The Australian Water Association (AWA) recently convened its Annual General Meeting, during which significant changes were announced regarding the Board of Directors. Four new individuals were officially approved to join the Board, with their terms set to commence in May 2025, following the conclusion of Ozwater’25.
Kevin Werksman (SUEZ) is poised to take on the prominent role of President after Ozwater’25, bringing his vision and leadership skills to the position. Meanwhile, seasoned members Shelley Shepherd (Urbaqua and Stormwater Western Australia), Clare Porter (Sydney Water), and Chris Bulloch (Urban Utilities) will continue their dedication to the Board, providing continuity and experience in their roles.
Peter Dennis will serve as Immediate Past President for one year, contributing his insights and expertise to the Board until Ozwater ’26.
The AWA is pleased to welcome four new directors: Nina Braid (Yarra Valley Water and Trust for Nature), Glenn Stockton (Sunwater), Amy Dysart (Department of Environment, Parks, and Water Security, Northern Territory), and Rod Naylor (GHD). They will join the Board after Ozwater’25. Their unique perspectives and backgrounds are expected to enrich the discussions and decisions that shape the organization’s future.
As part of this transition, the AWA acknowledges the invaluable contributions of departing Directors Dr Sandra Hall (Water Stewardship Asia Pacific), Daniel Sullivan (Iota Services), and Eric Vanweydeveld (Aquanex), who will complete their tenure after Ozwater’25. The association is grateful for their exceptional service and commitment to advancing water management in Australia.
The AGM also included the presentation of the AWA Annual Report 2023-24, with President Peter Dennis lauding the association’s efforts in the past financial year.
“What a remarkable year for AWA. I’ve never seen an era like this, with massive investment in water while rethinking resilience, water solutions that are regenerative by nature, how we decarbonise the water cycle and deal with aging assets, all while keeping water affordable for customers,” Dennis said. “AWA continues to provide a catalyst for our members to connect and work through these important challenges and a forum for the important conversations we need to have.”
Australian Water Association Chief Executive Corinne Cheeseman thanked members for their continued engagement, enthusiasm and feedback.
“We value the feedback from our members, and this year’s survey highlighted the sense of belonging and networking opportunities AWA provides. Our continued efforts to enhance member satisfaction have been fruitful, and our Strategy’25 reflects this focus,” she said. “As we work on our next Strategy for 2030, member feedback is vital. We’ll soon release a survey to gather insights on where AWA is performing well and what areas our members want us to expand.”
Are you interested in learning more about the Association’s achievements over the past 12 months? You can take a look at the Annual Report 2023-24 here.
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