Our Board, including the Managing Director, is responsible for setting strategic direction, establishing goals and objectives for executive management and monitoring the business on behalf of our customers and the Victorian Government. Key functions of our Board include:
- Establishing objectives and monitoring the performance of the Managing Director
- Adopting a Corporate Plan, Business Plan and Infrastructure Program and monitoring results on a regular basis
- Ensuring that risk management systems are in place to cover environmental, operational and financial risks
- Ensuring we comply with the law and conform to the highest standards of corporate governance practice and ethical conduct
Meetings of the Board are scheduled for the first Wednesday of each month. Additional meetings of the Board are held from time to time as required.
Mark Stone AM, Board Chair
Mark Stone AM was appointed Chair of Goulburn Valley Water in April 2020.
Mark runs a business advisory company, and is a Non-Executive Director/Chair. He was Chief Executive of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for over eight years, the peak body for business in Victoria. During this time, Mark developed a reputation as a leader in the Australian business community and was regularly consulted for business-related advice and commentary.
Previously, Mark was Chief Executive of Parks Victoria for 12 years. During this period, he identified, negotiated and secured large-scale tourism development opportunities for the State of Victoria, as well as highly successful major events, at the same time ensuring the protection of the natural environment. Mark led and developed Parks Victoria from a State-based and State-focused entity to one with national and international stature. The complexity and diversity of this organisation required strong leadership and management of multi-disciplinary staff, including 800 professional bush firefighters. He has extensive knowledge of regional issues, having lived and worked in many parts of the State.
Mark was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2016 for “significant service to commerce and industry through leadership roles, to the environment and tourism sectors, and to the community.”
His other roles included Member of the Premier’s Jobs and Investment Panel, Co-Chair of the Victorian Aboriginal Economic Board, Board Member of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, CEO of Tourism Victoria and Board Member of Tourism Australia.
Mark is currently Chair SCT Logistics, a member of the Premier’s Special Advisory Council for Bushfire Recovery Victoria and is an Advisory Board Member of Delaware North (Australia).
Linda Nieuwenhuizen, Deputy Board Chair
Ms Linda Nieuwenhuizen was appointed a Director of Goulburn Valley Water in November 2016 and Deputy Chair of the Board in April 2020.
Linda is currently Chief Executive Officer of the Committee for Greater Shepparton.
Her previous roles include Head of Communications for Apple and Pear Australia Limited (APAL), Manager, Governance and Communications at Moira Shire Council, Manager Stakeholder Relations at Goulburn Murray Water as well as communications and policy roles with CPA Australia, Zurich International, South East Water and AWB.
Linda has a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics), Graduate Diploma Agribusiness Management, Graduate Diploma Corporations and Securities Law and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Christine Cussen, Board Director
Ms Christine Cussen was appointed a Director of Goulburn Valley Water in October 2017.
She is currently Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee.
Christine has extensive experience within the private sector having worked as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer in Global Pharmaceutical, an entrepreneurial ASX-listed biotechnology startup and in the cleantech, industrial and innovation sectors in Australia, North America, Europe and Asia.
Her current portfolio of activities includes roles as Executive Director of Ward Health Group Pty Ltd and Senior Adviser, Life Sciences and Cleantech with international investment banking group BlueMount Capital. Prior to that she worked with the international investment and corporate advisory group AFG Venture. She has completed the Senior Executive MBA at Melbourne University and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Christine has business and science qualifications from Swinburne University of Technology and Monash University and is currently a Non-Executive Director of the Victorian Fisheries Authority and Musculoskeletal Australia and is Chair of Camberwell Girls Grammar School. Previous board roles included Managing Director of ASX listed Eiffel Technologies Limited and Non-Executive Director of the Gordon Institute of Technical and Further Education.
Jenny Wilson, Board Director
Ms Jenny Wilson was appointed a Director of Goulburn Valley Water in October 2019 and is currently Chair of the People and Culture Committee, appointed to the role in October 2021
Jenny is also a Director with GOTAFE appointed in 2020, currently the CEO of Murray Dairy and a member of the National Dairy Industry People Development Council. She has previously worked for many years as a senior manager in agricultural and natural resource management programs for the Victorian Government.
