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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 Executive team and senior management.
The Hon. Niall Blair – Non-executive Director and Chair
MOHS, BAppsSc (Hort), GAICD and Adjunct Professor at Charles Sturt University
Director
14 August 2024 – 30 September 2024
Chair
1 October 2024 – current
Chair of the Nominations Committee
Niall is an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) specialist with more than twenty-five years’ experience across government and the private sector, specialising in risk management, food and fibre production systems, circular economy solutions and sustainability.
He is an accomplished Chair and non-executive director with demonstrated financial accountability and corporate governance experience and a strong background in workplace safety, quality and environmental management systems development and auditing.
Niall also served the people of NSW for nine years as a senior member of the NSW Parliament. During his tenure he was appointed NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Water, Forestry, Lands, Trade and Industry and Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council.
External appointments
Niall is Chair of the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust; Chair of Strategic Advisory Board, Dairy Up Research Consortium and a non-executive director of the Cotton Regional Development Corporation, Murrumbidgee Irrigation and the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation.
Niall previously held the position of Professor of Food Sustainability at Charles Sturt University.
Greg Couttas – Non-executive Director
BComm, FCA
Director
17 November 2016 – current
Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee
Member of the Safety, Culture and Remuneration, 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 a non-executive Director of Hireup Holdings Pty Ltd and a member of the Audit and Risk 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
MSc, MBA, FAICD
Director
1 January 2019 – current
Chair of the Planning and Infrastructure Committee
Member of the Safety, Culture and Remuneration, Audit and Risk and Nominations 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), Australian Composites Manufacturing CRC and the Australian Genomic Cancer Medicine Centre Limited (Omico). 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.
Dr Alex Fisher - Non-executive Director
BE (Civil) - Hons 1, MBA, PhD, GAICD, MIEAust
Director
1 November 2022 – current
Chair of the Safety, Culture and Remuneration Committee
Member of the Planning and Infrastructure
Alex is an experienced organisational leader, senior executive and director with more than 30 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, including completed terms as the Deputy Chair of Dams Safety NSW, and Specialist External Director for Many Rivers Regional Housing Services (Aboriginal Corporation). She is also a former Strategic Advisor for the Birdon Group.
Alex is a member and graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and member of the Australian Institute of Engineers. She holds various formal and volunteer positions with Surf Life Saving Australia, Surf Life Saving NSW, Tacking Point Surf Life Saving Club and Port Macquarie Surf Life Saving Club, and instructs classes at Your Life Fitness Centre.