Executive Team

• Board
• Executive
• Management structure

Kevin Young - Managing Director
Denise Dawson - Corporate Services
Eric De Rooy - Maintenance
Paul Freeman - Asset Management
Kaia Hodge - Sustainability
Peter Mills - People, Leadership & Culture
James Mitchell - Finance and Regulatory
Colin Nicholson - Operations
Ian Payne - Asset Solutions
Angela Tsoukatos - Customer and Community Relations

Kevin Young (Managing Director) - B Eng (Hons), MBA, FIE Aust, CPENG, FAICD

Kevin is the Managing Director of Sydney Water. Kevin was previously the Managing Director of Hunter Water for 7 years.

Kevin has a degree with honours in engineering and a Master of Business Administration. Kevin is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia and a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Kevin has over 30 years’ experience working for the private sector and Government authorities within Australia and overseas.

Kevin was previously Chairman of the Water Services Association of Australia whose members serve over 17 million Australians every day with water and wastewater services.

Denise Dawson (Corporate Services) - BBus, GradDip(Acctg)

Denise was appointed General Manager Corporate Services in April 2007. Denise joined Sydney Water as General Manager Customer Service in September 2001 after 20 years in the electricity industry. She was previously the General Manager responsible for Full Retail Contestability at United Energy Melbourne. She has been General Manager Finance and Administration at Powerlink Queensland, General Manager Corporate Services at Legal Aid Brisbane, and held finance roles at South East Queensland Electricity Board. Denise has a Batchelor of Business and a Graduate Diploma in Accounting.

Eric De Rooy (Maintenance) - BE(Civil)(Hons), MBA

Eric was appointed General Manager, Maintenance in November 2008. Since joining Sydney Water in January 1975 as a trainee civil engineer, Eric has worked in many of the asset-related areas, including construction, design, treatment operations/maintenance, capital projects and network operations. In 1998 Eric took up the role of Water Networks Manager and was later appointed as Manager Strategic Operaions in 2004. He was appointed as the General Manager of the new Maintenance Division in 2008, with responsibility for maintenance and renewal of all of Sydney Water's service related assets.

Eric has a degree in Civil Engineering (Wollongong University) with first class honours in 1981, and was awarded an MBA (Wollongong University) in 1994.

Paul Freeman (Asset Management) - BE(Mech)(Hons)

Paul was appointed General Manager, Asset Management in July 2000. Paul joined Sydney Water in 1978 as a trainee mechanical engineer. In his career with Sydney Water, Paul has worked in many operational and maintenance areas at both a project and managerial level. In 1996 Paul took up the role of Manager, Water Treatment and in 1998 the role of Manager, Wastewater Distribution. He was appointed General Manager Distribution in 1999 and in 2000, Paul moved across as General Manager to lead the Asset Management Division with stewardship for the planning, operations and maintenance of Sydney Water's $13 billion of assets. Paul completed a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the then NSW Institute of Technology (University of Technology Sydney) in 1983 with first class honours and the Institute medal.

Kaia Hodge (Sustainability) – BSc(Hons), MEnvStud, PGDipManagement

Kaia was appointed General Manager Sustainability in June 2011, with responsibility for environmental management, science and technology and setting strategic direction for Sydney Water’s products and services.

Since 2007 Kaia held the position of Manager, Stormwater. Between 2000 and 2007 she was Manager, Environmental Planning and Management.

Kaia has also worked in water resources planning and environmental regulation, including a period working for the NSW Environment Protection Authority in regional NSW. Kaia was appointed Trustee of the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Trust during 1999 and 2000.

Peter Mills (People, Leadership & Culture) - BA(Psych)

Peter was appointed General Manager Human Resources in July 2007. Peter joined Sydney Water as Manager Human Resources in November 2004 and brings 25 years of human resources experience in a range of industries including engineering, manufacturing, investment, business equipment/IT and petroleum. Prior to joining Sydney Water, Peter successfully ran his own HR consultancy. Peter has also held positions as General Manager, Human Resources at Canon Australia, Human Resources manager at Warman International and NSW Employee Relations Manager at Caltex Australia. Peter has a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Psychology and has been involved in numerous development programs internationally.

James Mitchell (Finance & Regulatory) - B Com, CPA, MAICD

Jim Mitchell is the Chief Financial Officer, responsible for Finance and Regulatory. Before joining Sydney Water, Jim was Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Synergy, Western Australia's largest energy retailer. Synergy supplied electricity and gas to over one million customers and was responsible for the development of a number of WA power generation projects, both thermal and renewable.

Prior to that, Jim was Chief Financial Officer of Ergon Energy, Queensland's regional electricity supplier which distributed and retailed electricity to over 97% of the state, and Chief Financial Officer of Epic Energy, a gas transmission business across three states.

Jim has held senior financial roles in a number of companies, including Treasurer of MIM, Australian Industry Development Corp, and Thiess, and for Queensland Treasury.

Colin Nicholson (Operations) - BSc, BE(Civil)(Hons), MEngSc

Colin was appointed General Manager, Operations in October 2008. Colin joined Sydney Water as a cadet engineer in February 1971. In his early career he worked in the areas of design, construction, operations, contract management and project development. Colin has held senior mangement positions since 1990 including several roles with a strong operational focus such as Development Manager Drinking Water Program, Manager Operations Services, Manager Water Filtration and Manager Treatment Services.

Colin has a Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) and a Master of Science (Engineering).

Ian Payne (Asset Solutions) - BE(Civil), MEngSc, MBA

Ian was appointed General Manager of Asset Solutions in April 2010.

Ian joined Sydney Water in 1975 as a planning engineer and then became construction manager of a large day labour force.

In 1988 Ian worked in the UK for an engineering consultant and undertook further study. In the early 1990's Ian returned to a business development role in Australian Water Technologies. During the last 10 years Ian has led large complex infrastructure programs and projects that have involved significant interaction with the community and covered a wide range of environmental needs. Ian's most recent role prior to his appointment was Project Director of Sydney's Desalination Plant. Ian has experience in project management and has a sound knowledge of a range of procurement methods.

Ian has a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil), Master of Engineering Science and Master of Business Administration from Macquarie University (with a major in project management from Cranfield School of Management, UK).

Angela Tsoukatos (Customer & Community Relations) - BSocWk, MM, GAICD

Angela commenced work at Sydney Water in May 1990. Prior to joining Sydney Water, Angela held positions in the community sector and in local government. Angela's first role at Sydney Water was as the Ethnic Affairs Adviser. She has held many challenging roles in the areas of policy, standards of service, regulatory compliance and executive support. In May 1999, Angela was appointed to the role of General Manager, Corporate Services. In April 2005, Angela was appointed General Manager, Customer and Community Relations. This Division brings together the Customer Services Division, Corporate Relations and Corporate Communications and Marketing to enable Sydney Water to more effectively communicate with its customers, the community and other stakeholders. Angela has a Bachelor of Social Work, Master of Management (Public Sector) and a Graduate Diploma from the Australian Institute of Company Directors.