George Warne, Chief Executive Officer NVIRP
George Warne has been appointed interim CEO to undertake the transition of NVIRP’s merge with Goulburn-Murray Water. George has taken a leading role in the rural water sector and brings strong change management skills to the organisation. He was formerly general manager of Murray Irrigation Limited and more recently the chief executive of NSW’s rural bulk delivery business – State Water.
Merrill Boyd, Executive Manager Communications
Merrill is a southern Riverina irrigator with a journalism background who has engaged with irrigators and the Murray Valley irrigation community for over 10 years. She was previously involved in promotion, corporate communications and brand management for agricultural industries and food products. Merrill managed major water and engineering conferences for the Australian National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage and was also a member of the MDBC Community Reference Group providing advice for the Living Murray project.
Harry De Jong, Executive Manager Governance and Corporate Planning
Harry specialises in governance, project delivery, providing executive support to Boards and contract and budget management. A member of the group that established NVIRP, Harry has held senior management roles both within the public and private sectors focusing on energy and water. He has worked on state and Commonwealth major projects including the Water Smart Australia program and Wimmera Mallee Pipeline Project. Harry is an affiliated member of the Australian Chartered Institute of Company Secretaries.
Betty Edwards, Executive Manager Finance and Business Services
Betty's career has spanned 30 years and included senior management positions in both public and private sector organisations. She was previously Chief Financial Officer of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, responsible for finance, property, security and procurement. Other previous positions have included National Finance Manager for Cooperative Retirement Services, General Manager Finance and Administration for Great Southern Railway and Chief Financial Officer for InTACT. Betty is a Fellow of CPA Australia.
David Kent, Executive Manager Modernisation
David has been involved with irrigation and water delivery for over 25 years, working within the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District. He was previously Goulburn-Murray Water Area Manager at Pyramid-Boort, where he was involved in a number of key projects including the Waranga Western Main Channel upgrade, the Normanville Pipeline Project and the Pyramid-Boort Future Management Strategy. This strategy was the forerunner for modernisation programs in the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District.
Ross Plunkett, Executive Manager Planning
Ross has worked in the water industry for 30 years in technical and operational roles. He was previously Technical Services Manager with Goulburn-Murray Water, responsible for irrigation design, project management, asset management and technical services. Ross also previously managed Modernisation Planning within Goulburn-Murray Water, where he was responsible for developing business cases and water savings estimates for modernisation projects that were forerunner to projects such as NVIRP.
Garry Seaborne, Executive Manager Capital Works
Garry's 30 year career has focussed on the successful delivery of heavy engineering and civil construction projects throughout Australia and internationally. He previously held Project Director roles with the Victorian Desalination Plant, Australian Synchrotron and replacement of the nuclear research reactor (OPAL). Garry was also Proposal and Project Manager for the ANZAC Ship Project. He is a current Board Member of the Department of Defence, Defence Materiel Organisation, Maritime Systems Domain Assurance Board.