The Board of SA Water is responsible for the overall corporate governance of the Corporation including approving the strategic direction and values, monitoring performance and evaluating senior management.

The Board meets monthly and is supported by a number of committees established to assist the Board with its responsibilities covering audit, asset management and remuneration matters.

Lew Owens, Chairman
Chairman of the Board since July 2011

Lew is a Reconciliation Ambassador in South Australia, with a particular interest in indigenous employment initiatives. He is also Chair of the SA Country Trust, Chair of the University of Adelaide Business School Advisory Board, a director of Petratherm Ltd and Regional Arts Australia Ltd, a member of the Resources and Energy Sector Infrastructure Council and a member of the City of Marion Audit Committee. He is also a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Australian Institute of Energy.

Lew was Chairman of the Essential Services Commission of South Australia (2002 to 2005), responsible for regulating the SA electricity and gas industries, intra-state and Darwin railways, ports and urban water pricing. He was CEO of WorkCover Corporation and Funds SA in the 1990s and later CEO of ETSA (2005 to 2010). Lew has served as an associate Commissioner on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Energy Committee and was also the South Australian Independent Industry Regulator for the State's electricity industry.

 

With a background in the Riverland district, Karlene has extensive experience in water policy and reform. She also has substantial experience in high level strategic planning, major infrastructure planning and investment, change management and governance. From 1997 to 2010 Karlene was Member for Chaffey in the South Australian Parliament. From 2004 to 2010 she was a Cabinet member holding various portfolios including Consumer Affairs, Regional Development, Small Business, Science and Information Economy, Water Security and the River Murray. Karlene is currently a director of Maywald Consultants Pty Ltd and a member of the Murray Darling Basin Authority Testing Committee, Sturt Fleurieu GPET Management Committee, and the Australian Research Council Project Steering Committee - Green Growth in Australia.

Sybella Blencowe
BA, MTP, LLB, GDLP
Non-executive director since July 2008

Sybella has been in private legal practice for 21 years specialising in environment, planning and local government law. She was a partner in national commercial law firms before establishing her own specialist law firm. She has been chair of the South Australian Forestry Corporation, Director of SAGRIC International Pty Ltd, Chair of the Abalone Fisheries Management Committee and Deputy Presiding Member of the Natural Resources Management Council. She was Presiding Member of the City of Marion Development Assessment Panel and Member of the Major Developments Panel. She is currently a Member of the City of Adelaide Development Assessment Panel. Sybella is a member of the Board's Asset Management Committee and Human Resources Committee.

Hon Frank Blevins
Non-Executive Director since December 2002

Frank was elected to the SA Legislative Council in 1975 and to the House of Assembly in 1985. He served the State as Deputy Premier and across a range of Ministerial portfolios including Treasury, Mineral Resources, Transport and Agriculture and Fisheries for ten of his twenty two years in Parliament. Having held senior government Ministries over many years, Frank brings valuable knowledge and experience, particularly in the field of economics and finance. Frank chairs the Board’s Audit Committee.

Catherine Cooper
LLB, GDLP
Non-executive director since July 2008

Combining a legal and business background, Catherine has strong expertise in areas including strategic planning, project management, business re-engineering, corporate governance and change management. She has extensive executive management experience across a broad industry base that includes Fosters Brewing Group, Elders Ltd and Bendigo Bank. At a board level, Catherine has had wide involvement as both Chairperson and Director for a number of organisations, including Minda Inc, Dairy Authority of SA and Fisheries Council of SA. She is also Chair of the Fleurieu Regional Waste Authority. Catherine is a member of the Board’s Audit Committee.

John Ringham
BSc (Hons), MBA, Dip Geotech (UK) FIEAust, MCIWEM, MAICD
As Chief Executive of SA Water, John Ringham is also a member of the Board.