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 current portfolio includes:
- Fellow and Faculty member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
- Director – Barwon Asset Solutions
- Deputy Chair – Country Fire Authority
- Out of the Box Executive - Board Effectiveness/Performance Evaluation & Strategy Facilitation
She is a highly experienced business strategist and has worked across large commercial corporate, small to medium enterprise, government and not-for-profit environments. Jo is an expert in delivering integrated contemporary Environment, Social, Governance and commercially savvy outcomes to enable organisations to perform at their optimum and achieve outcomes beyond their purpose and value proposition.
Peta Maddy, Deputy Chair
Appointed October 2021
BEng(Hons), BSc, GAICD
Peta has more than 20 years of experience in the water and natural resources industries, including more than 10 years in governance roles.
Peta is the Chair of Barwon Asset Solutions, a Commissioner at the Victorian Environmental Water Holder and an independent member of the Audit and Risk Committee for Surf Coast Shire Council.
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.
Shaun Cumming, Managing Director
Appointed October 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.
Jason Kambovski, Board Director
Appointed October 2023
BCom, LLB, GAICD
Jason has more than 28 years experience in the Financial Services sector, including over 20 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.
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
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 Pacific Smiles Group (ASX:PSQ), XPON Technologies Group (ASX:XPN) and Barwon Water Corporation.
Jodie previously served on the board of the Great Ocean Road Coast & Parks Authority, RACV, Flexigroup, BWX, Beyond Bank Australia, Racing Victoria, Kinetic Superannuation and X2M Connect.
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 for 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’.
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.
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.
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.