliable, and sustainable operation of Victoria’s regulated electricity transmission network.

She previously held executive roles at ASX listed agribusiness Elders Limited, as well as leadership positions at General Electric, Singapore Airlines, and in management consulting.

Liz is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Diploma of Arts from the University of Melbourne, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Cambridge.

Larna Tarrant

Appointed: October 2023

Larna is an experienced executive, lawyer and non-executive director with expertise in governance, strategy, organisational leadership, risk management and stakeholder engagement. She has built a career leading organisations through complex environments, with a strong focus on public value, community outcomes and sustainable organisational performance.

Before her legal and executive career, Larna served in the Royal Australian Air Force, where she developed a strong foundation in leadership, discipline, teamwork and service. Those experiences continue to shape her collaborative leadership style and commitment to integrity, accountability and sound decision-making.

Her governance experience spans the water, health and community sectors. In addition to Goulburn-Murray Water, Larna is Chair of Rochester Community House and has previously served as a Director and Chair of Echuca Regional Health. She has significant experience overseeing organisational culture, executive capability, financial stewardship, strategic planning and stakeholder engagement.

Larna is recognised for her leadership during the Rochester flood recovery, working collaboratively with government, community organisations and local stakeholders to support community recovery and resilience. This experience reinforced the critical role of effective governance, trusted leadership and cross-sector collaboration in responding to complex community challenges.

A passionate advocate for regional Victoria, Larna is committed to strengthening organisations that deliver essential services and create lasting value for the communities they serve. She brings to the Board strategic judgement, a collaborative approach and a strong commitment to good governance, public service and building resilient organisations.

Paul Weller

Appointed: October 2025

Paul manages a family dairy farm and oversees share farmers cropping 520 hectares near Lockington. He is a former Member of the Victorian Parliament, representing the seat of Rodney from 2006 to 2014.

During his time as an MP he was Chair of the Rural and Regional Committee (2010-2013) and Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Victoria from 2013-2014.

He is currently a Director of National Herd Development, Director of the Page Research Centre, and is a member of the Federal Management Committee of the National Party. Previously, he served as President of the Victorian Farmers Federation (2002-2005).

Paul’s community involvement includes membership of the Lockington CFA and Lockington Landcare.

He has an Advanced Diploma of Dairy Farm Management and participated in the Australian Rural Leadership Program.

Steve Capewell

Steve Capewell was appointed Managing Director of Goulburn-Murray Water in July 2026. He brings more than 25 years’ experience across the Australian water sector, spanning operations, asset management, major capital delivery, and customer and stakeholder engagement.

Steve has led complex regional and metropolitan service delivery functions and brings strong expertise in governance, organisational transformation and strategic stakeholder engagement. His leadership has focused on strengthening customer outcomes, organisational culture and long-term resilience, while building trusted partnerships with communities, industry and government.

Prior to joining Goulburn-Murray Water, Steve served as Managing Director of Goulburn Valley Water for six years. Before that, he was a member of the Executive Leadership Team at Water Corporation in Western Australia, where he held senior roles across operations and service delivery, including oversight and governance of Perth’s large-scale seawater desalination plants.

Steve is committed to advancing a sustainable, resilient and customer-focused water sector, particularly for regional communities, and to strengthening collaboration across utilities to address shared challenges including growth, climate change and affordability.

Dr Jennifer Mason

Jen, a Dhudhuroa and Wamba Wemba descendant, is engaged across state and national communities in bridging Indigenous and non-Indigenous ways of understanding Country. As an educator, she is passionate about helping non-Indigenous Australians understand how Indigenous knowledge systems can inform economic empowerment and strengthen shared values.

Working alongside natural resource managers, she brings Indigenous knowledge into dialogue with mainstream conversations for planning and everyday governance decisions. She does this through planned economic and social programs that support cultural practice and opportunity, building partnerships that strengthen reconciliation between community, government and mainstream organisations.

Jen is a Research Fellow at the Australian National University and Lead Chief Investigator on an ARC Discovery Indigenous research project. Her research focuses on co-design and Indigenous methodologies, documenting oral histories, customs, and cultural connections to place. She holds a Doctor of Creative Industries and qualifications in tourism and business management and serves on research committees and the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council.

Her creative projects, including photography, documentary film, digital art, and writing, extend her commitment to sharing Indigenous knowledge with a wider audience.