Our Board
Our Board of Directors oversees our organisation’s policies, management and performance. The Board sets our strategic direction, and ensures we achieve our business and regulatory commitments.
Hunter Water’s Board of Directors has been appointed under the Hunter Water Act 1991. The Board comprises of up to nine members, including the Managing Director (Chief Executive Officer), Chairperson and seven independent Directors.
Darren Cleary
Managing Director
Initial Appointment Date: 29 April 2020
Current Term of Appointment: 29 April 2024 - 27 April 2029
Darren Cleary is Hunter Water’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. He is an accomplished water professional with more than 30 years of experience working for utilities in the sector including in strategic planning, government relations, infrastructure planning, capital delivery and operations.
Darren is a member of the Advisory Board for the Newcastle Institute of Energy and Resources, and a previous Director of the Committee for the Hunter.
Prior to being appointed Managing Director, Darren held a number of executive roles at Hunter Water including Chief Investment Officer, Executive Manager of Strategy and Planning, and Chief Operating Officer.
He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Environmental) with Honours from the University of NSW and a Masters of Engineering Management from the University of Technology Sydney.
Geoff Crowe
Chair (26 June 2024 - 24 June 2025)
Initial Appointment Date: 31 August 2020
Current Term of Appointment: 31 August 2023 - 30 August 2026
Geoff Crowe is an experienced director and senior leader across the ports, shipping, resources and logistics sectors. He has held Chief Executive Officer and senior executive roles throughout the Hunter region, including at the Port of Newcastle, Port Waratah Coal Services, Coal and Allied, and BHP
In addition to his role as Interim Chair of Hunter Water, Geoff is an independent member of the Sydney Trains Safety and Environmental Sustainability SubCommittee. He is a past Director of the Hunter Business Chamber, Hunter Valley Coal Chain Coordinator, Ports Australia and the University of Newcastle Advisory Board.
Geoff has significant expertise in commercial, legal, operations, logistics, safety, projects, change management, strategy setting and logistics. He was heavily involved in the coal industry’s development of the logistics framework – the Capacity Framework Arrangement, and led the development of the Port of Newcastle’s diversification strategy.
Geoff holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Newcastle, is a Fellow of the Certified Practising Accountants Australia, and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Michelle Vanzella
Non-executive Director
Initial Appointment Date: 22 February 2018
Current Term of Appointment: 22 February 2024 - 21 February 2025
Michelle Vanzella has an extensive combination of customer, marketing, digital, data and commercial legal skills built across multiple industries including technology, retail, property and financial services.
In addition to her role for Hunter Water, Michelle is currently an independent Non-executive Director of Collaborate Corporation (ASX:CL8), holding roles as Chair of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee and member of the Audit and Risk Committee. She is also a Non-executive Director at Abbotsleigh School and member of the Strategic Planning Committee.
Michelle practiced Corporate and Commercial Law at Allens and has held senior executive positions with iconic Australian brands including Westfield, Suncorp and AAMI. She was also previously an independent Non-executive Director of Canteen Australia and Chair of the People and Performance Committee.
Michelle holds a Bachelor of Economics, Bachelor of Laws with Honours, Master of Business Administration, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Eric De Rooy
Non-executive Director
Initial Appointment Date: 25 August 2020
Current Term of Appointment: 28 August 2023 - 27 August 2026
Eric De Rooy is a water industry professional with more than 40 years of experience, predominantly with Sydney Water, ensuring the delivery of essential water-related products and services to more than five million people. He operated as a key member of the Sydney Water executive team, and was directly accountable for the organisation’s commercial, customer-focused operations and compliance outcomes.
Eric has extensive experience and skills in asset management/investment, strategic business planning, business development and risk management.
Eric was previously an appointed member of Dam Safety NSW, helping to govern the introduction of the new regulatory approach to dam safety on behalf of the public of NSW. He was also a Non-executive Director for Scripture Union NSW, where he served as Deputy Chair of the Board, Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee, and member of the Risk Working Group.
Eric holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil), a Master of Business Administration and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Julie Savet Ward
Non-executive Director
Initial Appointment Date: 1 March 2021
Current Term of Appointment: 11 March 2024 - 28 February 2027
Julie Savet Ward has more than 25 years of experience on government, private sector and not-for-profit boards, including significant experience as a chairperson. Julie was a member of the NSW Environment Protection Authority Board for nine years, chair of Link Housing for 10 years and chair of SGS Economics and Planning for six years. She is an advisory board member of Arcadia Landscape Architecture.
Julie has an environmental planning, assessment and management background, and has spent more than 35 years working in planning, construction, management, determination and delivery of large-scale infrastructure and property projects. She has significant experience in, and a deep passion for, water infrastructure. Julie was a State Member of the Sydney North Planning Panel until December 2022, determining regionally significant development applications of $30-100million in value. She is chair of a number of local planning panels.
Julie holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Physical Geography with Honours, and a Master of Landscape Planning, both from the University of New South Wales. Julie was a finalist in the 1998 Telstra Business Women’s Awards and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Donna-Maree Vinci
Non-executive Director
Initial Appointment Date: 21 March 2022
Current Term of Appointment: 21 March 2022 - 20 March 2025
Donna-Maree Vinci has extensive experience in board directorships, strategy, business, operations, risk management, governance data and digital technology, and a strong track record delivering digital disruption and transformation projects for major financial services organisations globally. This combination enables her to play a key role in business transformation, especially in digitisation, creating new customer experiences, and in adapting to remain relevant, sustainable and competitive.
Donna is also a Non-executive Director of Newcastle Greater Mutual Group, Western Sydney Airport, Capricorn Society, MS Plus, Hunter Medical Research Institute and Oakhill College.
Donna previously held senior leadership positions at Bank of Queensland, IAG, GenVis (startup), Westpac’s Institutional Bank and Citigroup.
Donna is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Competent Boards (Sustainability and ESG Leadership Certificate and Designation) and certified as a Fellow with the Governance Institute of Australia. In 2019 Donna was awarded Cisco’s Women in IT CIO of the Year award.
Elizabeth Crouch
Non-executive Director
Initial Appointment Date: 1 April 2024
Current Term of Appointment: 1 April 2024 - 31 March 2027
Elizabeth Crouch AM is an experienced company director having held directorships in the public, private and not for profit sectors. She currently chairs the boards of the Customer Owned Banking Association, the Sydney Children’s Hospital Network, Hearing Australia, Ochre Health and Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese Ltd, and is the Emerita Deputy Chancellor of Macquarie University. Elizabeth also sits on the boards of the NSW Institute of Sport and Health Infrastructure, and chairs audit and risk committees for the State Emergency Service and NSW Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport.
With a background in economics, public policy and cyber security, Elizabeth had an early career with the Australian Government before being appointed as the Chief Executive of the Housing Industry Association. She has chaired the boards of several government business enterprises including RailCorp, the Public Transport Ticketing Corporation and now Hearing Australia, and delivered major infrastructure projects including the OPAL network for transport in NSW.
Elizabeth is a respected executive coach and mentor with the Orijen Group and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She holds a Bachelor of Economics and a Master of Cyber Security and was awarded an Order of Australia for services to higher education and the rail transport sector.
Laura Hails
Company Secretary and General Counsel
Laura has extensive experience in private practice and in-house legal roles, specialising in the construction, transport and infrastructure sectors.
At Hunter Water, Laura oversees the legal, board and governance functions.
Laura has a Bachelor of Finance and Bachelor of Laws/Diploma of Legal Practice (Class 1 Honours) from University of Newcastle and Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance from the Governance Institute.