Dams Safety NSW comprises of six members: five independent part-time appointed members including a Chair and Deputy Chair and the Chief Executive (CEO) of Dams Safety NSW.
While Dams Safety NSW reports to the Minister, it is an independent body. Any directions by the Minister must be made in accordance with the provisions of the Dams Safety Act 2015. The Minister may not control or direct any decision that relates to proceedings for offences under the Act or the regulation. The members of Dams Safety NSW are colloquially referred to as a 'board' for administrative purposes.
The governing body operates under the DSNSW Board Charter and its members are required to adhere to the DSNSW Board Code of Conduct. We also publish minutes of Board meetings.
Our Members
Paul is an experienced governance leader and former federal safety regulator, passionate about the prevention of harm. He cares deeply about communities being safe and confident, well prepared for risk and uncertainty.
He has an outstanding record of achievement in delivering public value as a CEO and non-executive director. In a global career, he supported highly aligned teams to deliver on their service promises, sustain sound performance and organisational health and, build community and stakeholder trust and confidence.
Paul is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia and, a national Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia. He has an extensive governance practice and is a former Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University in its School of Regulation and Global Governance.
Julie Garland is a Chartered Civil Engineer with experience in both the water and the resources industries.
Her senior executive and board roles have included business development manager for Thames Water, Board member for Melbourne Water and City West Water, Director for Bounty Mining and Tamar Gold, Corporate Planner for BHP, and director of VENCorp.
Since 2004 Julie has focused on boards and governance. She is the author of several books, including All Above Board, Great Governance for the Government Sector and the popular ‘Directors Dilemmas’ series. She is a course creator and facilitator for both the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Governance Institute of Australia.
Dr Amit Chanan is an executive engineer with over 20 years of leadership experience in the water and infrastructure delivery sectors, including managing some of the largest multi-purpose dams in NSW during his time as Chief Operating Officer for the NSW State Water Corporation.
Dr Chanan has also served as the Chief Executive Officer for the Water Authority of Fiji, a state-owned enterprise responsible for the national water supply and wastewater management.
He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Engineers and a Fellow of the Australia-New Zealand School of Government and is currently an Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Technology Sydney. He chairs the International Water Association’s Specialist Group on Water Security and Safety Management.
Neil Brennan is an accomplished CEO and Managing Director with over 30 years of board and executive leadership experience in the Australian water sector. His recent roles include serving as Chair of the South East Queensland Water Industry Partnership and as a Director on the national board of the Water Services Association of Australia.
Neil holds a Master's in Business Leadership, an Oxford University Management Certificate, and a Graduate Diploma of Business Management. He is currently the Interim Chief Executive of Waikato Waters New Zealand.
Lisa is a community engagement and governance specialist who is passionate about regional Australia. She is a skilled executive in governance, strategy, engagement, social performance management, and social research. Lisa completed a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at Central Queensland University (CQU) in 2021 and maintains research interests in rural and remote communities, social impact, health and STEM education. She also possesses undergraduate and postgraduate tertiary qualifications in communications/public relations and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
She is the founder and managing director of a small Environment Social Governance advisory firm and is also the current board chair of Sunwater Ltd, a Queensland Government-owned corporation that supplies 40 per cent of water used for irrigation, industrial and urban customers in that state.
Ashraf (Ash) El-Sherbini is the Executive Director, Water Operations & Resilience at the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW). He oversees a diverse portfolio of strategic functions aimed at promoting sustainable water management and community resilience in NSW.
Collaborating with State-Owned Corporations, local water utilities, and government agencies, Ash works to enhance water service delivery and overall sector performance.
Over the past 12 years, Ash has held various roles across DCCEEW. Before joining the NSW Government, Ash worked in the private sector and in NGOs.
Ash represents Dams Safety NSW in interagency forums, emergency management activities and major stakeholder engagements, and provides strategic advice on dam safety standards, compliance and risk reduction programs.
Ash holds a Bachelor of Economics, a Master of International Law and International Relations and an Executive Master of Public Administration.