Our Leadership Team

Chairperson

First appointed: October 2019

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 Chair of VicWater, the Chair of Gippsland Primary Health Network and Chair of Maryvale Private Hospital.

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)

Deputy Chair

First appointed: October 2021

Current term expires: September 2029

Andrew is the Head of Regulatory, Government Affairs and Compliance at Superloop. He is a non-executive director of Umbrella Dementia Café Limited and a business mentor with the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. Andrew has over 20 years of experience in utilities, infrastructure, and the public sector in Australia and overseas.

Andrew holds a Master's in Criminal Justice Administration, a Graduate Certificate in Business Law, a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration, a Diploma in Management and a Diploma in Business Management.

He is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Committee memberships:

• Infrastructure, Operations and Environment (Chairperson)

• Strategy

Managing Director

Appointed: July 2024

The Managing Director of East Gippsland Water and a Board Director with extensive executive leadership experience spanning the water, engineering, infrastructure, energy, and construction sectors.

Michael also served in the military for 20 years, an experience that helped shape his leadership approach, strategic thinking, and commitment to service. He has held senior leadership positions in major Australian and international organisations. This includes more than seven years as Managing Director of Melbourne Water, CEO and COO of UGL, President of FT Services in North America, Vice President of Siemens North America, Executive General Manager at Transfield Services, and CEO of Silcar Services.

A qualified engineer with a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical and Computing), Michael is a Fellow of Engineers Australia and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He has also contributed to a range of corporate, industry, and advisory boards, including the Committee for Melbourne, Monash University Industry Advisory Board, Latrobe Magnesium, and Bothar International Tunnel Boring Services.

Board Director

First appointed: October 2025

Current term expires: September 2029

Mandi Davidson is currently a Regional Director at VicGrid and has over two decades of experience in government and consulting. She specialises in strategic oversight, governance, and stakeholder engagement.

Amongst other educational pursuits, Mandi has attained a Master of Business Administration, Master of Laws- Commercial Law, Master of Arts – Professional Communication and also has a BA in Journalism.

Committee memberships:

• Infrastructure, Operations and Environment

• Strategy

Board Director

First appointed: October 2019

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, Latrobe Regional Hospital and the Mine Land Rehabilitation Authority.

Ian’s work experience has been in local government, regional development and tertiary education. He is currently Chair of the Community Advisory Group for the Star of the South offshore windfarm, is the Treasurer of Churchill and District Community Association and the Secretary of Gippsland Goannas Cricket Club.

Committee memberships:

• People, Safety and Culture

• Infrastructure, Operations and Environment

• Strategy

Board Director

First appointed: October 2023

Term expires: September 2027

Jamie has extensive experience in leadership roles including working within the social services sector at the CEO and executive level and working in the advocacy space. He also has strong stakeholder and community engagement experience within government and the private sector; 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. He currently sits on the Board of the Australian Dental Council and the Ahpra Community Advisory Council.

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.

Committee memberships:

• Audit & Risk

• Infrastructure, Operations and Environment

• Strategy

Board Director

First appointed: October 2021

Current term expires: September 2029

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 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 (Chairperson)

• Strategy

Board Director

First appointed: October 2025

Current term expires: September 2029

Rochelle Wrigglesworth has over 25 years’ experience in financial management, audit and risk. Before co-founding FiveFold Financial, Rochelle held senior leadership positions with Crowe Horwath (now Findex) and worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

Rochelle has extensive experience with public sector and not-for-profit organisations, including many years as an audit service provider to the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office. She has also previously held commercial finance roles in the UK.

Based in Gippsland, she is passionate about supporting her community and contributing to the region’s long-term prosperity. Rochelle is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Chartered Accountant (Australia and New Zealand), and a Registered Company Auditor with ASIC. She is also a director of Central Gippsland Health Service and serves on the Audit and Risk Committees of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Central Gippsland Health Service, and East Gippsland Regional Water Corporation. She previously served as Chair of the Committee for Gippsland, where she was a director for nine years.

Committee memberships:

• Audit & Risk

• Strategy

Board Director

First appointed: October 2021

Current term expires: September 2029

Kate Young is a fourth-generation East Gippslander, a qualified town planner, and a Director at Crowther & Sadler.

Kate brings extensive governance and leadership experience across the water sector, having served on the Board of South Gippsland Water for six years, including four years as Chair of the People, Safety and Culture Committee.

She has also contributed to a range of community and regional organisations, serving as a Board member of Gippsland Grammar, a Director of the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority, a member of the Gippsland Lakes Ministerial Advisory Committee, and the East Gippsland Shire Inundation and Adaptation Management Project Steering Group.

Kate holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, postgraduate qualifications in Planning and Environment and Criminology, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Committee memberships:

• People, Safety and Culture

• Strategy

General Manager Sustainability & Infrastructure

BE (Hons), MBA, GAICD, FIEAust, CPEng, RPEng, MASI, FIML

Neville has over 35 years of experience in the water industry, previously holding senior leadership positions within regional water corporations across Victoria prior to joining East Gippsland Water in May 2022.

