Executive

The Executive Team oversees policy implementation, day-to-day management of our business including the delivery of high level services to our customers.

Executive leadership team

Andrew George - Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director

BE (Hons), FIE Aust, CPEng, EngExec, GAICDAndrew George

Andrew is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of WaterNSW, responsible for managing the state’s dams and bulk water supply infrastructure and servicing a diverse range of customers – including the environment, agriculture, industry and the community, throughout regional NSW and Greater Sydney.

Recognised as an innovative thinker who approaches complex problems with an enquiring and solutions-focused mindset, Andrew has been involved in the strategic transformation of the NSW water sector, both as an Executive of WaterNSW since its inception in 2015, and more recently as CEO and Managing Director since 2020.

Andrew brings a decade of experience in successfully implementing organisational transformation programmes and sector reforms, delivering shareholder, customer and community value in a complex regulatory environment.

With 15 years’ experience in water utilities, Andrew has excelled in leadership roles spanning regulatory and market strategy, government relations, engineering, asset management, and major infrastructure delivery.

Andrew holds a Bachelor of Civil and Environmental Engineering (Honours) from the University of Technology Sydney, is a Fellow of Engineers Australia and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Andrew is also a Director of WaterNSW Infrastructure Pty Ltd.

Joe Pizzinga - Executive Manager - Finance, Legal and Risk

Joe PizzzingaBCom (Acc/LLB), AMP Harvard, Fellow of CPA Australia

Joseph Pizzinga is an experienced financial leader, with a respected catalogue of Chief Financial Officer roles in the utilities industry. Joe’s aptitude for finance and business operations was finessed during his five years as CFO of Ausgrid, and nearly another five years prior to that at Endeavour Energy.

Joe is a Fellow of the Australian Society of Certified Practicing Accountants and has a degree in Commerce, majoring in Accounting and Business Law. Joe has also previously attended Harvard Business School where he undertook Harvard’s Advanced Management Program.

As Executive Manager – Finance, Legal and Risk, Joe works with his team to:

  • manage financial planning, budgeting reporting and governance
  • manage the procurement functions
  • manage the commercial aspects of WaterNSW’s the land and properties holdings, including faciities management
  • provide legal advice, including company secretary responsibilities
  • provide the internal audit and corporate risk management and compliance functions.

Leeanne Chau - Executive Manager Digital and Chief Information Officer

BBus                                                                                                      Leeanne Chau

Leeanne is a people focused leader, well-respected for her depth and breadth of experience across the private and public sectors, combined with a passion to deliver digital-enabled value to capitalise on the opportunities technology and data provide for innovative transformation.

Leeanne has successfully led large-scale transformational initiatives across digital, data and technology and key strategic programs at APA Group, Australian Taxation Office, Ausgrid and Deloitte Consulting.

As Chief Information Officer and Executive Manager – Digital, Leeanne works with her team to:

  • drive digital transformation and ways of working
  • maintain core information technology infrastructure systems, data and policy
  • provide technical expertise on digital initiatives
  • identify and deliver initiatives to enhance our digital services
  • oversee cybersecurity measures and legislative obligations.

David Stockler - Executive Manager - Customer Services

David StocklerCert Bus, Fin & Marketing, GAICD

David is a highly practised leader in the field of customer experience and operations, having developed his skills over many years working in the utilities and telecommunications sectors.

David joined WaterNSW in early 2016 after serving in senior positions at Optus and AGL, amongst others. In addition to his role at WaterNSW, David previously served 6 years as  a non-executive Director of the NSW Energy & Water Ombudsman.

As Executive Manager – Customer Services, David works with his team to:

  • ensure excellence in customer services, communications, and digital capabilities
  • manage customer water ordering, account management requests, issues and complaints
  • manage billing and revenue collection
  • assess and determine customer licence and approval applications and water trading in compliance with regulations.

