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Introducing our chair and directors
The purpose of our Board of Directors is to oversee Sydney Water's overall strategy, direction and policy. It also oversees management’s implementation. The responsibility for our day-to-day management is delegated to the Managing Director, and through the Managing Director to the Executive team and senior management, .
Grant King – Chairman
BE (Civil), M (Mtg), FAICD, Professor University of New South Wales
Term of appointment
9 June 2021 – 30 September 2024
Chairman
1 October 2021 – 30 September 2024
Chair of the Economic Regulation and Nominations Committees
Grant is an experienced public and listed company director with more than 30 years of executive management experience in the Australian energy industry. He was a long serving Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Origin Energy until his retirement in 2016. He brings to the board expertise in the area of energy markets, climate change and technology.
Grant is recognised in the business community for his strategic thinking, and leadership on environmental, social and governance issues. He is also involved in community and philanthropic activities.
External appointments
Grant is the Chairman of the Climate Change Authority, HSBC Bank of Australia, Arventa, Melanoma Institute of Australia and North Harbour Clean Energy. He is a Non-executive Director of the Origin Foundation, Great Barrier Foundation and O’Connell Street Associates, and a member of the University of NSW Foundation.
He also holds a position as Professor of Energy Economics and is Chair of the Energy Institute at the University of NSW. Grant is a former President of the Business Council of Australia.
Roch Cheroux – Managing Director
Term of appointment
2 September 2019 – 31 August 2024
Member of the Safety, Culture and Remuneration, Planning and Infrastructure, and Economic Regulation Committees
Roch is a key influencer in the water industry, with experience shaping and leading public and private corporations across Asia-Pacific region and Europe.
Before joining Sydney Water, Roch was Chief Executive of South Australian Water Corporation (SA Water) where he led the transformation of South Australia’s largest water utility, embedding changes to technology, culture and systems to improve the experience for its 1.6 million customers. Before joining SA Water, Roch was Chief Executive Officer of SUEZ for South East Asia and SUEZ-Degrémont Australia and New Zealand, Managing Director of United Utilities Asia and Pacific (TRILITY), and Chief Executive and Chair of Tallinn Water in Estonia.
Roch holds formal qualifications in engineering and business management, and seeks to champion innovation, diversity and reconciliation in the workplace.
External appointments
Roch is active across the water industry and is currently Chair of Water Services Association of Australia and the Ozwater 2023 Committee. He is also a member of the Advisory Committee of the Australian Water Partnership and the French-Australian Chamber of Commerce Advisory Council.
Greg Couttas – Non-executive Director
BComm, FCA, MAICD
Term of appointment
17 November 2016 – 16 November 2019, 17 November 2019 - 16 November 2022, 17 November 2022 - 16 November 2025
Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee
Member of the Safety, Culture and Remuneration, Economic Regulation and Nominations Committees
Greg brings to the Board significant finance and risk management expertise, having served as a senior audit partner at Deloitte for 28 years until his retirement in November 2016. He held several senior management roles at Deloitte including Managing Partner for NSW from 2005 to 2008. Greg served as a member of the Deloitte Australia Board from 2005 to 2016 and was Chair of the firm’s Audit and Risk Committee for 11 years.
External appointments
Greg is Chair of Hireup Holdings Pty Ltd and a member of the Audit Committee of the Reserve Bank of Australia and on the governance board of The Salvation Army Australian Territory. Formerly, he was a non-executive Director of Virtus Health Limited, and on the Board of Victoria Power Networks Pty Ltd and SA Power Networks Pty Ltd, which were joint ventures between Cheung Kong Infrastructure and Sparke Infrastructure.
Craig Roy – Non-executive Director
FAICD, MBA, MSc
Term of appointment
1 January 2019 – 31 December 2021, 1 January 2022 – 31 December 2024
Chair of the Planning and Infrastructure
Member of the Economic Regulation, and Safety, Culture and Remuneration Committees
Craig brings to the Board extensive experience in research and commercialisation strategy, innovation and entrepreneurship across a wide range of global projects and industry sectors. He is skilled in business sustainability in complex social, stakeholder and environmental settings. As a meteorologist and oceanographer, he understands the environment and climate change and its impacts on business. Craig was Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the CSIRO from 2010 to 2018. His career includes two decades as an officer of the Royal Australian Navy.
External appointments
Craig is Chair of Australian Research Data Commons and Silex Systems Limited, and a Non-executive Director of Global Laser Enrichment LLC (a joint venture between Silex and Cameco) and Australian Composites Manufacturing CRC. Craig was formerly the Chair of Data61, Non-executive Director of the Australian National Commission of UNESCO and on the Vice Chancellor’s Industry Board member for the University of Technology Sydney.
Kate Dryden – Non-executive Director
BAS, LLB (First Class Hons), GAICD
Term of appointment
29 November 2021 – 28 November 2024
Chair of the Safety, Culture and Remuneration Committee
Graduate of the Audit and Risk, and Economic Regulation Committees
Kate is an experienced company executive and lawyer, with deep expertise in environmental law and the environmental services industry across the water, waste and energy sectors. Kate’s executive career included roles at Veolia, which included Board roles for several related entities. Before that she was a solicitor at Baker & McKenzie and Mallesons. She has strong experience with effectively balancing risk mitigation and business growth.
External appointments
Kate is a Partner and co-founder of Sphere Infrastructure Partners. She is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Professor Susan Petterson – Non-executive Director
BE (Environmental) (Hons), PhD, GAICD
Term of appointment
15 February 2022 – 14 February 2025
Member of the Planning and Infrastructure, and Safety, Culture and Remuneration Committees
Susan brings to the Board important expertise in environmental protection and public health specifically related to water quality and sanitation. Over the last 20 years she has been a leader in the development and implementation of risk-based approaches for protection of public health both within Australia and Internationally.
External appointments
Susan is a Board member of the International Water Association (IWA) Health-Related Water Microbiology Specialist Group, a member of the National Health Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Recreational Water Quality Advisory Committee, Editor of the IWA Journal of Water and Health, and Director of Water & Health Pty Limited. She is also a member of the Australian Water Association and Academic Title Holder in the School of Medicine and Dentistry, at Griffith University.
Susan has served on the NHMRC Water Quality Advisory Committee (responsible for the revision of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines), and for the World Health Organisation (WHO) on their Guidelines Development Group relating to the 'WHO Guidelines for Sanitation and Health'.
Dr Alex Fisher - Non-executive Director
BE (Civil) - Hons 1, MBA, PhD, GAICD, MIEAust
Term of appointment
1 November 2022 - 31 October 2025
Member of the Planning and Infrastructure, and Safety, Culture and Remuneration Committees
Alex is an experienced organisational leader, senior executive and director with more than 25 years’ experience in diverse environments including the military, academia, utilities, government and consulting.
She has an extensive background working in government owned corporations and statutory authorities in the water sector (across the full water cycle management), including deep experience and success in driving operations, asset management, program and project management, including for delivery of major infrastructure capital works projects and programs.
External appointments
Alex has been involved in numerous industry organisations, committees and high-profile alliances in the past. She is part of the Independent Project Review of Port Macquarie Koala Hospital Redevelopment Project and most recently, she has completed terms as the Deputy Chair of Dams Safety NSW, and as a Specialist External Director for Many Rivers Regional Housing Services (Aboriginal Corporation).