Our Executive team
Our Executive team
The General Managers at SA Water make up our Executive Leadership team. They report directly to the Chief Executive.
Chief Executive
David Ryan
David joined SA Water in 2019 as our Chief Executive, leading one of Australia’s largest integrated water utilities, serving more than 1.8 million customers across urban, regional and remote areas.
David is a dynamic water industry leader, known for shaping contemporary organisational culture to deliver water services oriented around the continual improvement of customer experience.
By championing key values fostered through his background in regional Australia, such as sustainability, diversity and customer-centricity, David works to ensure water services help build and enhance communities and enable economic development.
Prior to joining SA Water, David was Managing Director of Melbourne’s City West Water, and held executive roles at bulk water company Melbourne Water in operations and capital delivery, waterway management and customer solutions.
General Manager Customer, Community and Engagement
David Coombe
BASc
David joined SA Water in 2003 working in Senior Manager roles across the business including customer call centre, customer experience, media and communications, community relations and education, customer technical services, business relations and laboratory services.
As the General Manager Customer, Community and Engagement, David heads up a team responsible for delivering exceptional customer experiences to make a difference every day to the lives of customers and community.
A focus on people has characterised David's career and he derives great satisfaction from supporting and leading people to achieve individual and collective team goals to deliver business aspirations.
David has qualifications in Applied Science and Business Management and prior to joining SA Water held senior customer roles with the City of Charles Sturt and City of Adelaide.
Chief Financial Officer
Jacqueline Guerin
BEc, MBA, FCA, GAICD
Jacqueline heads up the team that ensures our business operations are supported by leading practices and knowledge across finance, supply chain, performance, business improvement, change, economic regulation and pricing.
She joined us in June 2020 bringing more than 30 years’ experience in senior financial roles in professional services, manufacturing, infrastructure and defence industries. Jacqueline has strong analytical, strategic and commercial skills and knowledge.
As a passionate advocate for change within an empowered organisational culture, Jacqueline has a successful track record in developing and implementing efficient and effective business processes, and identifying and implementing continuous improvement and innovation initiatives.
She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, an Alumni of the Governor’s Leadership Foundation, and currently sits on the South Australian Government Financing Authority Advisory Board.
Before joining our business, Jacqueline was Finance Director for TRILITY Group and she has previously worked for KPMG, GH Michell & Sons and Detmold Packaging.
General Manager, Sustainable Infrastructure
Amanda Lewry
BEng(Mech), MBT, GAICD
Amanda joined SA Water in June 2020, bringing more than 27 years’ experience in leading and managing diverse teams.
She has worked across multiple industries including water, mining, oil and gas, electricity generation, defence, transport and local government. Amanda brings a deep understanding of the water sector drawn from more than a decade of leading asset, operations and delivery teams in the industry.
Amanda is committed to maximising value for customers and community through innovation and the optimised management of the SA Water’s infrastructure assets.
Having worked across every stage of the asset lifecycle, she has a track-record of successfully developing and implementing innovative corporate and business strategies with high visibility and scrutiny of outcomes. Amanda is well versed in international and Australian asset management practices and joined us from GHD where she managed asset management practice across Australia and Asia Pacific.
Amanda has qualifications in engineering, business and technology, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
General Manager, Science and Strategy
Nicola Murphy
BSc(Mathematics and Statistics), GAICD
Nicola leads the science and strategy focused arm of our business, overseeing teams that use science to solve current and future challenges and ensuring our strategy prepares us for the future.
She joined us in 2016 as Senior Manager Procurement, and then took on responsibility for our transformative and multi award winning Zero Cost Energy Future program. In July 2022, she was appointed General Manager Strategy, Engagement and Innovation.
With a career combining commercial focus with delivery of major projects within the retail, financial services and government sectors, Nicola’s leadership and skills ensure community, shareholder, staff, social and economic insights, along with water and wastewater quality expertise are translated into overarching and corporate business strategies and outcomes to improve customer experience and prepare the organisation for the future.
General Manager, Technology
Elise Vervetjes
BBusEcon, GradCert PubMgmt, M.GenMgmt, GAICD
Elise leads our information and technology teams providing thought leadership and strategy development in digital transformation, and ensuring data, technology and systems are secure, modern and effective to enable great customer services and outcomes.
She joined us in September 2022 bringing more than 30 years of global experience in technology, transformation and business leadership. Elise relocated from Perth where she led a large technology group for Water Corporation.
Having worked in the private and public sectors in Europe and Australia across a wide range of industries, Elise has more than 10 years in the water and utilities industry, where she held roles as CIO and various operational leadership roles, including Group Manager for the delivery of utility services to regional and remote areas. Elise is motivated to make a positive difference and continues to focus on inclusion, equality and diversity.
Through inclusive leadership, prioritising people, partnerships and innovative digital and data solutions, Elise had delivered great business and customers outcomes. Her expertise lies at the junction of technology, data, people and culture.
Elise has qualifications in Business Economics, Business Administration, Public Sector Management and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
General Manager, Operations and Maintenance
Chris Young
Dip(Mgt), GradDip(BusMgt), MBA
Leading our Operations team, Chris oversees the efficient management of statewide infrastructure including pipelines, pump stations, treatment plants and the locks and weirs along the River Murray to ensure our customers receive the water services they value and expect.
When Chris joined us in 2021, he brought a wealth of experience in the water and utilities industry, with his expertise honed from key positions spanning operations, asset management, organisational strategy and business improvement.
He has held extensive senior leadership roles across the industry including General Manager Operations and Project Director. Chris has led large teams in the delivery of large-scale, high profile services across Australia and overseas including delivery, handover, commissioning and operation of iconic water projects, including the country’s first large-scale desalination plant.
Major faults
Polkinghorns Rd
Arthurton
- 18/06/2020
Water Supply On
- 18/06/2020 03:05 PM - We are attending to an incident in Arthurton with no interruption to the water supply. The safety of our crews and customers comes first, and we always aim to minimise inconvenience by restoring services as quickly as we can. Reference Number WO: 07505663.
- See all major faults
Scheduled works
Spruance Rd
Elizabeth East
- 11/06/2021
Temporary Supply Interruption
- Estimated start time and water supply off: 15/06/2021 09:00 AM
Estimated restore time and water supply back on: 15/06/2021 04:00 PM
We’re improving your services and undertaking maintenance work in Elizabeth East. Sometimes our crews need to temporarily interrupt the water supply to our customers and/or manage traffic while they are working. Temporary traffic management may remain in place until reinstatement of the impacted road is complete. We always aim to minimise inconvenience by restoring services as safely and quickly as we can. - See all scheduled works
