Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is responsible for setting the strategic direction, establishing goals for management and monitoring their achievement and monitoring the performance of the business. 

Gabrielle Bell
Chair

LLB (Hons), BEng (Chem) (Hons), GAICD

Gabrielle Bell was appointed to the Board as Chair on 1 October 2023. 

Gabrielle is an experienced Non-Executive Director in the Victorian Water sector and has previously served on the boards of South East Water, iota Services Pty Ltd and Southern Rural Water. 

Gabrielle’s other current roles include Non-Executive Director of Aware Real Estate Management Pty Ltd and BCI Minerals Limited (ASX:BCI) and she has held prior roles in the public transport, superannuation and public health sectors. 

Gabrielle is a corporate lawyer and has worked in both Australia and Southeast Asia. Gabrielle also holds a degree in Chemical Engineering. Her commitment to governance, industrial safety and climate change issues make her a valuable addition to our board. 

 

Mary Kanavoutsos
Director

BEng (Chem) (Hons), GAICD

Mary Kanavoutsos became a Director on 1 October 2023. 

Mary brings over 30 years’ experience in the water infrastructure industry, including her role as an Executive Market Director at Jacobs. Her leadership in strategy, governance, commercial and technical expertise, and the delivery of complex infrastructure spans across Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and the Middle East. 

Mary is widely acknowledged for her strong focus on business strategy, sustainability, customer and community value. Mary holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical) Honors degree from University of Melbourne. 

 

Robyn McLeod AM
Director

FAICD, B.A, B.ED.

Robyn McLeod became a Director on 1 October 2023. 

Robyn has served as the Independent Commissioner for Water Security in South Australia, National Director of Water at KPMG, and Executive Director of Major Projects, Water with the Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria. 

Robyn was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2024 for her significant contribution to social welfare and governance. 

Robyn currently holds positions on the Boards of Clean Teq Water Limited, Austin Health, and served on the Board of VicWater for 4 years, and Melbourne Water for 8 years. 

 

Victoria Marles AM
Director

BA, Dip Ed, Dip Arts (Dramatic Arts), LLB (Hons), LLM, FAICD

Victoria Marles became a Director on 1 October 2017. 

Victoria is the Chair of Australian Land Conservation Alliance and a director of the Great Ocean Road Coast and Park Authority. She has practised as a lawyer in the private, not-for-profit and public sectors in media/ communications and consumer complaints law. 

Victoria has previously held the positions of Chief Executive Officer of Trust for Nature, Director of Consumer Action Law Centre, Abbotsford Convent Foundation, Chief Executive Officer of the Legal Services Board (Victoria), Legal Services Commissioner (Victoria), Deputy Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman and has been a trustee of the Victorian Arts Centre Trust. 

Victoria brings to the Board extensive knowledge in the areas of natural resource management, climate change adaption, biodiversity conservation/offsets and consumer law. 

 

Catherine (Kate) Vinot
Director

B.E. (Hons) Civil Engineering, MBA (Executive), MSc Economics for Development (Hons), GAICD

Kate Vinot became a Director on 1 October 2021. 

Kate is an experienced business leader with strong commercial acumen and a deep understanding of developing and delivering of effective strategies. She has held senior executive roles in public and private organisations in the water, energy, resources and environment sectors and sustainable urban development. Kate also has close to 20 years’ experience as a Board Director and Chair. 

Kate brings exceptional skills in effective implementation of lasting strategic, customer-focused transformational change in complex public, private and government organisations. She is able to bring the leaders of diverse specialist functions together into one high performing team to execute strategy across an organisation and beyond. 

 

Ari Suss
Director

MPPM Master of Public Policy and Management, GAICD

Ari Suss became a Director on 1 October 2021. 

Ari is Chief Executive Officer of Melbourne Avalon Airport, a Director of the Melbourne Arts Precinct Corporation and Luna Park Melbourne. 

Ari has provided specialist expertise in regulatory, legislative, and political matters for Linfox’s logistics, property and aviation businesses, joining as Manager of Government and Corporate Affairs in 2004. He became Executive Director of Fox Private Group in 2008 and CEO of Fox Special Projects Group, supporting the family investment arm of the Linfox Group of Companies in 2018. 

Ari was a senior adviser to former Premier Steve Bracks between 1999 and 2004. During this time, he specialised in policy and advice in the areas of infrastructure development, transport, ports, major projects, multicultural affairs, and parliamentary strategy. 

Ari has a Masters degree in Public Policy and Management from Monash University and has completed executive studies at Harvard Business School. Ari is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. 

 

Natalie Foeng
Managing Director   

BCom (Acc), CA, GAICD

With a career spanning more than two decades, Natalie brings executive experience in both public and private sectors and has a strong track record of purpose-led leadership across critical infrastructure utility, sustainability, and community impact. 

Natalie is focused on driving innovation in water management to address the challenges of climate change and population growth, fostering a culture of inclusivity and collaboration across the organisation and with stakeholders, and promoting transparency and accountability in service delivery.

Natalie is deeply committed to delivering essential services that support liveability and wellbeing - now and for future generations. 

Natalie also serves as an Independent Member of the Victorian Department of Education’s Audit and Risk Committee.

Jyoti Wardhen, 
Director 

BCom, BSc, CA, GAICD 

Jyoti Wardhen became a Director on 1 October 2025. Jyoti is the Managing Director of Morphosis Advisory, an infrastructure and property advisory firm providing strategic, commercial, financial, procurement and transaction advice to government agencies, unlisted funds and ASX-listed corporations. 

Jyoti brings more than 20 years’ experience as an investment banker, project financier, equity investor, PPP sponsor and government adviser. Jyoti has held senior roles at Lazard Investment Bank, Citigroup M&A, KPMG, RBS Infrastructure and PPPs, and ANZ’s Project and Structured Finance Division. 

Prior to establishing Morphosis Advisory, she led commercial and financial advisory for the $62 billion Suburban Rail Loop (East) program. She now advises public and private sector clients across housing, transport and water. Jyoti has also served on the boards of not-for-profit organisations in the housing and childcare sectors. She is a Chartered Accountant and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Science from the University of Melbourne. 

Marcus Stewart, 
Director 

GAICD 

Marcus Stewart became a Director on 1 October 2025. Marcus is a proud Nira illim bulluk man of the Taungurung Nation and one of Australia’s most respected Indigenous leaders. He was the inaugural Co-Chair of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, where he led the establishment of the Yoorrook Justice Commission – Australia’s first truth-telling process with the powers of a royal commission – and helped lay the foundations for the nation’s first Treaty. 

He is a sought-after media commentator known for his authentic and influential voice, with regular appearances across television, radio and print. 

Marcus brings almost two decades of experience advising Fortune 500, NASDAQ and ASX-listed companies on strategy, change management and public policy.