Our Leadership Team

Laura is a highly accomplished professional with extensive experience in the food, dairy and beverage industries. She has held key leadership positions, including Managing Director at Bellamy's Australia Limited and Maggie Beer Holdings Limited. Currently, she serves as a Non-executive Director at Lark Distilling Ltd (ASX:LRK) and Capitol Health Ltd (ASX:CAJ), where she brings her industry and finance expertise. She is an active member of the Audit and Risk Committee at both Lark Distilling Ltd and Capitol Health Ltd. Additionally, she serves as a Committee member of People Remuneration and Sustainability Committee at Capitol Health. Prior to her current roles she also served as Non-Executive Director at Export Finance Australia. Laura is recognised for her outstanding achievements, including being named 2013 Telstra Tasmanian Businesswoman of the Year and Telstra Australian Businesswoman of the Year (Private and Corporate). She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and has completed prestigious professional development programs.

Judith has more than 40 years’ experience in the agricultural industry as an owner /operator in a diversified family farming business in the Midlands of Tasmania. She has actively participated in community and charitable organisations throughout Tasmania.

She is a Non-Executive Director of the Tasmanian Wool Centre, former board member of Epilepsy Tasmania, the Australiana Fund (Tas) and the Tasmanian Foundation, as well as a former municipal councillor.

Judith is determined that feasible water delivery can be made to as many Tasmanians as practically possible.

Kate has more than 15 years’ experience as a Non-Executive Director and Board Chair, and 25 years in executive leadership roles in water and land management, strategic planning and sustainability. In addition to her role as Board Chair at Tasmanian Irrigation, Kate is a Non-Executive Director at Yarra Valley Water and Natural Hazards Research Australia, and a Governor of the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation. Kate was formerly Chair of Water Stewardship Australia and Zoos Victoria, and a Non-Executive Director at Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water and Parks Victoria. Kate has held executive roles in the water industry, local government and in engineering consulting and project delivery organisations. She is a Fellow of Engineers Australia and has degrees in civil engineering, economics for development and business administration.

Hugh was born and raised on a farm in the Fingal Valley. He was a partner in advisory firm KPMG for 24 years, with primary production clients making up a significant portion of his client base. Hugh is currently Chair of the Launceston Airport, a Board member of The Hobart Clinic,Deputy Mayor for the City of Launceston, President of the Northern Suburbs Community Centre, Chair of the Cape Hope Foundation and sits on the Future Fund Committee for the Tasmanian Cancer Council. He was previously Chair of Primary Health Tasmania, Chair of Scotch Oakburn College, and State Chair and National Councillor for Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ).

Mike has 30 years’ experience in Non-executive Director, CEO and executive leadership roles across water and electricity utilities and local government. He specialises in customer service, workplace/workforce development, project design and delivery, water management and sustainability. He is currently a Non-executive Director at the Ian Harrington Group.

Mike is a Fellow of Engineers Australia and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He has a civil engineer degree as well as post graduate qualifications in management and completed other professional development programs over the last 45 years.

Andrew joined Tasmanian Irrigation in July 2018 and was appointed CEO of Tasmanian Irrigation in May 2019 after acting in the role for six months. He has more than 25 years of senior and executive management experience in the irrigation, urban water and electricity utility sectors, spanning four states and territories. Recent positions include CEO of Cradle Mountain Water and General Manager Commercial and Strategy of Territory Generation in Darwin. Andrew holds an MBA from the University of Queensland and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He has extensive experience in leadership, strategic planning, stakeholder management, commercial negotiation, finance, economic regulation, operational management, organisation development and change management.

David joined Tasmanian Irrigation in January 2020. He was raised on a fine wool and beef cattle property on the New South Wales Northern Tablelands and has held senior agribusiness management roles in Australia over the past 30 years, including Managing Director of Tasmania’s largest private grain storage and marketing company, Assistant General Manager at Top Cut Foods, Sydney, and financial controller at OzTaste, Melbourne, Australia’s largest fresh stone fruit co-operative marketer. David is a member of the Institute of Public Accountants, a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has a Degree in Agricultural Commerce from the University of New England.

Sophie is an accomplished leader with more than 25 years of experience in the safety, environment and compliance fields, and joined Tasmanian Irrigation in 2023. As head of the Environment Health and Safety Team at Tasmanian Irrigation, Sophie ensures the organisation operates in an environmentally sustainable and safe manner. With a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Occupational Health and Rehabilitation, Sophie brings a deep understanding of industry best practices, as well as a commitment to continuous improvement and environmental sustainability. Her diverse industry experience includes roles in insurance, manufacturing and ports.

Jacob joined Tasmanian Irrigation in 2017 and leads the Company’s Project Delivery team. His principal focus is ensuring projects complete all phases, including detailed design, permits and approvals, construction and commissioning, in a safe manner while adhering to high quality, time and cost standards. Jacob is a skilled leader with more than 15 years’ experience in both the civil and offshore oil and gas construction sectors throughout Australia and Asia. Jacob has a strong project management and engineering background with a Bachelor of Engineering (Marine and Offshore Systems) (Hons) from the Australian Maritime College in Launceston. Jacob started his career in Perth, Western Australia after growing up in the north east of Tasmania.

Byron leads Tasmanian Irrigation’s Corporate Services Team and ensures the efficient provision of management and statutory reporting, financial transactional services, planning (including annual budgets and corporate plans), customer pricing, office administration, fleet management, treasury management, insurance program and internal and external audit. He joined Tasmanian Irrigation in 2019. Byron also has responsibility for the people and culture, procurement, and information technology functions. Byron holds a Bachelor of Business, Finance and Economics and has more than 25 years’ business and financial reporting experience, previously holding several senior leadership roles in the banking and finance sectors in Australia and the United Kingdom.

Sam has more than 30 years’ experience in communications strategy, issues management, stakeholder engagement, media, brand strategy and project management. She joined Tasmanian Irrigation in 2023 and leads the company’s stakeholder relations and communications. Sam has extensive government experience in senior communications positions with state and federal agencies and has managed communications and engagement programs for national research organisations and large private sector companies. Sam holds a Masters in Professional Communication and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.