The board
The Board sets the overall policy, strategy and direction of WaterNSW.
Chair
The Hon. Craig Knowles AM, FVLE(Econ), FVLE(Val)
Commenced: August 2026
The Hon. Craig Knowles AM has extensive experience across government, infrastructure, water management and international trade. He served as Australian Consul General and Senior Trade Commissioner to New Zealand and the Pacific from 2018 to 2022, and later as Pacific Business Liaison for Austrade and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Mr Knowles was a member of the NSW Parliament from 1990 to 2005 and served as a Minister for 11 years, holding portfolios including Health, Planning and Housing, Sydney and Hunter Water Corporations and NSW Land Commission, Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources and Forests and Lands. His former appointments include Independent Chair of the NSW Natural Resources Access Regulator and Chair of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority. He currently serves as the Independent Chair of the Prospect Water Partnership, a Board member of the Tulich Family Communities, Director of the Children's Medical Research Institute, and Trustee of the Ian Buchan Fell Trust at Sydney University.
Mr Knowles was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2015 for significant service to local government, the NSW Parliament and the community through a range of health initiatives.
Directors
Prof Catherine Bennett - BSc (Hons), MAppEpid, PhD, GAICD
Commenced: August 2024
Catherine is a Distinguished Professor and the
inaugural Chair in Epidemiology at Deakin University
and has over 20 years of experience in governance
and as an infectious disease epidemiologist in
university and government sectors. She was a board
member for the National Centre for Farmer Health
from 2017-2024, Head of School at Deakin University
from 2010-2019 and elected staff representative on
Deakin University Council from 2021. Catherine is a
prominent public analyst on public health matters and
advisor to industry, governments, and institutions
internationally.
Jason Conroy – BComm, MBA, FCA, GAICD
Commenced: August 2025
Jason has more than 30 years of experience working
with businesses in Australia and across the globe. He
is a former Chief Financial Officer of Transgrid and of
DUET Group.
He is the Non-Executive Chair of Birdwood DG Pty
Limited. His other current appointments include
Non-Executive Director at Beca Group Limited,
Symphony Infrastructure Partners, and PWR
Holdings Limited (ASX:PWH). Jason’s expertise
is in the management and governance of complex
organisations, particularly in the fields of corporate
and project finance, mergers and acquisitions, and
business transformation
The Hon. Bob Debus AM - BA, LLB
Commenced: May 2024
The Hon. Bob Debus AM has a background in law
and public policy and a strong commitment to the
protection of the environment.
He has had a long career working in leadership
roles at the highest levels of Government, serving
as a senior Minister in both the NSW and Australian
governments in portfolios such as Attorney-General,
Emergency Services and Home Affairs. He serves as
current Chair of the State Library of NSW.
He has significant experience in natural resource
management and environmental policy, having been
NSW’s longest serving Environment Minister, and
through his Board roles in non- government nature
conservation organisations.
Kaye Stevenson - BSc (Forestry)
Commenced: February 2021
Kaye has over 30 years of experience working in the natural resource and water sectors and is a former Non-Executive Director of Murrumbidgee Irrigation Limited. Kaye has designed and managed complex water recovery projects aimed at returning water to the environment and has a background in water policy and water reform. Kaye is Managing Director of The Risorsa Group Pty Ltd, a consulting company specialising in engagement and communication in the water industry.
Victoria Taylor – Grad Cert Water Policy & Gvnce, GAICD
Commenced: March 2022
Victoria Taylor has over two decades of experience
in primary industries policy, governance and
communications, particularly in irrigated agriculture.
She is Non-Executive Director of Horticulture
Innovation Australia, Chair of the AgriFood Innovation
Institute at the Australian National University and
a Board member of the NSW Rural Assistance
Authority.
Andrew George - Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director
Commenced: May 2020
Andrew is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing
Director of WaterNSW. Andrew has held a number of
Executive positions in WaterNSW since its inception
in 2015, where he was part of the inaugural executive
team and has since been involved in the strategic
transformation of the NSW water sector.
Andrew has extensive experience in bulk water supply
utilities including regulatory and market strategy,
government relations, engineering, asset management,
and major infrastructure delivery. Andrew is also a
Director of WaterNSW Infrastructure Pty Ltd.
Related links
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