Fiona Smith - Executive Manager - Strategy and Performance

BSc, MBA, GAICDFiona Smith

Fiona has over 30 years of experience in the water industry and joined WaterNSW upon its formation, having previously worked for the Sydney Catchment Authority. Fiona’s experience includes catchment protection, land management, regulatory and compliance management, sustainability, water planning and management, treatment, distribution, wastewater treatment and reuse.

In addition to her role, Fiona is a Non-Executive Director of Water Research Australia.

As Executive Manager – Strategy and Performance, Fiona and her team work to:

  • develop WaterNSW’s corporate strategy including monitoring and reporting
  • lead the long-term operations strategy on science, assets and water management
  • coordinate IPART submissions and related issues like operating licence audits and reviews
  • develop and advise on regulatory and policy proposals and reforms
  • drive transformation projects in collaboration with other portfolios, monitor and report
  • set key operational and strategic indicators in collaboration with other portfolios to proactively manage performance and report on their results
  • manage environmental planning and sustainability initiatives.

Ronan Magaharan - Executive Manager - Operations

BE (Elec), BSc (Comp)Ronan Magaharan

Ronan is an experienced leader in operations, water planning, engineering, asset management, and major infrastructure delivery. His experience has been gained predominantly in the water and power generation industries.

Joining WaterNSW in early 2016 as Manager, Asset Maintenance and Services, Ronan was promoted to the position of Executive Manager Assets at WaterNSW in December 2018. Prior to WaterNSW, he worked at Snowy Hydro for eight years in a variety of engineering and senior management roles.

As Executive Manager – Operations, Ronan and his team work to:

  • manage assets (built infrastructure and natural assets such as land) and water systems to secure and deliver water supply to customers
  • analyse demand and supply to ensure the on time and efficient delivery of water
  • respond to incidents where direct water supply is affected (such as floods, droughts and heavy rainfall) to ensure continued safe water supply and operation of assets
  • monitor and maintain safe, high-quality water
  • continuously improve operations to strive for excellence.

Beth Winchester - Executive Manager - Safety, People & Culture

BComm, CPA                                                                                        Beth Winchester

Beth is an experienced senior leader across multiple business functions.  After several finance roles within the Lend Lease Group, Beth transitioned into human resources, holding positions that included Regional and Global leadership responsibilities. Beth then became Executive General Manager People & Culture for Fuji Xerox Australia Pty Ltd where she was responsible for the Human Resources, Internal Communications and Property portfolios of the Australian operations for 12 years.

Beth has held a number of volunteer committee and board positions including serving on the KU Board for a 5-year term.

As Executive Manager – Safety, People and Culture, Beth and her team work to:

  • deliver people and culture operations such as policies, payroll, recruitment framework
  • lead strategic projects and functions such as employee engagement, workforce planning, industrial relations strategy, fostering positive employee relations in order to create a strong performance culture
  • develop and deliver learning and development frameworks and capability uplift programs for all employees
  • develop work health and safety policies, procedures and standards and ensure they are implemented across WaterNSW.

Clair Cameron – Executive Manager, Corporate Affairs

Clair Cameron

BA Comm, MHL

A highly practised senior leader, Clair has over 20 years’ experience leading Communications, Stakeholder Engagement and Public Affairs teams working on complex projects in the private and public sectors.

Clair is passionate about listening and engaging stakeholders at all levels and advising at a strategic level on issues management and communications. Prior to joining WaterNSW, Clair spent six years in leadership roles at the NSW Environment Protection Authority. Prior to that she led communications functions for organisations including Meat and Livestock Australia and FTI Consulting.

As Executive Manager – Corporate Affairs, Clair works with her team to:

  • safeguard and build Water NSW’s brand and reputation
  • lead WaterNSW’s engagement with stakeholders and the community
  • manage engagement with industry, government and First Nations communities
  • provide community education
  • manage WaterNSW’s internal and external communications.
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WaterNSW acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands and waters on which we work and pay our respects to all elders past, present and emerging. Learn more