Board of Directors & Management
Role of The Board
The Board of Directors, who are appointed by the Minister for Water, operate under the provisions of the Water Act 1989 and have responsibility for the governance of the Corporation, to provide strategic direction and accountability for the performance of South Gippsland Water. Responsibility for ongoing operation and implementation of strategy is delegated to the Managing Director and Senior Management Team.
The Board meets on the fourth Thursday of each month and on other occasions as required.
The Board
Nicola Hepenstall, Acting Chair
Appointed 1st October 2019
Nicola Hepenstall is a highly skilled strategist with extensive experience in C-suite leadership roles, holding Executive Director and Non-executive Director positions spanning marketing services, research, education and member organisations.
With over 25 years experience in evidence-based consulting, she has worked with State and Federal Government departments and many of Australia’s largest companies helping them navigate the complexity of the communications environment and develop strategies to enhance business and social outcomes.
Nicola is currently a Director of The Front Project and has previously held directorships of Haileybury College, Clemenger Group Limited and Chair of the Association of Market & Social Research Organisations. Nicola holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours in Psychology) and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She was the Australian Marketing Institute’s Certified Practising Marketer of the Year 2018.
Diana Nestorovska, Deputy Chair
Appointed 1 October 2021
Diana Nestorovska has extensive experience as a non-executive director and legal professional, with strengths in commercial and technology law, governance, risk and compliance, and stakeholder relations at the State, Commonwealth, and international levels.
Diana is a former Australian diplomat and has represented Australian interests in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. She has previously served on government and non-profit boards and committees in the language services, health and disability sectors. Diana holds a Master of Business Administration and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Sumi Prabhakaran – BSc(Eng)(Hons), GDipMgt (Tech. Mgt), FIEAust, MAICD
Appointed 1 October 2021
Sumi Prabhakaran is a Civil Engineer with more than 30 years of senior management and consulting experience in the water, municipal and government sectors. As a management consultant, Sumi provides expert advice on strategic asset management, service reviews and systems procurement.
Prior to establishing her own consulting business, Sumi had engineering and executive management experience in the water industry. She is currently a Board member on the Boroondara Cemetery Trust.
Sumi holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), post graduate qualifications in Technology Management and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Institute of Engineers, Australia.
Christopher Rose
Appointed 1st October 2017
Christopher Rose is a Director and Founder of Three Pipe Consulting Pty Ltd, a small consulting firm specialising in delivering economic development through sustainable tourism.
He has more than 30 years’ experience in public land management, 11 years’ executive management experience and acted as Chief Executive Officer of Parks Victoria for one year. Chris is currently a Director of the Game Management Authority and has previously held directorships Victorian Fisheries Authority, Alpine Tourism (Deputy Chair), Destination Gippsland, the Gippsland Coastal Board, and the Alpine Resorts Coordinating Council.
Chris holds a Bachelor of Forest Science. He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Williamson Community Leadership Program.
Jennifer Ryan – BEng(Civil), MBA, GAICD
Appointed 1st October 2019
Jennifer Ryan is a Civil Engineer with a background in construction and project management with more than 25 years’ experience in the water industry. She has held senior leadership positions in both government utility and private construction sectors, delivering multi-million-dollar capital works programs throughout Victoria and ACT.
Jennifer has achieved project and industry awards during her career, including the Civil Contractors Federation Training Awards 2017 Women in Civil Excellence Award, and the NAWIC Awards 2012 (Vic & Tas) for Outstanding Achievement in Construction. She holds a Master of Business Administration (Technology Management), a Bachelor of Civil Engineering and Computing, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Managing Director – Robert Murphy
Robert Murphy is the Managing Director of South Gippsland Water and renowned for his collaborative leadership and large infrastructure program delivery skills.
Rob’s previous executive appointments include Executive Director Transport Assets, Victorian Department of Transport and General Manager Planning and Capital Delivery, Western Water.
Rob is responsible for the direction of South Gippsland Water’s Management Team and the corporate and strategic functions of the organisation.
Rob is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Masters of Business Administration, Post Graduate Diploma in Construction Law and Contract Administration, and a Bachelor of Civil Engineering. Rob joined the Board of Bendigo Community Bank, Inverloch & District in October 2023.
Our Management Team
General Manager Infrastructure and Planning – Mark Lynch
Mark is responsible for service and infrastructure planning, including planning for future water resources and upgrade of water treatment plants and distribution networks. He is also responsible for
wastewater service planning, including future upgrades to wastewater treatment and re-use infrastructure.
Mark’s responsibility also covers working with councils, consultants and developers to ensure that development in our region is supported with water and sewer services.
His team has responsibility for delivery of capital investment to renew, expand and upgrade South Gippsland Water’s infrastructure.
General Manager Service Delivery and Environment – Clare Gibson
Clare leads the team that ensures efficient and effective operation and maintenance of our assets, delivering safe high-quality water and recycled water services to our customers.
Clare’s responsibilities include preventing harm to our environment and compliance with water and wastewater quality guidelines, circular economy, environment and catchment management.
Executive Manager People, Safety and Culture – Ian Mewburn
Ian is responsible for the people and culture functions including our Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity Strategy. Ian’s role extends to the Health, Safety and Wellbeing functions, supporting capability, safety and wellbeing across the business.
Ian’s responsibilities also include providing strategic advice and overseeing training programs, organisational development and payroll.
General Manager Customer, Strategy and Technology – Liz Rowland
Liz is responsible for managing the communication, customer service, strategy, risk, governance and Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) functions. This includes leading our customer-centric culture including customer service and call centre, and community relations and communications including education programs and engagement.
Liz also oversees risk and governance and ICT programs including the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system.
Leading our short and long-term strategic planning, risk and emergency management, the business transformation program, corporate planning, price submission and customer outcomes are within this portfolio.
Liz was Company Secretary until April 2024, when responsibilities were transferred to the Corporate Secretary role within the Office of the Managing Director.
Chief Financial Officer – Tira Jones
Tira is the Chief Financial Officer, overseeing various corporate and commercial functions within the
organisation, including commercial services, finance and procurement.
As Chief Financial Officer, Tira acts as the custodian of South Gippsland Water’s valuable assets and financial resources on behalf of all stakeholders. Tira is accountable for ensuring the maintenance of proper accounting records and systems, as well as other relevant records, in strict accordance with the Standing Directions 2018 under the Financial Management Act 1994. By adhering to these regulatory guidelines, Tira ensures transparency, accountability, and sound financial management practices within the organisation, thereby safeguarding the interests of all stakeholders.