Meet our executive leadership team
Sarah Cumming
Managing Director
B.A., LLB (Hons), EMBA, GAICD
Sarah commenced as Managing Director of Gippsland Water in April 2017.
Sarah has extensive experience in successfully leading transformational change and implementing large scale technology solutions across multiple tiers of government. Her expertise is in governance, strategic leadership, complex problem solving, business transformation and creating enabling cultures to drive sustainable futures.
An experienced litigation lawyer and business leader, Sarah also holds a Director role and is former President of the Institute of Water Administration (IWA), is an Executive of the Intelligent Water Networks (IWN), and is an Independent Trustee of a private charitable trust.
Sarah lives in Gippsland and is passionate about driving change that will build a sustainable future for her region, and State.
Sarah has a Bachelor of Arts (ANU), Bachelor of Law (Honours) (ANU), and a Master of Business Administration (Executive) (Mt Eliza/Melbourne Business School). She is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and has completed further study at both the Cambridge Judge Business School, and the Kennedy School of Government.
Sarah has extensive experience in successfully leading transformational change and implementing large scale technology solutions across multiple tiers of government. Her expertise is in governance, strategic leadership, complex problem solving, business transformation and creating enabling cultures to drive sustainable futures.
An experienced litigation lawyer and business leader, Sarah also holds a Director role and is former President of the Institute of Water Administration (IWA), is an Executive of the Intelligent Water Networks (IWN), and is an Independent Trustee of a private charitable trust.
Sarah lives in Gippsland and is passionate about driving change that will build a sustainable future for her region, and State.
Sarah has a Bachelor of Arts (ANU), Bachelor of Law (Honours) (ANU), and a Master of Business Administration (Executive) (Mt Eliza/Melbourne Business School). She is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and has completed further study at both the Cambridge Judge Business School, and the Kennedy School of Government.
Chris Wood
General Manager Operations
B. App. Sci. (Major Chem.), Post Grad.Cert. Environmental Eng., Cert. Lab. Tech.
Chris is responsible for management and leadership of the organisation’s operational areas of water and wastewater treatment, bulk water storage and supply, bulk waste transport, potable water distribution, sewer reticulation and information technology. Chris is passionate about developing people and creating a culture of innovation for a positive employee and customer experience.
Chris has over 30 years’ experience in both the private and public sector in the power industry and technical services, environmental and public health fields and has a passion for implementing innovation and process improvements in an operational environment. His experiences range from the power industry, laboratory, environmental and engineering consultancy and for the past 15 years in the water industry.
Chris has over 30 years’ experience in both the private and public sector in the power industry and technical services, environmental and public health fields and has a passion for implementing innovation and process improvements in an operational environment. His experiences range from the power industry, laboratory, environmental and engineering consultancy and for the past 15 years in the water industry.
Melissa Thek
General Manager Business Transformation
B.Bus (Mgt and Marketing), M.Project Management
Passionate about the vision of a digital utility in the Gippsland Water context, Melissa is responsible for leading Gippsland Water’s business strategy, innovation and technology agenda.
Melissa is focused on ensuring that Gippsland Water is a sustainable and agile business, fostering strategic partnerships and alliances with key internal and external stakeholders to deliver economic solutions for the business and the region.
With over 20 years’ experience within government, client services and commercial environments, Melissa brings with her a wealth of experience and responsibility in leading and delivering transformational change on a national scale including digital platforms and other significant IT and legislative changes.
Melissa is focused on ensuring that Gippsland Water is a sustainable and agile business, fostering strategic partnerships and alliances with key internal and external stakeholders to deliver economic solutions for the business and the region.
With over 20 years’ experience within government, client services and commercial environments, Melissa brings with her a wealth of experience and responsibility in leading and delivering transformational change on a national scale including digital platforms and other significant IT and legislative changes.
Michael Crane
General Manager People and Customer
B.Bus (Human Resources and Marketing)
A leader in the human resource sector, Michael is known for his ability to transform cultures, drive accountability and inspire performance. With expertise in human resource management, safety, organisational development and risk, his experience spans leadership roles in the tertiary, oil and gas, local government and employment services sectors.
