Dona Tantirimudalige (she/her)
Dona Tantirimudalige was appointed Managing Director in September 2021.
Dona is an experienced leader within the Victorian water industry and has a strong passion for the role of the public sector in creating a fair and just society, focussed on those we serve.
Dona has over 27 years of experience in the water industry across strategic planning, customer experience, and the asset life cycle. She has over ten years of board director experience across various sectors including not-for-profits, community banking, legal services and peak bodies.
Dona is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, holds a Masters in Public Policy & Management and a Bachelor of Engineering (civil – honours), and is currently an industry director on the Energy & Water Ombudsman of Victoria board.
Gareth Kennedy (he/him)
BA, GDip PubPolicy & Mgt
Gareth Kennedy was appointed as the General Manager Customer & Community in 2016. In July 2022, Gareth was appointed as the General Manager Corporate & Customer.
Gareth is responsible for the Corporate & Customer Division, whose functions include customer relations, communications, strategy, performance management, governance, and technology.
The Corporate & Customer Division is made up of four departments, including:
• Strategy, Performance & Governance – Management and delivery of high-level expertise, guidance and advice on business strategy and planning, corporate governance, risk and performance reporting frameworks. This Department also runs the fleet, facilities and procurement functions.
• Information, Communication Technology – Delivery of efficient and effective ICT solutions and information management practices to meet the strategic and operational needs of the business.
• Customer Relations - Leads a customer-first culture across the business, making it easy for customers to access the information and services they need and want.
• Communications & Engagement - Responsible for key strategic communications, education, sponsorship, community engagement, stakeholder management and media liaison.
Gareth is also Westernport Water’s representative on the Gippsland Regional Water Alliance, which seeks to deliver shared efficiencies and business improvements through a partnership of Gippsland water corporations.
David Girdwood (he/him)
David Girdwood joined Westernport Water on 30 January 2023.
This area focuses on delivering safe, sustainable and reliable water and wastewater services; ensuring we meet desired customer service levels and environmental performance standards in an increasingly variable climate.
Assets & Operations is made up of departments including:
• Water Wastewater & Environment – Lead water & wastewater treatment, water resource management, environmental compliance & sustainability, risk identification and reduction, recycled water management, and farm management.
• Asset Planning – Lead strategic asset management to achieve the most economical whole of asset life, by implementing asset policies, strategies, plans and procedures across the business, including provision of property development services and dam safety. Lead WPW’s response to climate change including IWM, long term energy procurement and efficiency, greenhouse gas emission reduction, nature based treatment and partnership opportunities.
• Engineering & Construction – Lead the timely delivery of the capital works program, engineering and technical services and project management for construction, maintenance and operations of all water and wastewater assets.
• Network Operations & Maintenance – Lead the effective and efficient delivery of network services for all water and wastewater systems within agreed service standards 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year.
Kathy Hawke (she/her)
Kathy Hawke joined Westernport Water in November 2015.
Kathy has over 30 years’ experience primarily in senior roles throughout the Government, Insurance and Telecommunication sectors.
She is dedicated to helping improve and support the community in which she lives in through her involvement in various community development programs and in her Director position with the Bass Coast Community Foundation.
Kathy holds various qualifications including a Master of Business Administration from Deakin University, with a specialisation in Accounting and a Graduate Certificate in Risk Management and Corporate Governance and is a member of AICD.
Fi Blackmore (she/her)
Fi Blackmore joined Westernport Water in September 2023.
She has a strong background in human resources, strategy, work health and safety, and organisational development. She has 20+ years experience as an executive in telecommunications, energy, banking, universities and the public sector in a range of senior people & culture roles. Fi’s also a qualified lawyer (BA, LLB, LLM), with interests in workplace relations, employment law and inclusion & diversity.
Fi believes enabling and respecting individuals to develop and succeed at work, even in seemingly small ways, is key to achieving great team outcomes.
Westernport Water’s People, Culture & Safety team is responsible for all people related matters, including strategy, employee lifecycle, inclusion and diversity, safety and wellbeing, people systems and payroll.
