Therese Tierney
Chairperson
Reappointed: October 2023
Current term expires: September 2027
Therese is an experienced CEO, Board Director and Chair. She has held CEO and senior management roles in Melbourne and regional Victoria, and in both the private and public health sectors and local government as both a councillor and general manager.
Therese is currently the Deputy Chair of VicWater, Chair of the Gippsland Primary Health Network and Maryvale Private Hospital. In 2021 she was appointed as Chair of the Gippsland Regional Partnership and a member of the Regional Development Advisory Committee.
She now works as a consultant, providing strategic and innovative solutions to challenges with business, change management, health/business planning and design, people and systems thinking. This also includes supporting Boards to improve their governance and create a positive and accountable culture.
Committee memberships:
People, Safety & Culture (Chairperson)
Strategy (Chairperson)
Michelle McLean
Board Director
Reappointed: October 2023
Current term expires: September 2025
Michelle is the Chief Commissioner of the Victorian Building Authority and Deputy Chair of the Country Fire Authority (CFA). She is a Board member of Frontier FSI, Equestrian Australia, and a member of the Royal Melbourne Agricultural Society and the Risk Management Institute.
Previously, Michelle was Managing Partner and CEO of the law firm Cornwall Stodart (now Cornwalls). She has also been President of the Australian Legal Practice Management Association (where she is a life member), an Advisory Board member of the Melbourne University Business School, an Executive Council member of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and a Board member of the Mercy Health Foundation, the Overnewton Anglican Community College and Acom International.
Committee memberships:
Audit & Risk (Chairperson)
Strategy
Angela Hutson
Board Director
Reappointed: October 2023
Current term expires: September 2025
Angela is a management and education consultant. She is a Board Member of TAFE Gippsland, a Director of Workways Australia and a Member of the Gunaikurnai Traditional Owner Land Management Board. She also is a Member of the Regional Development Australia Gippsland Committee and an Independent Member of the Latrobe Community Health Services Board Nominations Committee.
Angela has a Masters in Organisational Leadership, a Bachelor of Arts, a Graduate Diploma of Business in Entrepreneurship & Innovation and a Diploma of Education.
She is a Fellow and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Committee memberships:
Infrastructure, Operations & Environment (Chairperson)
Strategy
Steven Wright
Board Director
Reappointed: October 2023
Current term expires: September 2025
Steven Wright is an experienced Director, Strategic Advisor, Consultant and CEO.
He is the Founder and Managing Director of ODIN360, a management consultancy that specialises in undertaking projects for the government, tourism, sport, major events and for purpose sectors. Previously, Steven has held a number of CEO roles including BIG4 Holiday Parks of Australia, Tourism & Events Queensland, Richmond Football Club and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation.
Steven is currently Chairman of South East Leisure (a subsidiary of the City of Greater Dandenong) and a Director of the Victorian Tourism Industry Council and Whitehorse Community Enterprises. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of Delaware North Australia.
He holds a Master of Laws and Bachelor of Economics and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is also a Life Member of Aust & NZ Sports Law Association
Committee memberships:
Audit & Risk
Strategy
Andrew Webster
Board Director
Reappointed: October 2023
Current term expires: September 2025
Andrew is the General Manager – Risk, Compliance and Regulatory Affairs at Aussie Broadband Limited. He is an independent member of the Finance, Risk and Audit Committee of the Fitzroy Legal Service and business mentor with the Asylum Seeker Research Centre. Andrew has 20 years of experience in utilities, infrastructure, and the public sector in Australia and overseas.
Andrew holds a Masters in Criminal Justice Administration, Graduate Certificate in Business Law, Graduate Certificate in Business Administration, Diploma in Management and Diploma in Business Management.
Committee memberships:
Audit & Risk
Strategy
Ian Gibson
Board Director
Reappointed a Director: October 2023
Current term expires: September 2027
Ian is a long-term resident of Gippsland and has extensive networks in the public sector, community organisations, business, academia and sporting bodies.
He holds qualifications as a Master of Public Policy and Management and in Economics and Arts. He also has public sector board experience, which includes the State Electricity Commission of Victoria, Coal Corporation, West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority and the Latrobe Regional Hospital.
Ian’s work experience has been in local government, regional development and tertiary education. He is currently a sessional member at Planning Panels Victoria, a member of the Board of the Mine Land Rehabilitation Authority and Chair of the Community Advisory Committee for the Star of the South offshore windfarm, and works part-time at Federation University.
Committee memberships:
People, Safety & Culture
Infrastructure, Operations & Environment
Strategy
Kate Young
Board Director
Reappointed: October 2023
Current term expires: September 2025
Kate Young is a fourth-generation East Gippslander and a qualified Town Planner at Crowther & Sadler.
Kate is an experienced Director in the Water sector having recently served six years with South Gippsland Water, including four as Chair of the People, Safety and Culture Committee. Kate is currently on the Board at Gippsland Grammar, and is a former Director of the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority. Kate also served on the Gippsland Lakes Ministerial Advisory Committee and East Gippsland Shire Inundation and Adaption Management Project Steering Group Committee.
Kate holds a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), post graduate qualifications in Planning and Environment, Arts (Criminology) and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors..
Committee memberships:
People, Safety & Culture
Strategy
Tricia Hiley
Board Director
Reappointed: October 2023
Current term expires: September 2025
Tricia has worked in government, IT, financial and social services, education, and NGO sectors and has extensive experience as an organisation change and leadership development consultant, coach, and adult educator.
She lives in Mallacoota in far East Gippsland and is a semi-retired business consultant, focusing on innovation, sustainability, resilience and social/climate change for individuals, organisations, and communities.
Tricia has been a Member of EGW’s Customer Committee since 2016 and its Chair for the last three years. She’s also Coordinator of Mallacoota Sustainable Energy Group, on the Governance Group of the Gippsland Community Power Hub and Secretary of the Croajingolong Centre for Communications and the Arts.
Tricia has a PhD in Business and a Masters in Organisation Change and Development. She is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors..
Committee memberships:
Infrastructure, Operations & Environment
Strategy
Jamie Williamson
Board Director
Appointed as a Director: October 2023
Current term expires: September 2027
Jamie has extensive experience in leadership roles including at the CEO and executive level working within the social services and advocacy space. With strong stakeholder and community engagement within government and the private sector experience, his expertise comes from being able to engage with diverse communities on a range of subjects including health, education, employment and social policy issues such as housing and crime. With experience of working in remote, rural and urban settings, Jamie has a practical background in program and policy review and development, team building, change management, facilitation and public speaking.
With a strong people first approach and a focus on problem solving and issue resolution to achieve outcomes that are sustainable, he believes personal and professional development is just as important as the outcome.
Committee memberships:
Strategy
Steve McKenzie
Board Director
Reappointed: October 2023
East Gippsland Water’s Managing Director, Steve McKenzie, is a Director of the Board.
Steve has 30 years’ experience in various senior executive water industry roles in Victoria and the Northern Territory. He has a Degree in Civil Engineering, a Graduate Diploma of Management and is a is Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
He is a member of the AICD and industry associations including VicWater, the Water Services Association of Australia, the Institute of Water Administration and the Australian Water Association.