Mark Sullivan elected as new chair of WSAA board

Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) has announced the appointment of Mark Sullivan AO, managing director of ACTEW Water in the ACT, as the new chair of the WSAA board.

Sullivan worked in the Commonwealth Government prior to joining ACTEW, where he held CEO roles in portfolios as diverse as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Family and Community Services and Immigration and Veterans Affairs. He is a fellow of the Australian Society of Certified Practicing Accountants, a fellow of the Australian Institute of Management and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Sullivan takes over from outgoing chair Sue Murphy, CEO of the Water Corporation of Western Australia, who has just completed two years in the position. The role of deputy chair will meanwhile be taken by Louise Dudley, CEO of Queensland Urban Utilities.

Sullivan thanked Murphy for the strong leadership she has shown and outlined the issues the water industry must now face.

“The challenges ahead for the urban water industry include regulatory reform to incentivise private sector investment and developing the water industry contribution towards liveable communities,” he said.

“Land use planning and infrastructure development in our cities and towns have reached the stage where there needs to be greater integration with other services such as energy, waste and community services. Water forms a critical but often neglected aspect of good planning.”

WSAA executive director Adam Lovell said he is “delighted to have the opportunity to work closely with Mark and Louise, who both bring a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to their new roles”.