Our Board and Executive team
Our Board
The Seqwater Board is responsible for the way we perform our functions and exercise our powers under the South East Queensland Water (Restructuring) Act 2007.
The Board’s role is to:
- set strategy and direction, and provide the governance framework for the organisation through the endorsement of financial, administrative and operational policies
- ensure we perform our functions and exercise our powers in a proper, effective and efficient way
- ensure strategic and operational planning objectives are achieved
- be accountable to the responsible Ministers for our performance
- review the annual performance of the Chief Executive Officer.
John McEvoy (Chairperson)
Chair appointed 28 August 2025 | Board appointed 1 October 2020 | Reappointed 1 October 2023
Mr McEvoy is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, with more than 40 years’ experience in the mobilisation and delivery of major capital investment programs and megaprojects within Australia and internationally. In the past 20 years, Mr McEvoy has focused on using proven capital investment governance practices to successfully plan and implement major economic, social and environmental infrastructure schemes ranging from $100 million to over $7 billion.
His earlier engagements in South East Queensland’s water supply assets include Project Director of the Western Corridor Recycled Water Scheme as well as broader involvement in the delivery of a range of dams, water treatment plants and trunk mains across the region.
Catherine Mickel (Member)
Board appointed 1 October 2020 | Reappointed 1 October 2023
Catherine Mickel is a physiotherapist with more than 30 years’ experience spanning public, private, and community health. She is the former National President and long-serving spokesperson of the Australian Physiotherapy Association, where she influenced policy in Aged Care and Palliative Care.
Through her consultancy, she has advised companies and not-for-profits on engaging with all levels of government, leading advocacy campaigns that delivered measurable impact.
An experienced Director, Catherine has served on multiple national and state-based boards and is currently a Director on the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (Queensland), Diego & Co Pty Ltd, and South Brisbane Medical Corporation.
Amanda Cooper (Member)
Board appointed 28 August 2025
Mark Girard (Member)
Board appointed 28 August 2025
Amanda Kenafake (Member)
Board appointed 28 August 2025
Antonia Mercorella (Member)
Board appointed 28 August 2025
Pauline Thomson (Member)
Board appointed 28 August 2025
Our Executive Team
Emma Thomas – Chief Executive Officer
Emma Thomas is an Australian public servant and engineer with a diverse career spanning both the public and private sectors. Emma brings a wealth of experience and a strong track record of leadership across sectors including aviation, rail, public transport, infrastructure and local government. Most recently Emma was the Interim CEO of Queensland Games Venue and Legacy Delivery Authority, her previous experience includes CEO of Sunshine Coast Regional Council, Director-General of Transport Canberra and City Services. She commenced her career as a RAAF Aeronautical Engineer and worked for over a decade with Boeing. Emma Thomas's extensive experience and leadership in engineering, public administration, and infrastructure development have been instrumental in shaping major projects and services across Australia.
Will Harpham – Executive General Manager, Customer, Strategy, Governance
Will is an accomplished leader with a proven track record of success spanning more than two decades. With leadership and advisory experience across corporate and government entities, including in the areas of major projects, transport and logistics, infrastructure, and water supply, he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role. Joining Seqwater in 2013, Will has been instrumental in guiding Seqwater through complex challenges and periods of change and delivering value for stakeholders.
In addition to his extensive legal and management background, Will recently completed the Oxford Advanced Management and Leadership Programme at the University of Oxford.
Melissa Williams – Executive General Manager People, Culture and Safety
Melissa is a results-oriented executive with extensive experience in a broad range of disciplines including human resources, safety, customer experience and general business management. She has successfully worked across public, private and not-for-profit sectors holding senior roles in a diverse range of industries including utilities, transportation, consulting, education and health/aged care. Known for her transformational leadership, Melissa is a seasoned executive that brings a unique blend of strategic vision and hands-on expertise. Her previous role before joining Seqwater was the General Manager People and Culture at Powerlink Queensland.
Sarah Dixon – Executive General Manager Infrastructure Planning and Capital Delivery
Sarah’s career demonstrates a track record in strategy implementation, organisation and culture change and capability development. Having worked across a number of different industries, she combines experience in large scale change and transformation programs with operational and capital delivery success through leading geographically disperse teams to achieve significant outcomes. Her previous role before joining Seqwater was as Executive General Manager South East Queensland Assets at Queensland Rail.
Declan Rooney – Executive General Manager Digital Technology Information
Declan is an experienced leader with more than 25 years in the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors. He has a proven track record of driving digital business transformation and improving operational efficiency across industries such as infrastructure, oil & gas, mining, rail, health and aged care, and aviation. Before joining Seqwater, Declan served as Head of Digital Transformation at Airservices Australia. Prior to that, he served as Chief Digital and Data Officer at the Suburban Rail Loop Authority.
Mike Hutchens – Executive General Manager Corporate Services
Mike is an experienced leader and Chartered Accountant with more than 30 years of experience working in a range of businesses including regulated Government Owned organisations in the energy industry, publicly listed multi-national mining companies and financial and professional services firms. Before joining Seqwater, Mike was the General Manager Financial Control with Energy Queensland. Prior to this, he was the Chief Financial Officer at Ergon Energy.
Fiore Zulli – Executive General Manager, Operations
Fiore is an accomplished engineer with more than 30 years' experience, across a wide range of roles spanning operations, production and management. After more than 20 years in the petroleum industry in a number of key management positions, Fiore joined Seqwater in 2016 as Manager, Operations (Northern Region) before becoming our Executive General Manager, Operations.