Our Board of Directors comprises a non-executive chairperson, eight non-executive directors and the Managing Director.
The Minister for Water, in consultation with the Treasurer, appoints our Board of Directors.
Pat McCafferty, Chair
Pat McCafferty is an experienced executive and director with more than four decades of leadership in the Australian Water sector. He brings deep expertise in public utility governance, water system management and sector-wide collaboration, with a strong focus on customer and community outcomes.
Pat is currently a non-executive director of TasWater, Thriving Communities Australia and Board Trustee of the Australian Cancer Research Foundation. He is also Chair of WaterAid Australia. He has previously served as Chair of the Water Services Association of Australia, and as a Member of the Leadership Oversight Committee for the Women in Water Leadership Program, the Monash Infrastructure Advisory Council and the Committee for Melbourne Infrastructure and Sustainability Committee. Pat has held various executive roles in the water sector and was Managing Director of Yarra Valley Water between 2014 and 2025. He has worked internationally in the water sector and in an advisory capacity to the Australian Government as part of the National Water Initiative.
Mr McCafferty holds a Bachelor of Business, an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. As Chair, he provides strong strategic leadership and governance, bringing a considered and future-focused approach to addressing critical challenges facing the water sector, including climate change, population growth, infrastructure resilience and sustainable water security.
Dr Nerina Di Lorenzo, Managing Director
Dr Nerina DiLorenzo is the Managing Director of Melbourne Water Corporation and is an experienced CEO and executive leader with a public sector background in asset management, infrastructure operations, service delivery and business transformation.
As Managing Director, Dr Di Lorenzo leads Melbourne Water’s vision of Enhancing Life and Liveability through the provision of water supply, sewerage, drainage, waterway health and catchment management services. Dr Di Lorenzo is a Non-Executive Director of the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) and Chairs the People and Capability Committee. She also Chairs the national Water Sector Circular Task Force. Dr Di Lorenzo has held diverse executive roles in local government including CEO of Merri-bek (Moreland) City Council. She has held engineering roles at Exxon Mobil working on the Oil Rigs of Bass Strait.
Dr Di Lorenzo is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, holds qualifications in engineering, business and organisational change management and brings a strong focus on customer and community outcomes.
Monique Conheady (GAICD), Director
Monique Conheady is an experienced executive and non-executive director with a private sector background in innovation, start-up/ scale-up and executive leadership.
Monique is currently Chairperson Commissioner of Energy Safe Victoria, Director of Innovation Victoria, Independent Chair of JET Charge Pty Ltd and a Director of Phantm Pty Ltd and Hysata Pty Ltd.
Previously, Monique was a Governing Board member of the Environment Protection Authority Victoria, Commissioner and Chairperson of Commercial Passenger Vehicles Victoria and Deputy Chair of the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation. She was the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Flexicar and held executive roles at Hertz Australia.
Ms Conheady is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, holds qualifications in environmental engineering and sustainability leadership and brings to the role 25 years’ experience in the sustainability sector.
James Atkins (FAICD), Director
James Atkins is an experienced business advisor, marketing strategist and company director with over 35 years’ experience working at a senior level in the retail, financial services and energy sectors.
He is currently the Chair of Good360 Australia and a Board member of TT Line and the Connective Group. James is also director of Vantage Strategy, a consulting firm that provides business advisory services to commercial, government, and not-for-profit organisations.
Mr Atkins is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Binda Gokhale (FCPA, GAICD), Director
Binda Gokhale is an experienced executive and non-executive director with a corporate and public sector background in governance, corporate strategic planning and corporate finance.
Binda currently holds directorships at TAC, Melbourne Polytechnic and is an independent member of the Audit and Risk Committees for the Victorian Disability Worker Commission, City of Whitehorse and the City of Monash. Binda also participates on the Executive Committee of the Victorian Local Government Finance Professionals (FinPro). Previously, she held senior executive roles at Wyndham City Council and Telstra and was a board member at Trust for Nature.
Ms Gokhale is a Fellow CPA and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Melbourne Business School, holds qualifications in economics and brings to the role 25 years’ experience in the utility, public and not-for-profit sectors.
Freya Marsden (GAICD), Director
Freya Marsden is an experienced Chair and non-executive director with an energy, water, infrastructure and environmental sector background specialising in governance, corporate strategy, finance, assurance and sustainability.
She is currently Chair of VicReturn, Chair of the Victorian Sustainability Fund, Independent Board Director and Chair of the People and Remuneration Committee of the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation, Independent Audit and Risk Committee member for the Department of Treasury and Finance, Technical Expert Artificial Intelligence Standards Australia, and Charter Member of the Brotherhood of St Laurence. She is Managing Director of the Acuity Group Pty Ltd. She has previously held non-executive roles with VicRoads, South East Water, City West Water, Water Infrastructure NSW, and the Victorian Planning Authority and executive roles with AECOM and Victorian Government, Federal Treasury and Treasurer’s Office and Business Council of Australia.
