Executive leadership team

Jo Murdoch was appointed as Managing Director of North East Water in January 2022.

An experienced senior executive, Jo has a proven record of driving business transformation, innovation and operational excellence.

Jo is a Deputy Chair of the Ovens Murray Regional Partnership, Chair of the Victorian Intelligent Water Network, Deputy Chair of the Vic Water Managing Directors Forum and a member of the Water Services Association of Australia national Strategy and Policy Committee.

Prior to North East Water, Jo held executive roles at Barwon Water in Geelong and Yarra City Council in Melbourne. While in Geelong Jo was a member of the Committee for Geelong Board, and Deputy Chair of the G21 Geelong Region Alliance Health and Wellbeing Pillar. While in Melbourne, Jo served on the Board of LGPro and the Local Government Management Australia.

Jo has post graduate qualifications including an MBA, is an accredited Evolve Communities Ally, and is IAP2 certified. She was also recognised in the Institute of Public Administration Australia’s Top 50 Public Sector Women Awards for 2022 for her leadership commitment and contribution during the COVID-19 crisis.

As a North East Water Director, she is also an ex-officio member of the People and Culture Committee, Transformation and Major Projects Committee, and Opportunity and Risk Committee.

As General Manager Environment, Systems & Operations, John oversees the critical functions of water and wastewater treatment systems (management and delivery), as well the mechanical and electrical planning and delivery teams.

John has more than 25 years of experience in water and wastewater operational and asset management roles, both in the water, pulp and paper, and petrochemical industries.

Additionally, John is a former director of the Water Industry Operators Association and is a member of the Institute of Water Administration, Australian Water Association.

John is the current lead for the VicWater Workforce Readiness project and the lead for Intelligent Water Networks Circular Economy Gas project investigating hydrogen and biomethane processe

Marni has over 20 years of leadership and human resources experience, with the last 15 years in the government and water sector.

Leading the Customer and Culture units, Marni manages the teams responsible for customer service including billing, customer insights, hardship and support services, as well as the People and Culture unit including OHS, return to work, recruitment, employee and industrial relations, learning and development, payroll, and wellbeing.

A major focus for Marni is to ensure that our customers receive caring, effective and efficient services when interacting with North East Water and that our staff work, grow and develop in a safe and supportive workplace culture.

Marni holds tertiary qualifications in Human Resource Management, Training and Development, Management and Leadership and Health Science and is a member of the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI) and the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD).

Nicholas is responsible for the functions of finance, economic regulation, corporate strategy and governance, enterprise programs and procurement, risk and internal audit, industrial and commercial customers, community engagement, and business performance reporting.

Nicholas brings strong analytical and problem-solving skills to the business with over 20 years’ experience in senior financial management roles in the water and government sector. Nicholas has implemented a number of key business initiatives to transform the way we work with a focus on driving business efficiencies.

Nicholas holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting), is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Guy is a leader in public sector strategy, planning, policy and governance with a passion for environmental sustainability and building thriving communities.

Along with his role at North East Water, he is also a member of the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) Utility Excellence Committee and the VicWater Safety Executive Group.

He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD) having been appointed on the basis as a person who has contributed greatly to Australian governance.

Guy has enhanced his public sector experience with non-executive director roles at Westernport Water and the Yarra Energy Foundation.

His qualifications include a degree in Civil Engineering and Graduate Diplomas in Business Administration and Commercial Law.