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​Southern Waters announces key foundational roles

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Southern Waters has announced two key foundational roles to lead the establishment of the new water services entity.

Professional director Bruce Gemmell, of Christchurch, has been appointed Establishment Chair and Fiona Smith, who has over 30 years of specialist water-sector experience in Australia, has accepted the role of Programme Director.

The mayors of Southern Waters’ shareholding councils – Central Otago District Mayor Tamah Alley, Clutha District Jock Martin and Gore District Mayor Ben Bell – said, in a joint statement, that the calibre of applicants for both roles had been outstanding.

“The strong interest from across New Zealand and Australia is testament to the scale of setting up a water services company and the confidence experienced professionals have in Southern Waters as a new organisation.”

Southern Waters will be the largest joint Council water services entity in the South Island, delivering water, wastewater and stormwater services across the Central Otago, Clutha and Gore districts.

Bruce Gemmell – Establishment Chair

Bruce brings extensive expertise in the infrastructure sector, with particular experience in water and electricity distribution businesses. His earlier executive career includes executive leadership roles as Office Managing Partner for Ernst & Young's Christchurch and Wellington practices, and as Managing Partner of KPMG Christchurch. Throughout his practising career, he specialised in transactions, restructuring, capital raising and valuations across the infrastructure sector. Bruce is currently an Independent Director and Chair of the Audit and Risk committee at Central Plains Water Limited and Director of Buller Electricity Limited. Other current roles include:

Chancellor of Lincoln University (retiring end of 2025),

Chair of Lincoln Agritech Limited,

Chair Nitrolabs Limited,

Director Pioneer Renewables Limited,

Director Planz Consultants Limited,

Director Nexia Limited, and

Independent member of Selwyn District Council's Audit and Risk Committee.

He previously held directorships with Orion New Zealand Limited, Chair Audit and Risk and Director Highlanders Rugby Franchise. He has advised numerous water reticulation businesses throughout his career, including assessing water and waste distribution assets for Dunedin City Council and advising Christchurch City Council on its interest in Central Plains Water.

Bruce has completed regulatory and commercial valuations for a significant portion of New Zealand's electricity distribution businesses and has been involved in numerous infrastructure

sector mergers and acquisitions. He was a founding member of the West Coast Development Trust's advisory body, where he was instrumental in structuring and approving council civic development projects.

Fiona Smith – Programme Director

Fiona brings over 30 years of specialist water sector experience to the role, including significant expertise in establishing and leading new water organisations through major reform and transition.

She most recently served as Executive Manager, Strategy and Performance at WaterNSW, one of Australia's largest water utilities. Before this, she was Acting Chief Executive of the Sydney Catchment Authority, leading the organisation through an external review and its subsequent merger to form WaterNSW.

Fiona’s experience spans water supply management, strategic asset planning, regulatory management, environmental protection, and stakeholder engagement across government-owned, price-regulated utilities.

She holds a Bachelor of Science (Resource and Environmental Management), a Master of Business Administration, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Speaking on behalf of the three Councils’ chief executives, Central Otago District Chief Executive Peter Kelly said that attracting someone with such depth of experience from beyond our borders demonstrates that Southern Waters is being taken seriously as a future-focused water services provider.

“While the Programme Director brings international experience, the focus remains firmly local, working alongside councils, staff and communities to build a water services organisation that reflects the needs and values of the southern region,” he said.

The Programme Director role is a fixed-term position leading the establishment phase of Southern Waters through to December 2027.

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