Ms Marsden is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, holds qualifications in commerce, agriculture, resource economics and sustainability and brings 20 years’ experience in energy, water, infrastructure, transport and the environment across commercial, public, and not-for-profit sectors.
Ms Marsden was appointed Chair of the Risk, Optimisation and Sustainability Committee in November 2023.
Camm Myrtle (GAICD), Director
Camm Myrtle is a proud Taungurung man with a background in finance, corporate strategy, and property and change management.
He is currently the Director Aboriginal Economic Development with the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions. He was previously the Operations Manager for the Treaty Authority and has held executive roles including CFO of Taungurung Land and Waters and participated in their Audit and Risk Committee and CEO Remuneration Committees and worked for the National Australia Bank in a range of roles.
Mr Myrtle has a strong corporate leadership background in banking and finance at NAB, with experience in finance, commercial property, project management, change management and stakeholder relationship management.
Mr Myrtle is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, holds qualifications in business, accounting, and finance and project management and brings 20 years' experience in finance, commercial property and land management in both private and not-for-profit sectors.
Anita Roper (GAICD), Director
Anita Roper is an experienced Chair, non-executive director and executive with a background in various sectors working across business, government, communities and multilateral agencies in Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA.
She is the former Chair of the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative and the Stroke Association of Victoria. She has previously held non-executive roles with Yarra Valley Water, Victorian Public Sector Commission Advisory Board, Pacific Hydro, and AngloGold Ashanti’s Global Panel on Sustainability, Women’s network for a Sustainable Future, and the Fitzroy Football Club. She has previously served as a member of the Board of Inquiry into the Hazelwood Coal Mine Fire and as a delegate to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development She has held executive roles with Sustainability Victoria (CEO) and Alcoa.
Ms Roper is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders ANZ and holds qualifications in business and management. Her leadership and previous roles demonstrate her practical knowledge in sustainability, stakeholder engagement and strategic decision-making and her ability to bring a holistic approach to organisational leadership.
Ms Roper was appointed Chair of the People, Engagement, Customers, Community and Safety Committee in November 2023.
Lahra Carey (GAICD), Director
Lahra Carey is an experienced Chair and Non-Executive Director in sectors providing people-centred community outcomes and social impact. An experienced communications strategist, Lahra has over 25 years’ experience in strategic corporate communications, crisis preparedness, and public relations. Her career spans not-for-profit organisations, government departments, blue-chip companies and iconic brands.
Lahra currently serves as Chair of the Carlton Football Foundation and holds Non-Executive Directorships at Quipex Pty Ltd, Carlton Football Club and Parachute For Kids. Lahra is also an Advisory Board Member at the Monash Business School.
Her previous roles include Non-Executive Director of The Australian Dementia Network, Independent Non-Executive Director at Foodbank Victoria, Council President and Independent Non-Executive Director of the King David School, Non-Executive Member of RMIT’s PR Advisory Board, and Member of the Penington Institute Communications Advisory Group. She is the founder and principal of PR consultancy narrative, as well as NewsFlash Media and a keynote speaker, most recently presenting at the 2025 Australian Cyber Conference.
Ms Carey is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds formal qualifications in e-commerce, communications, and criminology - bringing a multidisciplinary lens. Lahra is also a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Public Relations Institute of Australia and the Melbourne Press Club.
Prue Digby, Director
Prue Digby is an experienced Chair, Non-Executive Director and senior Executive in providing community and public related services to Melbourne and regional Victoria in the state, local government and non-government sectors.
Prue is currently a Member of the Victoria University Council, a Trustee of the Ross Trust, Independent Member of Fire Rescue Victoria’s Integrity Steering Committee and a State Government appointed Municipal Monitor for Mornington Peninsula Shire Council.
Ms Digby was formerly the Deputy Secretary of Planning and Local Government in Victoria, CEO of the Victorian Building Authority and CEO of Yarra City Council. More recently Prue has served on the Boards of Chisholm Institute, the Birrarung Council (a Victorian statutory body created by the Yarra River Protection (Wilip-gin-Birrarung murron) Act 2017), Chair of the Commission of Inquiry into Whittlesea City Council and as a State Government appointed Municipal Monitor for Frankston City Council, Greater Geelong City Council, South Gippsland Shire Council and Moonee Valley City Council.
Board Customer Committee Charter
- People, Engagement, Customers, Community and Safety Committee
-
The role of the People, Engagement, Customers, Community and Safety Committee is to assist the Board of Directors of Melbourne Water Corporation in fulfilling its corporate governance responsibilities and exercising of due care, diligence and skill relating to: Customer and Community Engagement and Reputation Management; Traditional Owner and First Peoples Engagement; Health, Safety and Wellbeing; People and Remuneration and Culture. The Committee Charter details the full remit of the Committee.
