WELLINGTON WATER LIMITED - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Representative from Ngāti Kahungunu Ki Wairarapa Tamaki Nui a Rua Treaty Settlement Trust
Job Titles:
- Mayor of Porirua City Council. Committee Member
Ben Pitchforth has been consulting for over 25 years on business and system transformation into Regional and Central Government. Ben has worked with boards extensively over the past 10 years and looks forward to working with the Wellington Water Board during this period of transition for the Wellington region.
Ben brings specialist experience in managing organisations through significant change.
Bill Bayfield has recently completed a long career in both Regional and Central Government. He has previously been CEO at the Regional Councils in both Canterbury and Bay of Plenty and more recently, he was the CEO of the new national water regulator, Taumata Arowai, where he was responsible for its establishment.
Bill brings with him a wealth of knowledge in water management and organisational management and performance. He was closely involved with the early phases and implementation of the Government's Affordable Water Reforms programme. Bill is looking forward to bringing his skills and experience to the Board and assisting the organisation to ensure a successful transition throughout reforms.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Wellington Water Committee and Mayor of Lower Hutt
Charles is responsible for the operational delivery of a reliable and efficient three waters network that meets the needs of our client councils and stakeholders. This includes maintenance and development of water infrastructure, ensuring high-quality service delivery, asset resilience, and delivery of short to medium term goals that align with long-term strategic goals.
Charles has over 25 years' experience in regulation and operations.
Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts (Hons), Political Science (Canterbury)
Masters in Strategy (Victoria University)
Job Titles:
- Fellow
- Member of the Board
- Chartered Professional Engineer
David Adamson is a Chartered Professional Engineer, a Fellow of Engineering New Zealand, and Director of Adamson Partners. With over 40 years of experience in the local government sector, he has led the design, procurement, and delivery of major infrastructure projects across the country-many focused on water, wastewater, and stormwater services. David has held governance roles in utility companies, national asset management bodies, and local government, always with a focus on delivering practical, resilient, and cost-effective outcomes for communities.
David brings to the Wellington Water Board a deep understanding of how to manage and invest in essential water infrastructure. Raised and educated in Porirua, he has a strong connection to the Wellington region and is committed to helping ensure safe, reliable, and sustainable water services. He looks forward to supporting the organisation and serving the people of the region during a time of change and opportunity.
Erin is responsible for providing assurance that Wellington Water's operation and maintenance of the three waters networks is compliant with legislation and regulatory standards. Her team covers legal, risk, assurance, compliance and further supports the company by providing support in emergency management and business continuity. Erin's group is unique in the fact that it works across the company to provide assurance to the Chief Executive and Board of Directors.
Erin has over 20 years' experience in the water industry across risk, assurance, compliance, asset management and operations. Prior to joining Wellington Water in September 2014, Erin worked in roles within the local government and the consultancy sector.
Qualifications
Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) (Canterbury)
Certificate in Civil Engineering (Wintec Waikato)
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Executive and Leadership Coach
Gillian has extensive experience in leading and delivering change. She is an experienced senior leader and business consultant. She is a HR praticioner experienced in strategic and operational roles in private, public sector and not for profit organisations. She designs and implements people strategies to support organisational performance and deliver outcomes.
Gillian is an executive and leadership coach who understands what it takes to support people, make robust decisions and lead through change. She works with a diverse range of individuals, teams and organisations to design, develop and deliver organisational structures, operating models and change management including developing change skills in leaders and team members, facilitating change conversations and delivering workshops that give managers and staff the skills and tools they need to cope with change.
Job Titles:
- Representative from Te Rūnanga O Toa Rangatira
Job Titles:
- Chief Strategy and Planning Officer
- Senior Leader
Julie is responsible for the development and implementation of the regional three waters strategy, policy and plans to ensure the sustainable management and growth of water infrastructure. The Strategy and Planning group focus on understanding future demand and the level of investment required to achieve the regional priorities. She also oversees consenting under the Resource Management Act, engineering and modelling advisory services.
Julie is an experienced senior leader, working across several central government sectors covering public strategy and policy, transport planning and investment, public transport regulation and customer relationships. Julie has also worked within the local government sector in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
Qualifications
Bachelor of Environmental Sciences (Hons) (University of East Anglia, UK)
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia & NZ
Leanne Southey is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia & NZ and is a partner in the Wairarapa accountancy firm Southey Sayer Ltd. She is a trustee of the Masterton Community Trust and a board member of Wellington Free Ambulance and Trust House Ltd.
She is a past Trustee and Chair of the Masterton Trust Lands Trust and past board member of the Wairarapa DHB. Leanne is active in a variety of community organisations in the Wairarapa.
Mahina Puketapu has held various roles in investment and finance across the public service and private sector culminating in her current role as Chief Investment Officer at Tauhara North No.2 Trust.
Mahina holds a Master of Business and Administration from the Victoria University of Wellington and has recently transitioned into Governance roles.
She brings to Wellington Water her governance experience from sitting on Iwi post settlement entities, commercial investment boards and the Institute of Finance Professionals NZ. She is excited to join the Wellington Water Board at this time of transition and to support the implementation of the changes ahead for the benefit of councils, ratepayers, and stakeholders.
Mahina is born and raised in Wellington and is of Te Āti Awa and Taranaki Iwi descent.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Mayor of South Wairarapa District Council
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Chief Executive of Infrastructure New Zealand
Nick Leggett is the Chief Executive of Infrastructure New Zealand. With a quarter of a century experience in governance, he brings strong credentials to the board of Wellington Water.
As a previous Mayor of Porirua for six years, Nick brings a keen awareness of community and customer water needs to the role as chair.
Nick is a proud Wellingtonian - born and raised in Porirua, where he lives with his family.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive
- Director to the Wellington Water Board
Pat is responsible for overall leadership and management at Wellington Water.
A water engineer by profession, Pat has extensive leadership, local government and infrastructure and asset management experience. Pat was the Chief Executive of the Nelson City Council for five years and the Kāpiti Coast District Council for ten years.
In 2023, Pat was appointed as a Director to the Wellington Water Board. An appointment he has served for the past 12 months before taking on the role as Chief Executive.
During his time at the Kāpiti Coast District Council, Pat was also Chair of the Wellington Region Civil Defence Emergency Management Executive Group and served on the Board of the McKays to Pekapeka Expressway Alliance.
Pat also sits on the Board of the New Zealand Transport Agency - Waka Kotahi.
Qualifications
Bachelor of Engineering (Civil)
Master of Business Administration (with Distinction)
Member of the Institute of Directors and a Chartered Member of Engineering NZ
Job Titles:
- Greater Wellington Regional Councillor
Job Titles:
- Mayor of Upper Hutt City Council
Job Titles:
- Chief Corporate Services Officer
Wayne is responsible for the enabling the effective functioning of the organisation and the achievement of strategic goals by delivering support services. This includes finance, health & safety, people and capability, business planning, digital product services, commercial and procurement functions.
Wayne has had a diverse career in executive strategy and finance roles, and has worked in local government for much of the past 25 years. Prior to this role he was the Chief Executive at Kapiti Coast District Council.