Board of Directors
Our leadership team brings together a wealth of experience from public and private sectors.
About Michael Barnes PSM FIPAAWA
Mr Barnes assumed the role of Chairperson when he became Acting Under Treasurer in the Department of Treasury in 2014.
Mr Barnes was appointed Under Treasurer in 2015. As Under Treasurer, he is the principal economic and financial policy adviser to the Government of Western Australia. He is also the Chairperson of WATC’s People and Remuneration Committee.
Prior to joining the Department of Treasury in 1997, Mr Barnes worked in the Commonwealth Treasury, where he commenced his career as a graduate in 1992. Mr Barnes holds a Bachelor of Business degree with Honours in Economics, and was awarded a Public Service Medal for outstanding public service to State Government finances in Western Australia.
About Michael Court
Mr Court was appointed to the Board as Deputy Chairperson in July 2017 and has been Deputy Under Treasurer at the Department of Treasury since September 2016.
Mr Court has almost 30 years of public sector experience with a focus on economic policy and financial management issues. This includes extensive experience in providing advice to Government on the Budget, fiscal strategy and infrastructure policy and planning issues, as well as working across Commonwealth-State financial relations, energy market reform, competition and trade policy. Mr Court previously held positions in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Commonwealth Treasury and London Underground Ltd. He is a former Board Director of GESB and Horizon Power and is currently a member of the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre Advisory Board.
About Pippa Hobson
Ms Hobson was appointed as a Director in February 2020 and is the Chairperson of WATC's Audit Committee and a member of the People and Remuneration Committee.
Ms Hobson is a Risk Consulting Partner at RSM in Perth. Ms Hobson has over 25 years of internal and external audit and risk consulting experience. Ms Hobson works with clients in the public and private sectors, focussing on internal audit, enterprise risk management and governance services. Environmental, social and governance (ESG), process redesign and cultural reviews are also key services provided. Ms Hobson’s industry experience covers government, utilities, resources, not-for-profit and financial services.
Ms Hobson is passionate about understanding how an organisation’s culture impacts its performance and conformance, and strives to support organisations optimising their potential.
About Susan Murphy AO
Ms Murphy was appointed as a Director in January 2019.
As CEO of Water Corporation from 2008 to 2018, Ms Murphy led the multi-faceted organisation that supplies drinking water to two million customers and wastewater services across 2.6 million square kilometres. Ms Murphy played a pivotal role in ensuring sustainable services were maintained during a time of declining rainfall, growing population and scarce water supplies.
In each year from 2009 to 2015, Ms Murphy was listed as one of the 100 most influential engineers in Australia by Engineers Australia. Ms Murphy was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2019 for distinguished service to the natural resources sector in Western Australia, and to engineering.
About Wayne Zekulich
Mr Zekulich was appointed to the Board as a Director in January 2023. He holds a Bachelor of Business and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Mr Zekulich is a consultant and non-executive director with substantial experience in advising, structuring and financing transactions in both the infrastructure and resource sectors.
Mr Zekulich was previously Chief Financial Officer of Gindalbie Metals Ltd and prior to that, Chief Development Officer of Oakajee Port and Rail. Currently, he is Chair of Pantoro Ltd, Jindalee Lithium Ltd, and Andro Pharmaceuticals Ltd in the UK.
About Kaylene Gulich PSM
Ms Gulich commenced as CEO of WATC in February 2019.
Ms Gulich has extensive experience in public policy, a broad knowledge of financial markets and considerable expertise in the Western Australian economy. She has previously held senior roles within the Department of Treasury, as the Executive Director of both the Economic, and Infrastructure and Finance business units.
As well as being a member of CPA Australia and the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Ms Gulich is currently on the Board of Directors at the Australian Financial Markets Association, VenuesWest and the Western Australian Institute of Sport, and is the Treasurer for IPAA WA. Ms Gulich was awarded a Public Service Medal for outstanding public service to Western Australia through a range of roles.
Banner image below - Matagarup Bridge. Image courtesy of Tourism Western Australia.
Operational Excellence
We are committed to the highest level of governance and fostering a culture that values ethical standards.