Southern Waters Appoints Leadership for New Water Services Entity

Southern Waters, the new water services entity for the South Island, announced significant leadership appointments aimed at establishing its operations. This entity will provide essential water, wastewater, and stormwater services across the Central Otago, Clutha, and Gore districts. The appointment of experienced professionals underscores the ambitious goals of Southern Waters, which is poised to be the largest joint council water services organization in the region.

Bruce Gemmell has been appointed as the establishment chairman, while Fiona Smith will take on the role of programme director. Both individuals are recognized for their extensive experience in the water sector, with Smith bringing over 30 years of specialized expertise from Australia.

In a joint statement, the mayors of the three councils—Tamah Alley of Central Otago District, Jock Martin of Clutha District, and Ben Bell of Gore District—expressed their satisfaction with the caliber of applicants for these leadership positions. They noted, “The strong interest from across New Zealand and Australia is testament to the scale of setting up a water services company and the confidence experienced professionals have in Southern Waters as a new organisation.”

Bruce Gemmell comes to this role with a wealth of knowledge in the infrastructure sector, particularly in water and electricity distribution. His career includes executive leadership positions at major firms such as Ernst & Young and KPMG. Gemmell has specialized in transactions, restructuring, and valuations within the infrastructure domain. He currently serves as an independent director at Central Plains Water Ltd and director of Buller Electricity Ltd, and has advised various water reticulation businesses, including the Dunedin City Council and Christchurch City Council.

Fiona Smith has significant experience in leading water organizations through reform and transition. Prior to joining Southern Waters, she was the strategy and performance executive manager at WaterNSW, one of Australia’s largest water utilities. Her previous role as acting chief executive of the Sydney Catchment Authority involved guiding the organization through a merger to form WaterNSW. Smith’s expertise encompasses water supply management, regulatory oversight, and stakeholder engagement.

Central Otago District Council chief executive Peter Kelly emphasized the importance of attracting talent from beyond the region. He stated, “While the programme director brings international experience, the focus remains firmly local, working alongside councils, staff, and communities to build a water services organization that reflects the needs and values of the southern region.”

The programme director role will be a fixed-term position, guiding the establishment phase of Southern Waters until December next year. As the organization moves forward, it aims to create a robust water services framework that meets the demands of its communities while adhering to best practices in the industry.