Board of Directors
The Board is responsible for the overall corporate governance of Barwon Water, including strategic direction, management goals and measuring success.
The Board comprises 9 non-executive directors and the Managing Director. The Board is appointed by the Minister for Water, and is governed by the Water Act 1989.
The Board meets monthly (except January and July) and at other times as required.
See also: Leadership team, Committees and working groups
Peta Maddy, Chair
Appointed October 2021
BEng(Hons), BSc, GAICD, FIEAust
Peta has nearly 30 years of experience in the water and natural resources industries, including more than 10 years in governance roles.
Peta is also the Chair of Barwon Asset Solutions.
She has held previous non-executive director roles at Southern Rural Water (Chair Asset Governance Committee) and Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water (Chair Water Resources Committee). She is a past President of the Victorian branch of the Australian Water Association, was a Commissioner at the Victorian Environmental Water Holder, Council Member of the Victorian Catchment Management Council and chaired the inter-departmental reference group for the Victorian Rural Drainage Strategy.
Peta has a Bachelor of Engineering (chemical) with honours, a Bachelor of Science (pharmacology and toxicology), is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of Engineers Australia.
Shaun Cumming, Managing Director
Appointed October 2023
BSc BEng MBA GAICD
Over a 20-year career in the water industry, Shaun is committed to making a positive impact to the community and environment in a collaborative, commercial and creative way. Shaun has worked in leadership roles across the public and private sectors and is currently Co-Chair of Deakin Engineering Advisory Board and a member of the Barwon Regional Partnership.
Shaun holds a Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Engineering, Master of Business Administration and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Jason Kambovski, Board Director
Appointed October 2023
BCom, LLB, GAICD
Jason has more than 30 years experience in the Financial Services sector, including over 25 years working in the Australian Banking industry covering multiple sectors.
He is currently Westpac Institutional Bank's Global Head of Public Sector, and leads a team of specialised banking professionals who service the needs of Commonwealth, State/Territory and Local Governments, including State-Owned Corporations and Government Business Enterprises. Whilst his role is principally focused on the Australasian market, Jason also covers all of Westpac's international Public Sector activities. Jason has previously worked in the Trustee and Chartered Accounting sectors.
Jason is also a Director on the Board of the National Trust of Australia (Victoria).
Prior to joining the Board of Barwon Water, he was most recently a Non-Executive Director and Deputy Chair of South East Water, Chair of the Finance Assurance and Risk Management Committee, and a Director of Iota Services Pty Ltd. He has previously been a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee of Lower Murray Urban and Rural Water Authority.
Jodie Leonard, Board Director
Appointed October, 2023
B.Bus. FAICD. Member of Chief Executive Women
Jodie is an experienced NonâExecutive Director of listed, government and high growth companies.
Her portfolio focuses on scaling businesses and digital transformation to drive better customer experiences.
She is currently a Non-Executive Director of Barwon Water Corporation and Regis Healthcare.
Jodie previously served on the board of the Great Ocean Road Coast & Parks Authority, RACV, Flexigroup, BWX, Beyond Bank Australia, Racing Victoria and Kinetic Superannuation.
Chris Chesterfield, Board Director
Appointed October, 2023
Chris is a water sector veteran of over 35 years and is nationally recognized for his leadership in waterway and urban water management and for his contribution to establishing Melbourne as a world leader in water sensitive urban design.
Chris is currently a Professor of Practice at Monash Sustainable Development Institute with a focus on water sector governance and leadership.
He has contributed to advancing water and urban planning practice through a number of recent roles, including as chair of several Ministerial advisory committees that have led to significant planning and legislative reforms in Victoria. In 2022, Chris received the Paul Jerome award from the Victorian Planning and Environmental Law Association in recognition of his contribution to the sustainable development of cities over the last two decades.
Chris was a Commissioner and the Chairperson of the Victorian Environmental Water Holder until 2023 and in 2019 was appointed by the Minister for Water to chair the Birrarung Council, a bicultural statutory body established under the Yarra River Protection Act (Willip-gin Birrarung murron 2017) as the ‘voice for the Yarra River’.
Corrina Eccles, Board Director
Appointed October 2019
Corrina Eccles, proud Wadawurrung Woman, lives on Wadawurrung Country, has 28 years of employment experience in Aboriginal organisations and community engagement, advocacy for Country and First Nations People, recognition, and self-determination.
She has contributed to various advisory and committee groups including representation on many Boards in the region an state level.
Corrina has undertaken board governance training and brings cultural knowledge, perspective and values relating to water, country and community.
Des Powell, Board Director
Appointed October 2017
BEcPol, GAICD
Prior to his appointment to the Barwon Water Board, Des was a Director of Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water Corporation (GWM Water) from October 2015 to September 2017.
Des is currently a Director of Ports Victoria, Director of Chisholm Institute and Director of Cambridge Box Hill Language Assessment Ltd (CBLA).
He holds a Bachelor of Economics and Politics and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Madeline Oldfield, Board Director
Appointed October 2025
Madeline Oldfield is an accomplished leader with over 20 years of experience driving large-scale transformation and managing complex change across the public, technology, financial services, telecommunications, healthcare and not-for-profit sectors. An expert in enterprise governance and strategic planning, her background includes senior roles at a Google, NAB, and in the Victorian public service (including justice, environmental, land, water, and planning departments), where she led significant reform initiatives and managed major investment portfolios.
Madeline holds a Master of Laws (Juris Doctor) and Bachelor degrees in Commerce and Information Systems. Madeline is a PhD Candidate with Monash University Faculty of Law, researching the redesign of digital justice. Madeline currently serves as the Board Chair for an Aged Care provider across Geelong, Surf Coast and Bellarine, and is a member of the Federal Government’s Data Standards Advisory Committee.
Madeline and her family are fortunate to live on Wadawurrung Country, and are proud residents of the Surf Coast.
Kate Griffiths, Board Director
Appointed October 2025
Kate has over 20 years’ experience spanning corporate law, corporate governance, sustainability, stakeholder engagement, business, strategy, policy and risk management. Kate holds a Bachelor of Laws (with honours) and a Bachelor of Arts.
She is a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria, a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course and a previous fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia.
Kate is currently the Executive Manager, Research and Policy at the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors, leading a team that works with Australian and international institutional investors over a range of financially material environment, social and governance issues to provide guidance on good corporate practice and regulatory reforms that contribute positively to the sustainability of markets.
Kate was formerly the Head of Governance, Risk and Audit Committee and Disclosure and a Company Secretary at BHP, and, prior to that, a senior associate at Blake Dawson (now Ashurst). Kate was also previously a non-executive director and Chair of ShareGift Australia, a not-for-profit organisation that facilitated the donation of shares to community organisations.
John Mitchell, Board Director
Appointed October 2025
John served as the Mayor of the City of Greater Geelong from 2008 to 2012, and prior to that, was the Deputy Mayor from 2006 to 2008. His journey in public service began as a Councillor from 2004 to 2006.
Since February 2019, John has been the Chair of the Geelong Cemeteries Trust and is also a proud member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Throughout John’s career, he has spent the majority of time in the transport industry, gaining extensive governance experience and building strong connections within the community and stakeholders.