International Riverfoundation - Our Board Members

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Our Board Members

Chairman – Martin Albrecht, AC
Director - Barry Ball
Treasurer and Secretary – Haydon Coles
Director – Professor Bill Dennison
Director – Dr Jim Gill
Director – Professor Paul Greenfield, AO, FTSE
Director - Julie McLellan
Director – Dr Peter Rowley
Director and Patron – Jim Soorley
Director - Rod Welford
Director - Michael Wright

Chairman – Martin Albrecht, AC

Chairman of RiverFoundation since its establishment in 2003, Martin is also Chairman of Geodynamics Limited & Exergen Pty Ltd. He was CEO of Thiess for over 15 years from 1985 and Chair of the Thiess Board and a Director of Leighton Holdings from 2001 - 2008.

Martin maintains an active interest in a wide range of government, community, and cultural activities. He is a member of the Board of Governors for CEDA and Chairman of Wesley Research Institute. He was awarded Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AC) in 2002, and also the Centenary Medal in 2003.

Martin is also a recipient of Honorary Doctorates from University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology, and University of South Australia along with many other awards, and is Patron of Life Stream Foundation for people with intellectual disabilities as well as the Brisbane Regional Youth Orchestra. .

Director – Barry Ball PSM

Barry is the Deputy Director of the Global Change Institute at The University of Queensland. Part of his role is to work in the International WaterCentre as the Manager - Water Policy. Barry has worked in both State and Local Government in his 35 year career, predominately in the water sector. His most recent roles in Brisbane City Council were the Manager - Strategic Planning and Manager - Water Resources.

Some of Barry’s recent achievements include the establishment of the Moreton Bay Waterways and Catchment Partnership, an integrated “whole of water” strategy for the city and the development and implementation of the Drought Strategy for the city. Barry is also on the Board of Queensland Urban Utilities. He is also a member of the Environment Professional Advisory Board at Griffith University. Barry has held Board positions on the CRC Catchment Hydrology and CRC Coastal Zone. In 2010 Barry was awarded an Australian Public Service Medal for Water Policy.

Treasurer and Secretary – Haydon Coles

Haydon is a fellow of the National Institute of Accountants, and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He has had 42 years of diverse banking experience with Commonwealth Bank, specialising in Institutional Banking, Corporate and Government Client Relationship Management and Corporate Business Development. In addition to the International RiverFoundation Board, Haydon serves as a Board member of Anglican Financial Services.

Director – Professor Bill Dennison

Bill leads the Integration and Application Network, a collection of scientists interested in solving, not just studying, environmental problems. He is actively involved in the Chesapeake Bay Program, USA and had an active role in the Healthy Waterways Campaign of South-East Queensland, Australia.

Bill has a marine science background, and has published books and papers on a wide range of marine topics. In his current role as Vice-President for Science Application at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, his focus is on developing ways to effectively communicate science and to create credible and rigorous environmental report cards.

Director – Dr Jim Gill

Jim was Western Australia’s Water Corporation Inaugural CEO from 1996 until his retirement in December 2008. A major focus during his tenure was a program to greatly increase the State’s water source capacity and promote efficient water usage to adapt to significantly drying climate.

Jim was Western Australia’s Commissioner of Railways from 1988 to 1995, when the popular Northern line was built. He has degrees from the Universities of Western Australia, Cambridge and Harvard.

Jim was Chairman of the Water Services Association of Australia, President of the Western Australia Division of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and Chairman of the WA Division of Engineers Australia. In 2006, he was named the Australian Civil Engineer of the Year. He was awarded the Grand Award of the International Water Association in 2008.

Director – Professor Paul Greenfield, AO, FTSE

Paul is currently Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Chemical Engineering at The University of Queensland. He currently chairs the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Healthy Waterways Partnership, which focuses on the health of the rivers, estuaries and bays of South-East Queensland.

Paul is a Director of several university companies and has consulted for national and international companies and government agencies in the fields of biotechnology, wastewater and environmental management. He also chairs the International WaterCentre, Riversymposium Strategic Planning Committee and the Thiess International Riverprize Judging Panel.

Director – Julie McLellan

Julie is Brisbane City Councils Water Resources Manager and responsible for leading and developing councils water smart city strategy, which focuses on innovative solutions for Brisbane’s sustainable water supply, waterway health management, flood risk management and capacity building. Julie has built a strong communication and stakeholder engagement framework to deliver a water smart city for Brisbane, with recent successes such as the development and roll out of Councils Nationally recognised Flood Flag maps. Julie has a passion for continuing to evolve the water industry through productive partnerships. With over 15 years in senior roles in the water industry, and experience across the total water cycle, Julie provides an extensive and diverse background in water management.

Director – Dr Peter Rowley

Peter is the London-based Director and Head of the Global Oil & Gas Services Sector with ERM, and was also a Fulbright Fellow and Associate Professor of Environmental Chemistry at Colorado State University. Peter has worked in the environmental consulting industry and has been involved in a large range of extractive industry projects in Asia, the Middle East , North America, Europe and the former Soviet Union.

He is the ERM Liaison Delegate to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. He has lectured at The Judge Institute of Management at Cambridge University in the UK on sustainability in the global mining industry and gave the keynote address at the Zurich Global Risk Managers Conference on emerging mega risks for the industry.

Director and Patron – Jim Soorley

Jim had a successful career as a management consultant and sales trainer in the USA and Australia before he decided on a political career. In 1990, Jim entered local government politics because he strongly believed he could make a difference. He was elected Lord Mayor of Brisbane in March 1991, and was the driving force behind the establishment of Brisbane’s International Riversymposium and Thiess Riverprize.

Jim retained his office through three more election victories until stepping down in 2003. Since then, Jim has developed a portfolio of interests that reflects his diverse experiences and skills. He currently serves as a company director and consultant to a range of businesses.