Our Board
Melbourne Water's Board of Directors currently comprises a non-executive chairman, seven non-executive directors and the Managing Director.
Cheryl Batagol
Chairman
Cheryl Batagol was appointed Chairman on 1 January 2004. Ms Batagol has over 30 years experience in the waste management industry, including commercial, industrial and trade waste management and treatment. She is Deputy Chair of Sustainability Victoria and was previously Chair of EcoRecycle Victoria and a director of City West Water and Southern Rural Water. Ms Batagol is a member of the Victorian Sustainability Advisory Committee. Ms Batagol has also been on EPA Victoria's Environment Council and the Board of the Co-operative Research Centre for Pollution Control and Waste Management.
Rob Skinner
Managing Director
Rob Skinner was appointed Managing Director of Melbourne Water in February 2005 and is currently a board member of the Water Services Association of Australia. He is actively involved in a number of innovative sustainability initiatives in Melbourne and has been a leading figure in Victoria's water sensitive urban development programs. Prior to joining Melbourne Water, he was Chief Executive Officer of Kingston City Council for ten years, during which time he held a number of key positions in the water sector including Chairperson of Southern Rural Water and Chair of the Victorian Stormwater Advisory Committee. Other senior appointments have included Chief Executive Officer of Dandenong Valley and Western Port Authority, Chief Executive of the Coode Island Review Panels and Manager of Parliament and Government in the Department of Premier and Cabinet. Mr Skinner has also initiated a number of collaborative relationships between Melbourne Water and agencies in Singapore, the United Kingdom, China, Israel and Timor Leste.
Bruce Cohen
Director
Bruce Cohen was re-appointed to the board on 1 October 2008. Dr Cohen was previously a member of the Board from January to August 2007. Dr Cohen is a barrister and a principal in private practice in the area of public policy. He is a director of VicTrack and has previously served as a Commissioner to the Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission and on the boards of VENCorp and Snowy Hydro Limited.
Peter Darvall
Director
Peter Darvall was appointed to the board on 1 January 2004. Professor Darvall was previously the Vice-Chancellor and President of Monash University as well as Vice-President for Research and Development and Dean of Engineering at Monash. He has served on the boards of many research organisations, including the Co-operative Research Centres for Catchment Hydrology, Water Quality and Treatment, and Freshwater Ecology.
Mary Anne Hartley
Director
Mary Anne Hartley was appointed to the board on 1 July 2002. Ms Hartley, a practising barrister, is a director of the Port of Melbourne Corporation and a director of Gascor Ltd. She was a partner in a national law firm where she advised public hospitals and practised insurance law before joining the Victorian Bar.
Warren Hodgson
Director
Warren Hodgson was appointed to the board on 1 July 2008. Mr Hodgson was previously Secretary, Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development, and prior to that Under Secretary, Department of Treasury and Finance. Mr Hodgson has a background in the manufacturing industry, qualifications in science and engineering, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Merran Kelsall
Director
Merran Kelsall was appointed to the board on 1 January 2001. Ms Kelsall, an independent company director and consultant, has considerable experience in financial services, health and utilities. She is a former partner in a chartered accounting firm.
Terry Larkins
Director
Terry Larkins was appointed to the board on 1 January 2004. Mr Larkins was appointed Chairman of Western Water in 2001. He has extensive experience in the water industry and local government and has been CEO of the Shire of Gisborne and Secretary of the former Gisborne Water Board.
Peter Vines
Director
Peter Vines was appointed to the board on 4 October, 2005. Mr Vines recently retired as Executive General Manager, Origin Energy Ltd. He has extensive experience in executive and senior management positions within the energy and infrastructure sector, holding directorships in various utility companies in Australia and internationally.