Michael has significant experience in delivering transformational change in complex organisations and has a passion for uniting others towards delivering innovative solutions to enhance the employee experience. Furthermore, Michael has proven ability to develop and implement value driven strategy through partnering at the highest level of organisations. Michael has a keen passion for developing leadership capability, talent management and enabling high performing cultures.
Michael has significant experience in delivering transformational change in complex organisations and has a passion for uniting others towards delivering innovative solutions to enhance the employee experience. Furthermore, Michael has proven ability to develop and implement value driven strategy through partnering at the highest level of organisations. Michael has a keen passion for developing leadership capability, talent management and enabling high performing cultures.
Simon Aquilina
General Manager Commercial Business
B.App. Sci. (Major Chem.), Post Grad. Cert. Environmental Eng., Cert. Lab. Tech.
Simon is responsible for leading the commercial and operational management of our Agribusiness and Soil and Organic Recycling Facility business streams to achieve the required safety, financial, business and environmental outcomes, whilst enhancing the customer experiences and meeting their product expectations. Simon has a broad background with experience in both the private and public sector, which has focussed on product quality, operational efficiency, economic viability and customer satisfaction. His experiences range from the power industry, laboratory, chemical manufacture, and for the past 11 years, in the water industry.
Nic Moss
General Manager Assets
B.Eng. (with Honours) (Mechanical)
Nic is passionate about creating a culture where people achieve great outcomes that are strongly focused on looking after each other, positive customer experiences, and a sustainable future.
Nic is responsible for strategic asset management, asset and project planning, and major capital projects that result in sustainable asset operation, performance, replacement, and augmentation. Nic has experiences in both the private and public sector in operations and maintenance, asset management, production, and major capital projects.
Nic has a Bachelor of Engineering (with Honours) (Mechanical) from Monash University.
Nic is responsible for strategic asset management, asset and project planning, and major capital projects that result in sustainable asset operation, performance, replacement, and augmentation. Nic has experiences in both the private and public sector in operations and maintenance, asset management, production, and major capital projects.
Nic has a Bachelor of Engineering (with Honours) (Mechanical) from Monash University.
Wilco Seinen
Chief Financial Officer
MSc (Business Administration), EMFC
Wilco is responsible for financial sustainability, corporate governance, procurement, risk management and legal and economic regulatory compliance. Wilco has nearly 20 years of experience in senior and executive roles in rail and energy industries, in both the Netherlands and Australia.
Wilco’s expertise covers wide ranging aspects of finance; such as financial planning, business partnering and performance, financial modelling, feasibility, risk, project and contract management and governance. In previous roles, he successfully provided guidance to organisations going through dynamic transformational change, bringing people together to achieve organisational strategy and objectives.
As a leader, Wilco is passionate about continuous improvement, acquiring new skills and transferring those skills to the people he works with.
Wilco’s expertise covers wide ranging aspects of finance; such as financial planning, business partnering and performance, financial modelling, feasibility, risk, project and contract management and governance. In previous roles, he successfully provided guidance to organisations going through dynamic transformational change, bringing people together to achieve organisational strategy and objectives.
As a leader, Wilco is passionate about continuous improvement, acquiring new skills and transferring those skills to the people he works with.
Danny McDonald
Executive Manager Corporate Affairs
FAMI, CPM, GradCert Mgt
Danny leads our Corporate Affairs workgroup, which is responsible for media and corporate communications, government relations, stakeholder engagement and economic development.
He is a Fellow of the Australian Marketing Institute; a former state vice president of the Public Relations Institute of Australia and an occasional guest lecture speaker in Public Relations and Marketing at RMIT in Melbourne. He is also a member of RMIT’s Public Relations Industry Advisory Committee.
Danny has extensive senior leadership experience in public affairs, reputation management, issue and crisis management and stakeholder relations across all levels of government and the private sector, including as a consultant. He is also a passionate lifelong Gippslander.
He is a Fellow of the Australian Marketing Institute; a former state vice president of the Public Relations Institute of Australia and an occasional guest lecture speaker in Public Relations and Marketing at RMIT in Melbourne. He is also a member of RMIT’s Public Relations Industry Advisory Committee.
Danny has extensive senior leadership experience in public affairs, reputation management, issue and crisis management and stakeholder relations across all levels of government and the private sector, including as a consultant. He is also a passionate lifelong Gippslander.