The Executive Leadership Team, headed by the Chief Executive Officer, leads the operation of Unitywater and is directed by The Board.
The team is firmly focused on improving customer service, achieving operational efficiencies and providing high quality, affordable and sustainable sewerage services and water supply for our community.
Anna Jackson
Chief Executive Officer
Anna Jackson has been Chief Executive Officer since July 2022. Her focus since joining the Australian water industry in 2017 has been on delivering safe and reliable water and wastewater services for customers, with a particular interest in reuse, and securing broader community, environmental and economic benefits.
She is active in national industry leadership through the Australian Water Partnership Advisory Committee and is a member of the board for Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA).
Anna’s professional background is diverse and includes roles in Australia and internationally for Coffey Tetra Tech International Development, and for aerospace and technology company Raytheon.
Michelle Clarke
Chief Financial Officer
Michelle joined Unitywater as Chief Financial Officer in November 2024, leading the team in financial, strategic and commercials decisions towards achieving our Strategic Ambition. Michelle has over 20 years of financial, strategy and corporate services experience, for both large public and private sector organisations.
Prior to joining Unitywater, she spent six years at Griffith University as CFO, leading the finance, procurement, and enterprise analytics teams.
Michelle is a Chartered Accountant and Fellow of CPA Australia.
Mike Basterfield
Executive Manager - Sustainable Infrastructure Solutions
Mike is a water industry professional with in excess of 35 years experience working across Australia, New Zealand and Asia.
He has expertise and executive management experience in all facets of water infrastructure delivery including design, construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance of complex water systems.
Mike is an experienced business manager and has a particular interest in carbon zero initiatives which achieve commercial return.
Rhett Duncan
Executive Manager - Customer Delivery
Rhett has more than 15 years’ leadership experience at executive and general management levels. He is responsible for Unitywater’s safe and efficient operation of the water supply and sewerage systems to provide reliable services to customers.
Rhett has previously worked in Waste Management, Transport Infrastructure and Construction Materials and led teams in challenging and changing business environments.
Katherine Gee
Executive Manager - Customer Experience
Throughout her extensive experience in both the private and public sector, Katherine has gained deep insight into the needs of customers and the community.
Her roles in telecommunications, local government and the water industry have included implementing major customer management systems, transforming customer experience and delivering organisational change.
Kenan Hibberd
Executive Manager - People, Culture and Safety
Kenan was appointed in July 2012. He has more than 25 years’ experience in Human Resources and Workplace Health and Safety in both the public and private sectors and has held senior management positions in national and international organisations in the industrial services, engineering, logistics and health sectors.
Kenan is a Fellow of the Australian Human Resources Institute.
Joshua Zugajev
Executive Manager - Strategic Engagement
Joshua joined Unitywater in 2023 and leads the teams that connect and engage our people and external stakeholders with our strategic business objectives and essential day-to-day operational activities. He has almost 20 years of experience nurturing the reputations of private, public and government corporations, in business-to-business and business-to-consumer markets across Australia.
Prior to joining Unitywater, Joshua led media, communications and stakeholder engagement functions for SA Water – one of Australia’s largest vertically integrated water businesses – as well as public affairs activities for electricity transmission company ElectraNet and Australia Post.
Joshua is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and state councillor of the Public Relations Institute of Australia.
