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
Jo Plummer, Chair
Appointed October 2015
MBA, FAICD
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 until May 2022.
Additionally, Jo's portfolio includes:
- Fellow and faculty member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
- Director – Barwon Asset Solutions
- Board Chair – Deakin MBA Advisory.
She is a highly experienced business strategist and has worked across large commercial corporate, small to medium enterprise, government and not-for-profit 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
B Arts, Dip Ed, GAICD, FIPPA, Hon Doc (Deakin)
Elaine is the Deputy Chair of Ports Victoria. She has been a Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment and for Education.
She is the Deputy Chair of gforce employment + recruitment, Director of AWA Alliance Bank, Board Member of IMPACT Institute, Director of Northern Futures Inc., Independent Chair of the Community Liaison Group – Geelong Port, and Ambassador of the Peace Of Mind Foundation Inc.
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), and a National Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration.
Shaun Cumming, Interim Managing Director
Appointed June 2023
Over a 20-career in the water industry, Shaun has worked across the public and private sectors. He has extensive experience in strategy, operations, construction, business development and large-scale project delivery. Shaun spear-headed a private sector partnership and oversaw the largest capital investment program in Barwon Water’s history.
Shaun holds a Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Engineering and Master of Business Administration. He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Nik Devidas, Board Director
Appointed October 2021
BBus, GAICD
Nik Devidas is an entrepreneurial leader with extensive experience in technology and cyber security across a broad range of industries.
Nik is the co-Founder and Managing Director of Rock IT which was established in 2003. Rock IT is a globally ranked managed service provider that focuses on helping businesses develop cost-effective, scalable information technology systems without compromising security or performance. In 2023, Nik founded 4walls Cyber Advisory, which aims to simplify cyber resilience by providing comprehensive, easy-to-understand cyber security solutions.
In 2013, he was recognised in the MSPmentor 250 List, which identifies the world’s leading managed services provider executives, entrepreneurs and experts.
He is also a Board Director of Barwon Asset Solutions, along with being President of the Parkside Junior Football Club and founder of the Old Melburnians "OM Journeys" speaker series. He also co-hosts ‘The Do Landers’ podcast, which features ordinary people with inspiring stories to tell.
Nik holds a Bachelor of Business (business information systems) from RMIT University and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Corrina Eccles, Board Director
Appointed October 2019
Wadawurrung Traditional Owner Corrina Eccles has 24 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 cultural knowledge, perspective and values relating to water.
John Gavens, Board Director
Appointed October 2015
M Arts, B Comm, FCA, GAICD
John is an experienced board director and audit and risk committee member.
He is a Director of Dental Health Services Victoria and Melbourne Polytechnic and was a director of Barwon Asset Solutions and the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee. He is also an independent audit committee member for several public sector agencies and conducts practise quality reviews for Chartered Accountants ANZ.
John has a background in auditing, risk management and internal audit, specialising in the public, local government and not-for-profit sectors. He was an audit service provider to the Victorian Auditor General’s Office and held internal audit contracts with several local government and public sector agencies. He was also a Registered Company Auditor and was a member of the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board.
John is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants ANZ and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Ann Lansberry, Board Director
Appointed September 2017
MEng, DipBA, GAICD
Ann is a community sector consultant specialising in building community capacity and works for the Traditional Owners the Dja Dja Wurrung.
She has a background in Water Operations, Business Management and Risk management, specialising in the small- to medium-sized business and not-for-profit sectors.
Ann is currently the President of the Discovery Science and Technology Centre.
She holds a Master of Engineering (Chemical Engineering), a Diploma in Business Administration, a Graduate Certificate of Cybersecurity and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Peta Maddy, Board Director
Appointed October 2021
BEng(Hons), BSc, GAICD
Peta has more than 20 years of experience in the water and natural resources industries, including 10 years in governance roles.
Peta is the Deputy Chair Commissioner at the Victorian Environmental Water Holder (member of Risk and Audit Committee), an independent member of the Audit and Risk Committee for Surf Coast Shire Council and 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 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) and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
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, a Director of Mercy Ministries Companions, a Director of Emerging Futures Collaborative and a Member of the Victorian Skills Authority Advisory Board.
He holds a Bachelor of Economics and Politics and is a Graduate of the Australian Insititute of Company Directors.
Bernard Walsh, Board Director
Appointed October, 2015
MIEAust, CPEng, GAICD
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 is a board member of Barwon Asset Solutions and 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.