As Interim Managing Director at Coliban Water and General Manager of Infrastructure & Water Resources at Greater Western Water he supported both organisations in strategic planning, contract management, asset management, water and sewer operations, project design and delivery, and customer service.

Neville is also former Director on the Board of AWA Alliance Bank, Deputy Chairperson and the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee and member of the People Committee. Overseeing the successful merger with Beyond Bank in 2024.

Neville is responsible for the provision of strategy, leadership and direction for the Sustainability and Infrastructure department, which undertakes strategic and long-term planning for water and sewerage services and the provision of new and refurbished Infrastructure through project delivery and land development. Securing the long-term surface water and groundwater resource requirements and providing efficient, effective and high-quality project management and long-term planning services for the customers of East Gippsland region.

General Manager People, Safety & Culture

BBus(HR), MAICD

Pam Porter is an accomplished executive with deep expertise in human resources and organisational development. At East Gippsland Water, she leads the People, Safety and Culture team, championing initiatives that support staff wellbeing, strengthen workplace safety, and build a values-driven culture.

Pam has a strong background in the non-profit and Victorian public sector and brings a wealth of experience in coaching, performance management, and business process improvement. Her leadership is grounded in a people-first philosophy, with a focus on empowering teams and fostering a collaborative, inclusive environment.

A graduate of RMIT University, Pam is known for her strategic mindset and ability to drive meaningful change. She works closely with leaders across the organisation to align people practices with East Gippsland Water’s strategic goals and ensure the organisation remains a great place to work.

Pam is passionate about creating safe, supportive workplaces where individuals can thrive and contribute to delivering exceptional outcomes for the community.

General Manager Customer, Community & Communications

GradDipJourn, MAICD, MPRIA, Justice of the Peace

David Radford joined East Gippsland Water in 2020 as Corporate Secretary and transitioned to the role of Executive Manager of Customer, Community & Communications in 2022. With over two decades of experience across government and the private sector, David brings extensive expertise in customer outcomes, corporate communications, community relations and project leadership.

He holds qualifications in media and corporate communications from RMIT and Deakin University and is an active member of the Public Relations Institute of Australia and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. In addition to his professional roles, David is deeply involved in regional and community organisations as a volunteer.

Under David’s leadership, his team is committed to delivering outstanding customer service and creating value for the community. Their core responsibilities include customer experience, billing, the Customer Charter, corporate communications and engagement, public relations, property connections, community education and corporate reporting.

David’s strategic expertise in CX, public relations, and community engagement aligns seamlessly with East Gippsland Water’s goals and commitment to its customers. His passion for leveraging technology, innovation and measuring continuous improvement ensures that East Gippsland Water meets the evolving needs of its community, both from regulatory and social responsibility perspectives.

General Manager Service Delivery

BSc (Biology) Hons, PhD Environmental Toxicology, MAICD

Hamish leads the delivery of essential water and wastewater services across the region. With a strong focus on operational excellence, asset performance, and customer outcomes, Hamish oversees field operations, treatment plants and infrastructure delivery.

Hamish brings more than two decades of experience across the water sector, local government, and regulatory environments. Prior to joining East Gippsland Water, he held senior leadership roles at South East Water, Victorian Building Authority, Bayside City Council, and Environment Protection Authority. His diverse background spans strategy, customer service, urban planning, environmental compliance, and capital works.

Hamish holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Biotechnology and a PhD in Environmental Toxicology. He is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. A native of East Gippsland, Hamish returned to the region to contribute to its sustainable development and resilience.

He is passionate about supporting frontline teams, strengthening technical capability, and delivering safe, reliable services to customers. Hamish is also a strong advocate for continuous improvement and collaborative leadership across the organisation.

Chief Financial Officer

B.Sc (Maths), B.Bus, FCPA, GAICD

With 20 years of distinguished experience in the Victorian water sector, Mathew is a highly accomplished executive renowned for his leadership, strategic acumen, and financial expertise. Mathew’s career has spanned across a wide array of functions including accounting, regulatory compliance, ICT, procurement, strategy development, and customer relations, with a proven record of delivering transformative outcomes and managing high-impact projects.

Mathew holds dual Bachelor degrees in Business and Applied Science (Mathematics) from Monash University and has pursued extensive professional development, including an Authentic Leader Development course from Harvard Business School and a Company Directors Course from the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Mathew is a member of CPA Australia, elevated to Fellow status in 2020, in acknowledgment of his professional credibility.

Mathew actively contributes to the local community as a Board Director of Gippsland Lakes Community Health and through volunteer roles, including serving as Treasurer for the Wy Yung Senior Football Netball Club and previously as an independent member of various financial and audit committees.