Wheel turns fully at Water Corporation

THE Water Corporation has completed a renewal of its board, with the appointment of Brian Hewitt and Brendan Hammond as non-executive directors.

The new appointments mean the Water Corp has a completely new board compared to two years ago, with the exception of long serving managing director Jim Gill.

Mr Hewitt and Mr Hammond replace retiring directors Ian Kuba and Peter Hopwood, who had been directors since the inception of the Water Corporation in its current form in 1996.

Chairman Tim Ungar said both new members brought outstanding business skills to the board.

Dr Hewitt retired from engineering group Clough in July last year, after serving as managing director for eight years while Mr Hammond is the current managing director of Argyle Diamonds, a wholly owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto.

Dr Hewitt’s appointment marks a return of sorts to the place where he started his engineering career.

His first job in 1966 was with the former Metropolitan Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage Board and he later worked in the Public Works Department.

Both organisations are predecessors of the current Water Corporation.

Since retiring from Clough, Dr Hewitt has taken board positions at Acumen Property Securities and scaffolding company PCH Group.

He is also vice president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA.

The new directors arrive at a time when the Water Corporation is conducting a “business improvement program” that involves a fundamental review of its structure and operations.