Key Roles
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
- 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 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 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.