Board of Directors
The Corporation has a seven-person skills-based Board (including the Managing Director) appointed by the Minister for Water. The members bring to the Board a strong mix of business, finance, engineering, marketing and management skills. These skills are used to improve water and wastewater services in the extensive North East region of Victoria.
Frank Burfitt
Chairperson
Appointed 1 October 2007
Frank is a management consultant with a broad range of experience in the water industry and local government. With a background in electrical, mechanical and process systems, he worked in construction, maintenance and operations and then strategic management in Melbourne Water for more than 20 years.
A Yackandandah resident, Frank was the inaugural CEO of the Indigo Shire before working as a consultant on strategic and organisational development projects with many regional councils, including Wodonga, Wangaratta, Moira, Mitchell and Albury. He was chair of the Albury-Wodonga Freeway Community reference Group and currently chairs a number of reference and consultative groups for major projects, including wastewater re-use schemes.
He is the convenor of the Epping-Craigeburn Sewerage Project CRG. He also chairs the independent panel established by the four Melbourne water companies to review the metropolitan sewerage strategy. Frank is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Directors.
Barbara Murdoch
Member
Reappointed 1 October 2003
A former teacher, Barbara lives in Chiltern where she has been the proprietor of several small businesses for more than 25 years, the most recent being the local supermarket.
Barbara's active involvement with North East Water has also included membership of the Chiltern Community Consultation Committee. Prior to that she was a member of the Chiltern-Barnawartha Community Consultation Committee for the former Kiewa Murray Water Authority.
She is an active member of Chiltern Streetlife, the Rutherglen-Chiltern Community Education Committee and Chiltern Traders. Barbara is a Member of the Australian Institute of Directors.
Tony Plowman
Member
Appointed 1 October 2007
Tony has a long history of farming and farm management throughout eastern Australia, having work on sheep and cattle stations in central Victoria, southern NSW and western Queensland.
He was appointed to the Soil Conservation Authority in 1983, and was retained as an advisor to the Minister when the Corporation was wound up.
In 1992, Tony entered Victorian Parliament as the member for Benambra, a seat he held until his retirement in 2006. While in opposition, Tony was the Liberal Party's water and environment spokesman.
Suzanne Evans 
Member
Appointed 1 October 2007
Suzanne Evans has 15 years experience in the water industry within Government and with a retail water corporation.
Until recently she was General Manager Customer and Community Relations at Western Water, a position she has held for eight years. Prior to that she was Acting Director of Water Agencies with the (now) Department of Sustainability and Environment.
Suzanne is also a director on the Osteopaths Registration Board, a member of the consultative committee to the Medical Practitioners Board and she sits on hearing panels for registered health professionals.
Suzanne is also a partner in a horticultural business in Central Victoria. She holds a Bachelor of Economics, a Diploma in Education and is a Fellow of both the Institute of Company Directors and the Society of Certified Practicing Accountants. Suzanne is a Member of the Australian Institute of Directors.
Joanne Anderson
Member
Appointed 1 October 2006
Joanne has had an extensive career in Victorian local government, including Chief Executive Officer of the Rural City of Wangaratta, Executive Advisor to the Shire of Delatite and Administrator of the Benalla Rural City. In addition, she was a member of the Victoria Grants Commission for seven years.
Joanne is also a director of the Melbourne Market Authority and a member of the Victorian Catchment Management Council.
For the past 19 years, Joanne and her husband John have had a cattle and blueberry farm on the Strathbogie plateau. Joanne is also an active member of the CFA and the Strathbogie Tableland Action Group. Joanne is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Directors.
Damian McKenzie McHarg
Member
Appointed 1 October 2008
Damian has over 10 years experience in senior executive roles in the Queensland Electricity Industry and since 2006, has been employed in a senior managerial role within the NSW Public Health sector based in Albury. Damian has a legal background and also has a graduate Diploma of Environmental Science with a strong interest in Natural Resource Management and Public Policy.
He has a strong background in Governance, Risk Management and Compliance and has held senior positions responsible for OH&S and Environmental Management. In 1998 he completed the Company Directors Course through the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
He has recently commenced writing course modules for Corporate Secretaries Australia, a national professional body for Company Secretaries and Chief Finance Officers, on public sector governance and administration. Damian is a Member of the Australian Institute of Directors.
Highlights from the Boardroom
North East Water's Board of Directors meets on a monthly basis throughout the year, with the exception of January. The following are key highlights from their meetings.