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 8 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
Jo Plummer, Chair
Appointed October 2015
With a portfolio of roles, Jo is an experienced Board Chair. Pertinent to the water industry, she first served as non-executive Director for Central Highlands Water over a four-year term before her appointment to the Barwon Water Chair role in October, 2015.
Notably, she was appointed by her peers to Board Chair for the Victorian Water Industry Association in October, 2017.
Additionally, Jo's portfolio includes:
- Committee Chair - South Melbourne Market;
- Board Chair - Barwon Asset Solutions;
- Committee Chair - Geelong Regional Football; and
- Committee Member Geelong - Australian Institute of Company Directors.
She is a highly experienced business strategist and has worked across large commercial corporate, SME, government and NFP environments.
She also enjoys professional mentoring, is an engaging master of ceremonies and expertly facilitating strategies that enable alignment between commercial, social and environmental outcomes.
Jo holds a Master of Business Administration, a Graduate Diploma in Retail Management and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Elaine Carbines AM, Deputy Chair
Appointed October 2015
Elaine is the Chief Executive Officer of the G21 Geelong Region Alliance. She has been a Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment and for Education.
She is a Director of Gforce, Director of the Institute of Public Administration Australia (Victoria), Committee Member of Barwon South West Regional Development Committee, Committee Member of Barwon Region Partnership, and Board Member of the Great Ocean Road Taskforce.
Elaine was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia, General Division for “significant service to conservation and the environment” in the Australia Day 2020 Honours List.
Elaine holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Graduate Diploma in Education and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia (Victoria).
Tracey Slatter, Managing Director
Appointed January 2017
Tracey Slatter commenced as the Managing Director of Barwon Water in January, 2017. She has extensive executive leadership in the public sector as CEO of the City of Port Phillip, Head of Claims at the TAC, CEO of Colac Otway Shire and Director of Primary and Community Health with the State Department of Health and Human Services.
Tracey is also a Board Director of the Institute of Public Administration Australia (Victoria), a Board Director of Zero Emissions Water, a Board Director of G21 and a member of the Committee for Geelong.
Tracey enjoys leadership challenges and is passionate about achieving excellent outcomes and improved value for her customers and the community more broadly.
Tracey holds post graduate qualifications in Business Leadership, a Master of Commerce and is a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Tracey is also a certified Level 1 Institute of Executive Coaching and Leadership (IECL) coach.
Corrina Eccles, Board Director
Appointed October 2019
Wadawurrung Tradional Owner Corrina Eccles has 22 years of employment experience in Aboriginal organisations and community engagement, advocacy for cultural values, support and connection
She has contributed to various advisory and committee groups including representation on many Boards in the region.
Corrina has undertaken board governance training and brings Aboriginal culture elements, perspective and values relating to water.
John Gavens, Board Director
Appointed October 2015
John is Partner, Audit and Assurance at Crowe Horwath Melbourne, and has a background in auditing, risk management and internal audit, specialising in the public, local government and not-for-profit sectors. He currently holds audit contracts with the Victorian Auditor General’s Office and internal audit contracts with several local government and public sector agencies.
He is a Registered Company Auditor and was a member of the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board.
He is a Director of Barwon Asset Solutions, Dental Health Services Victoria and Great Ocean Road Coast Committee and member of two local government audit committees.
John holds a Master of Arts, a Bachelor of Commerce.
John is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants and New Zealand and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Ann Lansberry, Board Director
Appointed September 2017
Ann is a community sector consultant specialising in building community capacity. As an Engineer she has more than 20 years of experience in the water sector.
Ann is currently the President of the Discovery Science and Technology Centre in Bendigo and a Director of Heathcote Health. Previously she was Chief Executive Officer of the Community Foundation for Central Victoria.
She holds a Master of Engineering (Chemical Engineering), a Diploma in Business Administration and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Rebecca Leonard, Board Director
Appointed October 2013
Rebecca is Director, Governance Strategy and Performance at City of Greater Geelong and has previously worked at the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) in both solicitor and senior management roles. She is an experienced lawyer and has practised in the Geelong region since 2004.
Rebecca has a strong commitment to the Geelong community and has previously served as Vice Chairperson of UnitingCare Geelong and Secretary of Barwon Centre Against Sexual Assault.
She is currently a member of the Deakin University Alumni, the Law Institute of Victoria, Victorian Women Lawyers and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She is also Deputy Chair of the Board of Community Care Chemist.
Rebecca is the current Board representative member of Barwon Water’s Customer Consultative Committee and a member of Barwon Water’s Audit and Risk Management Committees.
Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Laws, and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Des Powell, Board Director
Appointed October 2017
Immediately 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. He is a sessional Commissioner of the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation and has held this position since February, 2012.
Des is Director and Chair of TAFE Gippsland, Director of Mercy Education Limited and Deputy Chair of the Victorian Regional Channels Authority.
He holds a Bachelor of Economics and Politics and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Bernard Walsh, Board Director
Appointed October, 2015
Bernard has had an extensive executive career in the chemicals, petrochemicals, explosives and agricultural industries. His most recent role was Head of Engineering and Capital Works at Cann Group Limited, a medicinal cannabis company. He consulted on manufacturing excellence and engineering feasibility studies after leaving his executive role with Incitec Pivot Limited (IPL) in late 2013. At IPL he was a member of the executive team and led the major fertiliser and explosives manufacturing operations in North America and Australia including the supporting global engineering and process technology functions.
Bernard has been a board member at Queensland Nitrates, Sasol Dyno Nobel and Initiation Explosives Systems.
Bernard holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering and a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration. He is a Chartered Professional Engineer and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.