Passionate about regional Victoria, Ms Wilson has led a number of programs working with farmers and regional communities to adopt new science and innovation. Ms Wilson has an extensive government and industry background in leadership, project management, strategic planning, community training and development, emergency response and organisational management.
Jenny is a graduate from Charles Sturt University having completed a Bachelor of Environmental Science, holds an Advanced Certificate in Sustainability and a Diploma of Project Management and is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Tammy Atkins, Board Director
Tammy Atkins was appointed a Director of Goulburn Valley Water in April 2020.
Tammy is a business consultant with a career interest in regional policy and economic development.
She has experience working with all three tiers of government and is involved in a diverse range of community organisations. She is a Director of Wodonga TAFE and has previously served on the boards of North East Catchment Management Authority and Winton Wetlands Committee of Management. Tammy is a former elected Councillor for the Rural City of Wangaratta.
Tammy is a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program, the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and Curtin University.
Haley Tudor-Harrop, Board Director
Ms Haley Tudor-Harrop was appointed a Director of Goulburn Valley Water in October 2021
Haley is currently a Chartered Accountant in Mansfield and an elected Regional Victoria & Tasmania representative for the Community Bank National Council (Peak body to Franchise Partner Bendigo & Adelaide Bank Ltd.).
Through her work as a volunteer Director and Chair of the Community Impact Team of Mansfield & District Community Enterprises Ltd, Haley brings over 13 years experience in community consultations and responding to community needs to deliver projects of impact.
Previous Board appointments also include Lake Mountain Alpine Resort Management Board, Mansfield Adult Continuing Education Inc and the Mansfield Adult Autistic Centre (MACRO) now operating as Autism Mansfield.
Haley is passionate in seeking innovative ways of conducting business, particularly in areas of financial management, environmental and climate impact and engagement with stakeholders. Haley has extensive experience working closely with the Agri sector and strategic SME business planning. Working for over 17 years as a public practise accountant, Haley has worked with state and government funding through natural disasters and managing farm inputs and outputs under seasonal pressures to ensure long term business sustainability.
Haley has a Bachelor of Business in Accounting from Swinburne University of Technology Education, Graduate Diploma of Chartered Accounting from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is an Authorised Representative from SMSF Advisors Network.
Daniel Briggs, Board Director
Mr Daniel Briggs was appointed a Director of Goulburn Valley Water in October 2021.
Daniel is a proud Yorta Yorta and Wemba Wemba man who is from the Goulburn Murray Region, but also spent some younger years in Melbourne and New Zealand. Daniel holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and has extensive experience in both the legal field and working with members of marginalised communities.
Daniel is the founding Executive Directive of Yurringa, a company which provides drone services and facilitates temporary and permanent employment solutions with a focus on members from disadvantaged communities. He is also a non-executive director of GOTAFE and has an active involvement in the Rumbalara Football Netball Club.
Andrew Fairley AM, Board Director
Andrew Fairley AM was appointed Director of Goulburn Valley Water in October 2023.
Andrew Fairley is a commercial and equity Lawyer at Hall & Wilcox in Melbourne specialising in superannuation and trusts. He is Chair of Qualitas Limited, a listed real estate funds management group with assets under management of over $7B. He is also a Director of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority.
He has significant experience in land management and conservation, having previously been Chair of Zoos Victoria and Parks Victoria.
He has had a long involvement with the philanthropic sector as both an advisor and trustee. He has been Chair of the Sir Fairley Foundation since 1999, and is also Deputy Chair of the Mornington Peninsula Foundation.
He has also had a long association in the tourism sector, having serviced on the Board of Tourism Victoria and as Deputy Chair as Tourism Australia.
He is also a premium cherry grower in the Yarra Valley under the brand Yarra Valley Cherries.
Steve Capewell, Executive Board Director
Steve joined Goulburn Valley Water as Managing Director in September 2020.
He has more than 20 years' experience in the water industry and has a strong background in engineering, water cycle management, water operations and treatment, infrastructure planning and asset management. He also has experience in field operations and maintenance, as well as staff culture and safety development.
Steve has a focus on innovation and commerical and risk management, and engaging with and servicing regional communities. Prior to joining GVW, Steve was a executive manager at Water Corporation in Western Australia, managing an operational division of more than 600 staff members.
He has a Bachelor of Science (Hons) and a Doctor of Philosophy (Chemical Engineering).