Our Customer and Community Advisory Council is our ‘critical friend’, providing us with valuable feedback and challenging us in all areas of what we do.

The Council meets four times a year and has industry and community members representing our diverse customer base and community. Industries and fields include agriculture, behaviour change, customer advocacy, environment, local government, multicultural affairs, plumbing and building technology and youth.

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Members

David Heeps (Independent Chair)  

Customer and community segment: Independent  

David has more than 40 years of experience in the water industry in a variety of roles, having worked in policy departments, operating agencies and an economic regulator. David most recently spent six years as CEO of the Essential Services Commission and is currently a senior associate at Aither Consulting. 

Jennifer (Jenny) McGowan  

Customer and community segment: Vulnerable customers   

Jenny is a financial counsellor at Community Information & Support Cranbourne and is also the convenor of the Southern Network for Financial Counsellors. Before she became a financial counsellor, Jenny served in the Navy and was a kindergarten teacher. She is passionate about social inclusion and providing support for the most vulnerable in our community.

Professor Liam Smith   

Customer and community segment: Consumer research and behaviour change

Liam is the Director and co-founder of Behaviour Works Australia, a leading behaviour change research enterprise within the Monash Sustainable Development Institute at Monash University.  Apart from his research on human behaviour which includes over 80 research papers and 200 reports, he sits on several Boards and Committees including as a Lead Councillor on The Biodiversity Council (and Chair of the Practice Change Committee) and as Director of Inclusive Australia. 

Aishwarya Pokkuluri   

Customer and community segment: Youth  

Aishwarya was awarded the 2018 Young Leader of the Year award by the City of Greater Dandenong for her voluntary work in the community. Since joining the City of Greater Dandenong’s Young Leaders program, she has helped give the city’s most marginalised young people a voice. Aishwarya now works in the food industry working in quality assurance.

Lili Rosic

Customer and community segment: Local council

Lili was General Manager Liveable Communities at Cardinia Shire Council. She has extensive executive leadership experience across multiple Victorian councils in strategy, planning, sport and recreation, environment, transport, amenity, safety, and community services. She is passionate about the provision of high-quality customer focussed services, sharing knowledge and collaborating across the sector to build stronger communities and liveable places.   

Professor Sundram Sivamalai  
Customer and community segment: Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD)  

Sundram is a local and international consultant on community engagement. He conducts Intercultural Education programs for organisations as well as health education training, for health professionals in Japan, Indonesia, China and Malaysia. Sundram is the Chairperson of Ballarat Regional Ethnic Community Council Inc. He was awarded the Centenary Medal by the Australian Commonwealth Government for his work with migrants and in 2021 was awarded the Citizen of the Year by the City of Ballarat, Victoria. He served as the Victorian Multicultural Commissioner, and currently as the advisor for Ballarat Indian Association Inc. and Ballarat Hindu Temple and Cultural Centre Inc.

Tim Browne

Customer and community segment: Business Customers

Tim is the General Manager ESG & General Counsel at Chobani. He has experience as a general counsel, commercial lawyer, company secretary and ESG practitioner. Tim also has experience in the FMCG and sports/entertainment industries.

Gidja Walker OAM

Customer and community segment: Environment    

Gidja is a well-respected ecological consultant and natural systems teacher based on the Mornington Peninsula. She is the President of the Southern Peninsula Indigenous Flora and Fauna Association, is involved in the Clean Ocean Foundation and has a keen interest in land and water environmental protection.  

Alicia Darvall 

Customer and community segment: Partnerships

Alicia is an accomplished executive director and community cultivator and is the Head of Partnerships, Impact Missions at Minderoo Foundation. She was Director, Regions and Partnerships at Sustainability Victoria prior to this, Executive Director of Global Partners for not-for-profit B Lab and is the former chair of both the Melbourne Metropolitan Development Advisory Panel (advising on integrated approaches to metropolitan development) and the Inner South East Metropolitan Partnership, connecting Victorians and government on policy and services.

Deborah Corrigan 

Customer and community segment: Agriculture

Deborah is the Chief Executive Officer of Corrigan’s Produce Farms and is a sixth-generation farmer. She has been involved with the Agriculture industry for over 30 years as a grower and a current active member of the AusVEG Victorian committee. Deborah also played an active role in the establishment of the Eastern Irrigation Recycled Water Scheme.

Jill Lim

Customer and community segment: Developer

Jill has more than 30 years’ experience in property development and land subdivision. Jill has the distinction of being the first woman to obtain a Master of Building Degree at Melbourne University in 1991 and has since held a range of senior development roles working across medium density, urban renewal, and master planned communities

She served on both Urban Development Institute of Australia’s (UDIA) Victorian and National Boards, for eight and two years, respectively. She continues to contribute to the industry by being part of the UDIA’s Greenfield Committee. Recently, she was awarded the Raymond J Peck Award. This award is given to an individual who has demonstrated long-lasting excellence in service to the urban development industry. 

Jill currently holds the position of Development Director Land at Frasers Property Australia. She is responsible for overseeing the development of Berwick Waters, Five Farms, and Wallara Waters working closely with Joint Venture partners on all three of these projects. 

Thanuja Gunatillake

Customer and community segment: Plumbing

Thanuja has over 25 years' experience in communications, public policy, membership strategy and social impact across a range of organisations including Master Plumbers and RACV. She holds a qualification in Civil Engineering and brings a strong background in community and industry representation as well as Board experience as Executive Officer to the RACV Community Foundation. Thanuja is currently the Executive Manager, Member and Corporate Services at Master Plumbers, Victoria's peak industry association for plumbing.

Aunty Vicki Thomas

Customer and community segment: Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander

I am a proud Palawa/Trawlwoolway/Bunurong woman from Hobart, Tasmania. 

I am a member of the Bunurong Land Council. I have spent most of my life living on Bunurong/Boon Wurrung country, with my husband, two children, and 8 grandchildren.  

I play an active role in my local community, connecting to culture through my local gathering place Nairm Marr Djambana on the Mornington Peninsula. Through a chance meeting I met artist and mentor Nina Wright a Kokatha woman, who inspired and encouraged me to expand on my artistic skills.  

I had been a makeup artist for over 35 years in the beauty industry, hence my eye for detail, colour, and blending. Through Nina’s guidance, and encouragement, I began my painting journey. Painting for me has become more than just a hobby, it not only fills me with joy, but has enabled me to navigate through dark days which I have endured throughout the recent pandemic.  

I feel a sense of connection to my culture when painting and attribute my strength and courage to warrior and Chief Mannalargenna, my ancestor. 

Bianca Goebel

South East Water Board Representative