SAFETY ALERT! Flooding

44.60%

2025-09-13 12:00:00 DAM CAPACITY 44.60% 31.38M HEIGHT 325,397ML VOLUME
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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.

Adrienne Ward


MAICD
Chair
Ms Ward was appointed Chair in March 2023. Ms Ward has an extensive background in corporate and government strategy, working across senior level of Government and Business for more than 20 years. Her current roles include Chair of Gladstone Airport Corporation; Non-Executive Director, RACQ Central Qld Helicopter Rescue Service; Member of The Public Transport Fares Advisory Panel, Qld; Member of The Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) Central Qld Committee; Adjudicator, Telstra Best of Business Awards and Ambassador for the Women in Business Awards of Australia. Ms Ward is a passionate advocate and contributor to both Gladstone and Queensland and along with her husband, owns a number of businesses in Gladstone. Ms Ward is a former Telstra Businesswoman of the Year and was also awarded The Centenary Medal in 2003 for distinguished service and achievement in business and commerce.

Suzanne Burow


B.Eng(Civil), B.EnvMan, FIEAust, CPEng, NER, APEC Engineer, IntPE(Aus), RPEQ, MAICD
Director
Ms Burow was appointed Director in March 2023. Ms Burow has more than 25 years experience working as a specialist engineer in the water sector, with a specific emphasis on hydrology and hydraulic modelling studies. Throughout her career, Ms Burow has contributed to regulatory processes and business case investigations related to water planning in Queensland. Ms Burow is a Chartered Engineering Fellow and Deputy Chair on the Board of Professional Engineers of Queensland.

Mitchell Petrie


Director
Mr Petrie is an experienced director and Chartered Accountant. He spent 30 years with a global accounting and consulting firm, 16 years as a Partner, leading the organisation's Queensland Risk Consulting practice as well as the national Major Capital Projects Advisory practice. Mr Petrie has extensive experience in finance, risk management and corporate governance, and is currently a director of Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Hughenden Irrigation Project Company, Fairbairn Irrigation Network Ltd and SPSL Limited (Suncorp’s retail superannuation business). He also is a member of a number of Audit Committees including Sunshine Coast Council, Bundaberg Regional Council and Redland City Council, and is an Adjunct Lecturer at Bond University

Lachlan Millar


Director
Mr Millar was appointed to the Board in June 2025. With a career spanning 10 years as a rural journalist for the ABC as well as a decade as the Member for Gregory, Mr Millar brings a wealth of experience to GAWB. Originally from a farming/irrigation family in Emerald, Mr Millar understands the challenges faced by a regionally based organisation. He has previously held roles as a Ministerial Advisor and Executive of Fitzroy Basin Food and Fibre and currently works part-time for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) in commercial and corporate affairs.

Our executive team

Darren Barlow

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.

Scott Wikman

General Manager – Network

Scott was appointed General Manager – Network in July 2022, following 25 years of service with Goulburn-Murray Water in Victoria. Scott is an experienced leader, holding senior asset and dam management positions for the past 15 years.

Hugh Barbour

Chief Operating Officer – Major Projects

Hugh has extensive experience in project development, financial and contract management 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 Fitzroy to Gladstone Pipeline. Hugh previously held the position of GAWB Chief Financial Officer.

Petrus Botes

General Manager – Capital

Petrus joined GAWB as the General Manager, Capital in July 2023.  Petrus has more than 25 years of multi-functional asset, project and operations management experience.  Petrus has demonstrated success in driving initiatives for asset and operational improvements that meet best practice safety and engineering standards.  Petrus experience has been across mining, minerals processing, large manufacturing, supply chain and utility operations.

Catherine Byers

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.

Ron Elliott

General Manager – Customer, Strategy and Policy

Ron was appointed as General Manager of Customer, Strategy and Policy in July 2025, after  three years as General Manager Aquaculture Gladstone. Before joining GAWB, Ron held senior project and management roles with a multi-national contractor and major manufacturing industry in the Central Queensland region. Ron was previously GAWB’s Special Projects Manager for the construction of the Hatchery Relocation and Pikes Crossing Emergency Muster point projects.

Trang Yen

Chief Financial Officer 

Trang joined GAWB in July 2025. With more than 25 years’ experience in the Queensland Government, Trang is an experienced leader in finance, contracts and procurement, and corporate services. Trang has extensive experience in the governance and enhancements of organisational systems and processes, while also being an inspiring leader of teams. At GAWB, Trang is responsible for leading our Corporate Services Business Unit as they deliver results across finance, legal, risk and compliance, technology, facilities management, property and land management, and contracts and procurement.

Jamie Petrie

General Manager – Natural Resources and Recreation

Jamie was appointed General Manager, Natural Resources and Recreation in July 2025. He leads the strategic management of aquaculture, land and environmental stewardship, recreation, and visitor services. Jamie brings extensive executive experience to the position, having previously served as Head of Corporate Services. His career spans leadership roles that combine operational excellence with long-term strategic planning, underpinned by a strong focus on building capable teams and delivering community value.