Directors and Executives
Directors
John Mackay AM, BA FAIM – Chairman
John Mackay was appointed Chairman of ACTEW Corporation from 1 July 2008. He is also Chairman of ActewAGL, TransACT Communications Pty Limited, Canberra International Arboretum and Gardens Board of Governors and the Canberra Glassworks. He is a Director on the Boards of Canberra Investment Corporation Limited, the Little Company of Mary Healthcare and the Canberra Raiders.
Mr Mackay was previously Chief Executive Officer of ACTEW from 1998 to 2000, and Chief Executive Officer of ActewAGL from 2000 to 2008.
He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2004, was Canberra Citizen of the Year in 2008, and was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Canberra in 2009.
Michael B Easson AM, BA (Hons), FAICD - Deputy Chairman
Michael Easson is Chairman of the EG Property Group, a business consultant to Allens Arthur Robinson, a Director of ING Real Estate Group, Stadium Australia Management Limited and a Member of the ActewAGL Joint Venture Board.
Mr Easson has been a Director of ACTEW since July 1995 and Deputy Chairman since May 1996. He is Chairman of ACTEW’s Audit and Risk Management Committee. Mr Easson was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1998.
Mark A Sullivan AO, BEC, FCPA, FAIM, MAICD – Managing Director
Mark Sullivan is the Managing Director of ACTEW Corporation and a member of the ActewAGL Joint Venture Partnerships Board.
Mr Sullivan was previously Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) and President of the Repatriation Commission and Chair of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission (2004-2008).
Before being appointed Secretary of DVA, Mr Sullivan was Secretary of the Department for Family and Community Services (2002-2004), Chief Executive Officer of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (1999-2002), and Deputy Secretary at the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. He has extensive senior managerial experience in both the private and public service sectors including WANG Australia, SBS, the Department of Social Security and the Australian Taxation Office.
Mr Sullivan received an Australian Centenary Medal in 2003 and he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2008. This recognition was for his work in multicultural affairs, in indigenous affairs, community services and with veterans.
Edward (Ted) W Mathews PSM, BA, MAICD – Director
Ted Mathews had twenty years experience at senior executive level with the Federal Public Service including as Manager of Department of Finance Government Business Enterprise Reform Program (1986-1990), Head of the Asset Sales Task Force (1992-1993) and Head of the Commonwealth Electricity and Gas Reform Task Force (1993-1997).
From 1997 to 2001 Mr Mathews was engaged by PricewaterhouseCoopers as an adviser on energy market policy reforms, regulation and access arrangements. He was also a member of the team providing governance and probity advice.
In 2002 Mr Mathews assisted the Chairman of the ACT Commission of Audit in reviewing ACT finances and a number of government business enterprises.
He was appointed to the ACTEW Board in August 2002 and is an Alternate Member of the ActewAGL Joint Venture Partnerships Board, a Director of Ecowise Environmental Pty Limited and Ecowise Environmental (VIC) Pty Limited. Mr Mathews is a Member of ACTEW’s Audit and Risk Management Committee and Chairman of the Ecowise Audit Committee.
Dr Allan Hawke BSc(Hons), PhD (ANU), FAIM, FIPAA, FAICD - Director
Dr Hawke was appointed to the Board for a three year term commencing 6 December 2009. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree with first class honours and is a Doctor of Philosophy (ANU).
Dr Hawke was Secretary of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (1994–1996), Department of Transport and Regional Services ((1996-1999) and the Department of Defence (1999-2002) and Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand from 2003 to 2005. He was Chancellor of the Australian National University from 2006 until 2008.
His current appointments include Chairman of the MTAA Superannuation Fund Trustee Board and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, a Director of Datacom, Chairman of the Prime Ministerial Advisory Council on Ex-Service matters and a Member of the Canberra Raiders Board.
Dr Hawk was awarded an Australian Centenary Medal in 2001. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia.
Wendy Caird MAICD - Director
Ms Caird was appointed to the Board for a three year term commencing 6 December 2009. Ms Caird has held a number of positions with Public Services International (France) including Co-chair Asia Pacific Region (1998-2002), Member of the Executive Board (1997-2002), Global Director of the Quality Public Services campaign (2002 – 2006) and a Member of the Global Coordinating Committee of the "Global Call to Action Against Poverty: (Make Poverty History)" campaign (2005-2006).
Ms Caird held a number of executive positions with the Community and Public Sector Union (Australia) from 1983, including NSW Branch Secretary, until her appointment as National Secretary in 1993. During this period she was Vice President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions and an Executive Member of the NSW Labour Council. She represented Australia in International Labour Organisation meetings, including as Co-chair of the Workers Group.
Ms Caird was a Member of the Australian Public Service Management Advisory Board, a Member of the Australian Government Promotions Appeals Committee and a Member of the Executive Board of the Evatt Foundation.
She is a small business owner, the Vice President of the Kangaroo Valley Tourist Association and a member of the KV Community Association and KV Environment Group.
Executives
Mark A Sullivan AO, BEC, FCPA, FAIM, MAICD – Managing Director
See above.
Ross Knee MEng (Civil) - Executive Manager Water
Mr Knee commenced with ACTEW in 2005. He is responsible for management of the Utilities Management Agreement for the operation and maintenance of the drinking water and sewage treatment business, strategic water planning, licensing and compliance matters and liaison with relevant government and national organisations.
Kerry McIlwraith, B.COM, MBA, FCPA, Chief Finance Officer
Mr McIlwraith was appointed Chief Finance Officer in October 2006. He is responsible for ACTEW’s finances and strategic investments. He is a director of ACTEW Distribution Limited and ACTEW Retail Limited.
Michele Norris FAICD AFAIM - Company Secretary
Ms Norris commenced with ACTEW in 1999 and was appointed Company Secretary in December 2003. She is responsible for the management and coordination of corporate governance, government liaison, statutory compliance and legal matters for the Corporation and subsidiary companies. Ms Norris is also Company Secretary of ACTEW Distribution Limited and ACTEW Retail Limited.