Our Board

A G (Tony) Wright Dip Tech, MBA

Tony Wright

Chairman since 1 July 2004
External Directorships

  • Joint Managing Director, Wright Corporate Strategy Pty Ltd
  • Chairman, BioTrack Australia Pty Ltd
  • Deputy Chairman, NSW EPA Board
  • Partner, Corymbia Creek Angus
  • Chairman, NSW Reference Group on Extended Producer Responsibility
  • Member, National Advisory Council for Environment Business Australia
  • Member, Barton Group

Tony is a Managing Director of a corporate strategy and public policy advisory firm,
specialising in resource and infrastructure management. His career focus has been
running utilities and developing infrastructure covering water, waste and transport
industries.
Tony has played a significant role in developing the Australian environment
management industry through leadership positions in the industry association,
Environment Business Australia. Much of Tony’s recent work has been in guiding
reform of solid waste management. He has chaired three public inquiries and helped
shape the strategy and legislation for sustainable waste management at state and
national levels.


Michael Bennett BAgEcos (UNE)

Mike Bennett

Director since 1 July 2004
External Directorships

  • Director, Bennett Nominees Pty Ltd
  • Director, Killowen, Pty Ltd
  • Director, Collyburl Pty Ltd
  • Director, NSW Irrigators’ Council
  • Director, Dataspan Pty Ltd
  • Executive Member, Macquarie River Food and Fibre
  • Chair, Macquarie-Cudgegong State Water CSC

Michael operates a 2,700ha property that produces cereals, sheep, cattle and cotton
at Narromine, NSW. He has been actively involved in consultation with water users
and governments over natural resource management issues at regional, state and
Murray-Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) level.
In addition, Michael has been involved with numerous advisory committees and
boards developing NSW water policy since the mid-1980s.

Catherine Bolger BEc, MLLR

Catherine Bolger

Director since 1 August 2007
External Directorships

  • Director, Powercoal Employees Entitlements Company Pty Ltd

Catherine is a Director of the Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists, and
Managers, Australia.
In her senior role in the union, Catherine has helped to shape a strong vibrant
voice for the interests of professional employees.
Her primary areas of expertise are industrial relations and occupational health and
safety matters, as well as management.
Catherine also has a special interest in corporate and regulatory compliance,
developed during her recent time as a director of a large industry superannuation
fund.

Kathleen Bowmer BSc(Hons), PhD(Nott), FAICD

Kathleen Bowmer

Director since 1 October 2004

Kath has worked in irrigation research and aquatic ecology with CSIRO for most
of her career.
Honours include the Eureka Prize for Environmental Science.
She was previously Deputy Chief of CSIRO Water Resources, Business Director
of CSIRO Land and Water, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Charles Sturt University,
board member of several Co-operative Research Centres and Chair of the
Murrumbidgee River Management Committee.
Kath currently holds the position of Professor of Water Policy at Charles Sturt
University and is an Honorary Research Fellow with CSIRO Land and Water.

Col Gellatly AO BAgEcos(Hons), MComm(Hons), PhD

Col Gellatly

Director since 16 July 2007
External Directorships

  • Director, Col Gellatly and Associates Pty Ltd
  • Chair, Redfern Waterloo Authority
  • Chair, Pillar Corporation
  • Member of Council, University of New England

Col finished a distinguished career in the NSW Public Sector in May 2007.
His final position was Director General of the Department of Premier and
Cabinet. Col had been a CEO for 18 years including time as Director-General of
Premiers Department, Director-General of the Department of Land and Water
Conservation, and Director-General of the Department of Industrial Relations,
Employment, Training and Further Education.
Col is involved in a variety of roles in both the public and private sectors
as a consultant, advisor and board member. He is currently Chair of the
Redfern Waterloo Authority and Chair of Pillar Corporation (superannuation
administration), while also a member of the Council of the University of New
England and a member of the UNE Foundation. He recently chaired the NSW
Government’s Ethanol Taskforce and the NSW Government’s Rural and Regional
Taskforce.

Don Marples BCom, MCom, FFin, GAICD

Don Marples

Director since 24 April 2006
External Directorships

  • Director Fortius Funds Management Pty Ltd
  • Director MPC Funding Ltd

Don is a senior management professional with 22 years experience in strategic
leadership in banking, merchant banking and major corporations, with particular
emphasis on property and infrastructure.
He has led, grown and repositioned value added financial and investment
businesses in a high performance environment.
Don is the Joint Managing Director of Fortius Funds Management a specialist
institutional property funds management group.
Previously, Don was the General Manager and Global Head of Project and
Infrastructure with the Commonwealth Bank and has held senior positions with
Lend Lease Corporation Ltd and ANZ Banking Group.

Anne Thompson BBus, LLB, GradDip Leg Prac

Anne Thompson

Director since 15 February 2008

Anne is a solicitor with Boyd and Longhurst Solicitors in Orange.
Previously, she was a union official with the Australian Workers’ Union as
Central West Regional Organiser and she also held the position of National Vice-
President.
Anne has completed a Bachelor of Business degree, a Bachelor of Laws degree
and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice.
She has been admitted as a solicitor in both the Supreme Court of NSW and the
High Court of Australia.

George Warne B Build, MAICD

George Warne

Chief Executive Officer
Director since 6 December 2007

George Warne was appointed CEO of State Water Corporation in 2007.
Prior to his appointment, George spent 15 years as General Manager and CEO of
Murray Irrigation Limited.
As head of Australia’s largest irrigation corporation (and State Water’s largest
customer) he developed a strong reputation in the industry and faced many of
the same issues State Water has addressed since corporatisation in 2004.
George’s introduction to State Water has involved trips to many of the
organisation’s 42 offices and discussions with nearly all of the organisation’s
350 employees as State Water puts in place plans for a new, more streamlined,
structure with a strong focus on customer service.