Board director profiles
Dr Michael King, Chair
Dr Michael King is an experienced Chairman, Director and business leader. He has a strong community profile through his deep involvement in numerous community organisations.
Michael is currently Chairman of Barwon Water, Chairman of the T20 Geelong Region bid to join the Big Bash League, Deputy Chairman of St Laurence Community Services and member of the Federal Government advisory committee to the Minister for Small Business. He is a former Deputy Mayor of the City of Geelong.
Michael holds a number of post-graduate qualifications including both a Doctorate and Masters of Business Administration.
Michael has been Managing Director of Kings Australia for over 25 years and prior to that held a number of positions within Government at a regional, state and international level.
Michael was appointed the Barwon Water Board in October 2011.
Jodi Heath, Deputy Chair
Jodi Heath has a Master of Business Administration degree specialising in corporate governance from Deakin University. Over the past 13, Jodi has held management positions within the Telecommunications industry and currently works with the National Australia Bank (nab) as Regional Executive: Retail, Geelong and South West Victoria.
Jodi is also a board member for Committee for Geelong, The Gordon TAFE and Vice President of Bike Safe. She holds current memberships with G21 Geelong Region Alliance, St Laurence Community Services, Deakin Alumni Community and Geelong Business Club. She is also an Australian Rural Leaders Fellow and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Jodi was appointed to the Board in July 2010.
John Bugg
John was formerly the Head of Junior School at Geelong Grammar Highton and Essendon Grammar School, Melbourne.
John has been the Mayor of the Borough of Queenscliffe, Chairman of the Geelong Regional Library Corporation, trustee of the Geelong Performing Arts Centre and a Board member of G21.
John has been a director of the Barwon Water Board since October 2006.
Hugh Gleeson
Hugh is Chief Executive Officer of United Energy and natural gas distributor Multinet Gas.
Hugh is a founding member on the Board of the Energy Network Association, previously holding the positions of Deputy Chairman and Chairman.
He has over 20 years experience in the utility sector holding various general management positions including regulation, distribution and utility operations.
Hugh was appointed to the Barwon Water Board in July 2010.
Suzie Batten
Suzie Batten is the Principal of Batten Communications, specialising in strategic communications to support financial transactions, corporate positioning and issues management.
Suzie is a former Executive Director at Hinton and Associates, Australia's first specialist financial communications consultancy. She is a non-executive director of the Ski Club of Victoria, and an ambassador for SecondBite, a charity that distributes surplus fresh food and produce to agencies and people in need.
Suzie has a Bachelor of Commerce, Diploma of Applied Finance, is a Chartered Accountant and has completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors course.
Suzie was appointed the Barwon Water Board in October 2011.
David Harris
David Harris is the Managing Director of Budget Furnishings in Colac. He is an elected non-executive Director of Retravision Southern.
David has been active in the local community being a former member of the Rotary Club since 1984.
David has an Advanced Diploma of Business Management and Master of Commerce and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
David was appointed the Barwon Water Board in October 2011.
Stretch Kontelj oam
Dr Srechko "Stretch" Kontelj is the Legal Director Asia/Pacific for Specsavers Optometry Group and a councillor for the City of Greater Geelong, serving as Mayor in 2002–2003.
Stretch is a Specialist Reserve Legal Officer with the Royal Australian Air Force, and previously held senior roles of General Legal Counsel, Chief Operating Officer and General Manager with Sportsco.
Stretch has practised law for over 20 years and has undergraduate degrees in economics and law, masters in commercial law and business administration, and graduate diplomas in corporate governance, military law and notarial practice.
Stretch has a long history of community involvement, particularly in supporting ethnic communities, for which he was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2001. In 2003 he was awarded the Centenary Medal for services to local government.
Stretch was appointed the Barwon Water Board in October 2011.