Board of Directors - Water Corporation

Find out about our board members here.

Ms Andrea Sutton

Chair
BEng Chemical (Hons), GradDipEcon, GAICD

Andrea has over 25 years’ experience across a range of operational and corporate functions. She brings broad expertise, having held executive roles in health, safety and environment, human resources and infrastructure management.

Andrea was previously CEO and Managing Director of Energy Resources of Australia. Prior to this, she held numerous roles across a 19-year career with Rio Tinto. Notably, Andrea held the position of General Manager of Infrastructure within Rio Tinto’s Iron Ore business.

Andrea also has extensive experience as a non-executive director for ASX-listed, government and not-for-profit organisations and currently serves as a board member of National Association of Women in Operations and Australian Naval Infrastructure. She is a non-executive Director of Perenti and Iluka Resources. Andrea was previously a non-executive Director of Red 5 Limited, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, DDH1 Limited, ERA and Infrastructure WA.

Appointed 1 January 2024, term expires 31 December 2026.
Member: People and Safety Committee

Ms Helen Creed

Deputy Chair
BA/Dip Soc Studs

A social worker by background, Helen brings a wealth of experience to Water Corporation from senior roles in State Government, the non-government sector and in the union movement.

Helen has held various board and committee positions across these sectors and is currently a member of the Gaming and Wagering Commission. Helen is a recipient of several awards and in 2018 was inducted into the WA Women’s Hall of Fame.

Appointed 7 April 2021, term expires 31 December 2025.
Member: People & Safety Committee

Mr Pat Donovan

Chief Executive Officer
Bachelor of Engineering (BA BAI) Mechanical Engineering (Trinity College, Dublin), FIEAust, GAICD

Joining Water Corporation in 2018 as the General Manger Operations, Pat was appointed CEO in 2019. With over 25 years of experience in the gas industry in Ireland and Australia, Pat brings extensive experience in utilities to his role at Water Corporation. Before joining Water Corporation, Pat served as President of ATCO Gas Australia, delivering safe, reliable, and affordable energy across southwest WA. He also held senior executive roles at ATCO and Alinta.

Complementing his qualifications in engineering and finance, Pat has also completed the Ivey Business Executive Program at Western University in Canada. He is an active member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Fellow of Engineers Australia, and currently serves on the board of the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA), where he chairs the Utility Performance Committee (UPC). Pat is also a proud member of CEOs for Gender Equity, and the Advisory Board of Curtin University’s Institute for Energy Transition (CIET).

Pat has a proven track record of leading customerfocussed business strategies while achieving sustained commercial success and growth. A passionate advocate for putting customers and the community first, he is driven to deliver Thrive2035, Water Corporation’s strategy to enable its people, communities, and state to thrive.

Appointed 1 January 2019, term as director of the Board, expires 31 December 2025.

Mrs Gningala Yarran-Mark

MBL LLB Bsc (Hon)

Gningala is an experienced Board Director. Following an early legal career, Gningala moved into commercial roles with BHP and large contracting firms, where she managed Aboriginal engagement. Her remit was inclusive of employment outcomes, diversity in the supply chain, internal and external stakeholder partnerships and commitments under company reconciliation action plans.

After 15 years of building and growing Aboriginal engagement across a number of industry players, Gningala is now undertaking a PhD with a focus on social procurement and Aboriginal contracting entities. Gningala has in-depth working knowledge of the execution and implementation of reconciliation action plans and is adept at the intricacies of Native Title and Traditional Owner negotiations.

Gningala has a deep understanding of diversity, cultural intelligence, change management, stakeholder relations and is currently a non-executive director of the Australian Wildlife Conservancy Board.

Appointed 12 November 2019, term expires 30 September 2025.
Chair: People & Safety Committee

Ms Janine Freeman

BEc, GradDip OH&S, Cert IV FinServices GAICD

Janine Freeman brings extensive governance experience, having served on boards since 1993. She is the Independent Chair of Fair Food WA (auspiced by WACOSS), a Board Member of Anglicare WA, a Member Director of the Government Employees Superannuation Board, a Council Member of the National Museum of Australia, and an Advisory Member to the UWA School of Population and Global Health.

As a social equity advocate and former Member for Mirrabooka in the WA Parliament, Janine has spent her career representing working people and their families, including Assistant Secretary UnionsWA.

Appointed 9 March 2022, term expires 31 December 2026.
Member: Audit and Risk Committee

Mr David Smith

BComm(Melb), FCA

David has over 33 years’ experience working for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) including as Assurance Lead Partner in Perth. Post his career with PwC, David has been a non-executive director for a number of organisations.

David is a chartered accountant with significant experience in audit and assurance, corporate governance and boards and committees. David brings broad business acumen, having worked with clients across mining and resources, media, agriculture and property among others.

David was previously a Board Member of the Royal Fremantle Golf Club, St Bartholomew’s House Inc, St Bartholomew’s Foundation and Fremantle Port Authority. His board and committee experience has encompassed financial governance, strategy and risk management assessment

Appointed 1 January 2024, term expires 31 December 2026.
Chair: Audit and Risk Committee

Ms Jane Muirsmith

BCom (Hons), FCA, GAICD

An accomplished digital and marketing strategist, Jane has held several executive positions in Sydney, New York, Melbourne, Singapore and Perth.

Jane is currently the Managing Director of Lenox Hill, a digital strategy and advisory firm and is a non-executive Director of the Kids Research Institute Australia, Cedar Woods Properties and the Australian Finance Group.

Jane is an independent Member of Canberra Institute of Technology, Cloud Campus program, a Member of the Ambassadorial Council UWA Business School and is a former President of the Women’s Advisory Council to the WA Government.

Appointed 1 December 2024, term expires 30 November 2027.

Member: Audit and Risk Committee