Carla Purcell

Managing Director

Carla was appointed as our Managing Director on 18 August 2025. Before joining us, Carla held Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operations Officer positions at Yarra Trams.

Carla has a proven track record in delivering safe and reliable essential services that put employees and customers first. She holds degrees in law and commerce with a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce (majoring in Economics) from Deakin University.

Andrew Forster-Knight

BEng, BSci
General Manager Digital and Transformation

Andrew currently leads the teams within our Digital and Transformation Group.  Over the last 20 years, Andrew has pioneered the development of a range of technology-based innovations that have delivered efficiency and reliability benefits to water network operators, and helped to increase liveability and affordability for water utility customers. In his position as Operational Technology Manager, Andrew has played a key role in the development and delivery of our Digital Utility program, including the trial and roll out of Advanced BlokAid®, OneBox® and digital meter technology in our network. Andrew joined South East Water in 2003. 

Charlie Littlefair

BEng (Civil), FIEAust, CPEng, EngExec, NER, APEC Engineer, IntPE(NZ), CMEngNZ, GAICD
General Manager Liveable Water Solutions

Charlie leads the Liveable Water Solutions group, which manages the land development, resource recovery, liveability, connections, reliability, growth, liveable and sustainable futures and strategic asset management functions of the business. Previously he was General Manager Asset Investment and prior to that General Manager Operations for Metrowater in Auckland. Charlie has more than 30 years of international experience in the water and sewerage industry, having worked for both private and public water utility organisations including Opus International Consultants, Acer Engineering (a subsidiary of Severn Trent Water) and NZ Forest Products across New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom. Charlie joined South East Water in 2008.

Daniel Sullivan

BBus, MBA, GAICD
General Manager Research, Innovation and Commercialisation

Daniel currently leads the Research and Development team as well ;Iota a wholly-owned subsidiary of South East Water. Daniel has 20 years’ experience in senior management across a variety of sectors, holding senior roles in technology and consulting organisations. Daniel also has 12 years of international experience working with Austrade as a diplomatically-posted senior trade official. He has worked out of Australian embassies in Washington, D.C and Latin America where he developed a sectoral focus on water resource management. Daniel commenced as a Director on the board of the Australian peak industry body, the Australian Water Association, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has an MBA from the Melbourne Business School.

Lara Salembier

GAICD
General Manager, People, Safety and Governance

Lara joined South East Water in 2015 and has held several senior roles across the organisation before taking on the role of Acting General Manager, People, Safety and Governance in February 2026. In this role, Lara leads the people, safety and wellbeing, legal and risk functions of the organisation. 

In her substantive role as General Manager, Customer Experience, which Lara has held since 2023, Lara leads the organisation’s customer functions, including the contact centres (Accounts, Faults and Emergencies, Care, Solutions, Billing and Onboarding), customer resolutions, customer advocacy, enablement teams and the customer strategy and design team. 

An experienced people and business leader, Lara has led transformation projects, helping to create a positive experience for our customers. 

Prior to joining South East Water, Lara worked across private and not-for-profit sectors in senior HR leadership roles. 

Lara is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Certified Practitioner with the Australian Human Resources Institute. 

Karen Lau

BA, BCom (Hons), FIPAA (Vic)
General Manager, Strategy and Stakeholder

Karen joined South East Water in June 2023 as General Manager of the Strategy and Stakeholder group. Karen leads South East Water’s strategy, regulation and water resources functions as well the organisation’s marketing, communications and engagement portfolios. An experienced water industry professional, her career spans senior executive leadership roles across the Victorian Public Sector. Prior to joining South East Water, Karen was an Executive Director in the Department of Energy Environment and Climate Action, providing policy, strategy, regulatory, program and people leadership. She has led strategic initiatives in water and land management, waste and recycling, biodiversity, environment protection and climate action. Karen has previously held Executive Director roles leading the performance and integrity division at the Victorian Public Sector Commission and policy and project roles at the Department of Human Services. Karen is a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia (Vic).

Bryony Grice

GAICD, BA Applied Science (Hons)
Acting General Manager, Customer Experience

Bryony joined South East Water in 2024 as Group Manager, Sustainable Water Strategy leading the First Peoples, water policy, water sustainability and integrated water management teams. In February 2026, Bryony took on the role of Acting General Manager, Customer Experience, in which she leads the organisation’s customer contact centre teams and affordability, customer strategy and insights portfolios. 

Bryony has worked in the water sector for more than 20 years, beginning her career in Northern Victoria where she gained hands-on field experience. Prior to joining South East Water, Bryony held senior leadership roles at the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action and other Departments, where she contributed to major infrastructure projects, investment programs, the State’s COVID response and key policies that support customers and communities.

With deep experience across the sector and a strong background in community and stakeholder engagement, policy development and strategy implementation, Bryony is focused on making sure South East Water’s business strategy aligns with customer needs. 

Bryony is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Hons) and a Bachelor of Applied Science (Environmental Science). 

Tim Lloyd 

General Manager Service Delivery

Tim joined South East Water in November 2024 and is a seasoned senior operations leader with over 30 years’ experience in utilities and essential infrastructure service providers. Tim oversees South East Water’s network maintenance and operations, asset performance and resilience, and treatment and recovery services, including water recycling plants. He’s no stranger to the organisation, having previously led South East Water’s maintenance function in partnership with Thiess. Before joining South East Water, Tim was General Manager, Network Control and Operations with AusNet Services, leading their regional service delivery team, network operations and planning. Tim has also held significant roles at Thiess and Severn Trent Water, one of the largest privatised water utilities in England and Wales. He brings a wealth of experience in asset, contract and emergency management, SCADA functions, water quality and customer contact centres.