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 O'Connor - Chair
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 McLellan - Deputy Chair
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.
Shane McGrath - Member
Shane is a civil engineer with over 40 years’ experience in the water industry. He has extensive experience in senior leadership roles for construction, operation, maintenance and management of major dams and other water supply infrastructure, both in Australia and overseas.
He is an executive member of the Australian National Committee on Large Dams (ANCOLD), a member of the Dam Safety Committee of the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD), a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers and a Chartered Professional Engineer. He is a member of the Board of Seqwater.
Ian Landon-Jones - Member
Ian Landon-Jones is a civil engineer, project director, senior executive and director with over 40 years' experience in the water industry, and more than 20 years in the implementation of regulation.
He has expertise in dam safety management, asset management, design and delivery of major infrastructure, mining impacts on assets, emergency management, financial management and policy development.
His senior executive and board roles have included General Manager Dam Safety and Technical Director for WaterNSW, Chair of the Interim Dam Safety Advisory Committee, Chair and Board member of the Australian National Committee on Large Dams.
Ian currently serves as a member of the hydro-mechanical and earthquake committees of the International Commission on Large Dams. He was a member of the former NSW Dams Safety Committee for 15 years.
Dr Lisa Caffery - Member
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.
Chris Salkovic - Non-voting member and Chief Executive Officer, Dams Safety NSW
Chris is an asset management leader and certified asset management assessor (CAMA) with over 25 years’ experience in infrastructure risk management, strategic planning, program management and operations and maintenance improvement.
As Chief Executive Officer of Dams Safety NSW, Chris is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the agency.