Leadership Team

Our Board

Our board and executive leaders bring diverse expertise to the organisation, bringing national and international capabilities from a range of professional and governance sectors.

They drive GAWB’s strategic direction, provide effective governance and ensure our service is provided in accordance with our company values and as a committed member of the Gladstone community.

Maxine Brushe

Maxine Brushe MAICD
Chair

Ms Brushe was appointed the Chair on 22 August 2019 for a term of 3 years. Ms Brushe served as a councillor on the Calliope Shire Council and the Gladstone Regional Council for a total of 21 years (including five as Deputy Mayor) and has contributed to a wide range of community organisations over the past two decades. Ms Brushe has over 25 years’ experience as a Board and Committee Chair in the regional promotion and development sector.

Aurelia Noran

MBA; FEAust; BE(Mech); MAIPM; MAICD
Director

Ms Noran was appointed to the Board as a Director on 22 August 2019 for a term of 3 years. Ms Noran is a Fellow of Engineers Australia and has qualifications in business (MBA) and auditing. She has over 25 years’ experience in project, program and portfolio management in the public and private sectors and has managed risk audits and major developments for projects such as the engineering coordination for the Airport Link and Northern Busway Project. Ms Noran is a Director and Principal Consultant for her own consultancy business, focusing on business and project management, services for sustainability as well as engineering related projects.

Prof. Poh-Ling Tan

LLB (Hons) U. Malaya; LLB (1st class Hons); QUT; PhD, ANU; MAICD
Director

Prof. Tan was appointed a Director on 22 August 2019 for a term of 2 years. Prof. Tan has strong legal, analytical, oral and written communication skills gained over 35 years of work in legal practice and academia. Her research has focused on water reform in Australia, investigating real-life issues facing communities, stakeholders and water agencies. She has been invited to provide policy advice leading to outcomes on national, regional and local scales.

Tina Zawila

CA, GAICD, BBus(Acct) CQU, GradDipFinPlan Kaplan, FIML
Director

Ms Zawila was appointed to the Board as a Director on 9 December 2021 for a term of three years.

Ms Zawila has more than 30 years’ experience practicing as a Chartered Accountant and Director of UHY Haines Norton CQ Pty Ltd in Gladstone, Queensland. She successfully attained a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) with Distinction from Central Queensland University; a Diploma of Financial Planning; is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is a Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders.

Ms Zawila holds non-Executive Director roles with the Gladstone Airport Corporation and the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service, as well as various voluntary roles for local not-for-profit organisations in the Gladstone region.

Peter Masters

MBA; FEAust; BE(Mech); MAIPM; MAICD
Director

Mr Masters was appointed to the Board as a Director on 29 June 2021 for a term of three years. Mr Masters is currently a General Manager for a local transport, mechanical and plant hire company. He is a well-known Gladstone Industry figure, having worked for both public and private organisations, in management and purchasing roles. Mr Masters has an extensive history working with and leading community-based not-for-profit organisations and sporting clubs.

Our executive team

Darren Barlow

BCom, MBA (Adv), FCPA, FAICD, Dip Fin Serv, MAIPIO, SA Fin

Chief Executive Officer

Darren joined GAWB as Chief Executive Officer in March 2018. Darren has extensive leadership and executive experience, having held senior roles in commercial, financial, strategic and business transformation areas across the public and private sectors. Darren was previously the Chief Executive Officer of the Residential Tenancies Authority and has held a range of senior executive positions at Aurizon, Master Builders Association of Queensland and Ergon Energy.

Hugh Barbour

CPA, BBus (Acct), GAICD

Chief Operating Officer – Gladstone-Fitzroy Pipeline

Hugh has extensive experience in project development, financial management, contract management and negotiation in the mining and energy industries. Hugh has led multi-disciplinary teams in the performance review of significant assets and evaluation of acquisitions and asset improvements. Hugh is responsible for GAWB’s continued operational sustainability as a reliable water provider through the development of the Gladstone to Fitzroy Pipeline project. Hugh previously held the position of Chief Financial Officer at GAWB since March 2016.

Angela Moody

BEcon, BA, MProfEcon, GradDipAppFin, GAICD

Chief Financial Officer

Angela was appointed to the role of Chief Financial Officer on 31 May 2021. Angela has extensive experience in economic regulation, strategy, stakeholder engagement, governance, commercial analysis and institutional reform. Before joining GAWB, Angela was a consultant for 10 years advising private sector and Government clients on a range of issues relating to economic regulation, policy development and strategy development. Angela was previously GAWB’s Regulation and Planning Manager.

Robin Bates

LLB (Hons) GradDipACG, AGIA, ACIS, GAICD

Chief Governance Officer

Robin commenced with GAWB in February 2017. Before joining GAWB, Robin held the position of Managing Partner with a Central Queensland law firm. Robin has extensive experience in commercial law, insurance and litigation. She brings managerial expertise to the role together with post-graduate qualifications in corporate governance, compliance and risk management.

Catherine Byers

BBus (HR)

General Manager – People & Culture

Catherine joined GAWB in June 2018, bringing with her a proven track record and extensive experience in human resource management, industrial relations, and organisational development, applied across both the public sector and Government Owned Corporation environments. Catherine’s pragmatic approach is complimentary to her twenty years of experience working at an operational and strategic level.

Greg Clarke

PMP, CPPM, MAIPM, DipCivil, GradCertProjProgMgt

General Manager – Capital

Greg commenced with GAWB in May 2019. Greg has extensive experience in all aspects of project, program and portfolio management having held roles across a range of sectors including operations, environment, government, aviation and technology. Greg has a strong track record of leading multi-disciplinary teams to successful project delivery ensuring adherence to safety and quality.

Glen Harsh

General Manager – Network (Acting)

Glen joined GAWB in January 2022 from Cloncurry Shire Council where he was responsible for the provision of water and sewerage services across the Shires’ area of operations. As well as maintaining business continuity during his tenure Glen will continue the outworking of the network BU Reform Program.

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