Leadership Team

Phillip Snowden

Chair

Mr Snowden was appointed to Murray Irrigation’s board of directors on 28 November 2017.

Mr Snowden operates a mixed irrigation business as well as a Hay Cap business near Tocumwal.

He has been associated with the Berriquin Irrigators’ Council, Southern Growers and the Australian Fodder Industry Association.

He is a Fellow of the Peter Cullen Trust.

Mr Snowden was appointed to the Board of the National Irrigators Council in October 2021. He is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Read full bio here.

Geoff McLeod

Deputy Chair

Mr McLeod was appointed to Murray Irrigation’s Board of Directors on 13 May 2024.

He and his family operate a 1,900 ha irrigation farm with six employees producing a range of summer and winter crops including corn, cotton, soybean, lupins, canola, durum wheat and faba beans. The farm irrigation systems incorporates the use of overhead and bed farming systems to undertake the intensive farming systems

Mr McLeod has been actively involved in community organisations over many years and more recently founded and currently chairs Southern Growers Inc, a grower organisation undertaking research development and extension activities to enhance irrigation farm business viability

Mr McLeod has extensive knowledge in the irrigation and water policy space and has provided professional consultancy services to irrigation authorities, industry groups and state and federal government agencies.

Mr McLeod graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor degree in Agricultural Science prior to embarking on a  professional career with a number of public and private organisations and establishing his farming business.

Read full bio here.

Robert Burbury

Independent Director

After attending Marcus Oldham Farm Agricultural College, Mr Burbury spent the first 15 years of his career as the principal of a large mixed farming enterprise in Tasmania’s northern midlands.

Since moving to Victoria in 1991, he has been involved in consulting to large agribusinesses, managing property developments, and has spent 20 years in senior executive corporate agribusiness roles at Austrade, Pivot Ltd, O2e, Warakirri Dairies and The Healthy Grain. Mr Burbury has been an Independent Non-Executive Director of Harris Dairies Ltd (Macquarie Agricultural Funds Management) and an Independent Non-Executive Director of Riordan Grain Services. He was also a municipal councillor for 10 years, the last few as Deputy Mayor.

Mr Burbury was instrumental in the conception and development of the Warakirri Dairies Fund, successfully marketed and established the $100M fund and was appointed as the founding CEO in October 2006. Mr Burbury was appointed CEO of The Healthy Grain P/L in December 2013. He is also Managing Director of a family company, Ormley Proprietary Ltd.

Read full bio here.

Gabrielle Coupland

Member Director

Mrs Coupland was appointed to Murray Irrigation’s Board of Directors on 13 May 2024. 

She and her family own and operate a mixed irrigation farming operation including cotton, wheat, canola, sheep, corn, rice, barley and hay.

Mrs Coupland has previously served as Deputy Director of the Ricegrowers' Association of Australia, Chair of Southern Riverina Irrigators, Vice Chair of the NSW Nationals, Chair of the Local Land Services Murray Landholder & Aboriginal Advisory Group and Chair of WA Partners in Grain. 

She holds a Masters in Business Administration and has extensive professional agribusiness experience across Australia from farm gate production to business analysis, strategy, succession and politics. 

Read full bio here.

Trisha Gorman

Independent Director

Ms Gorman is an experienced information and communications technology (ICT) Consultant with more than 20 years’ experience in both the private and the government sectors. She is one of the founding owner directors of L&T Consulting which provides project management, change management, business analysis, risk management and governance professional services to many clients around the country.

In addition to running the consultancy company, Ms Gorman also provides professional and business coaching services, helping clients produce successful results in achieving success in their career. She currently lives in Canberra. Having grown up in country Victoria, she enjoys the mix of county and city that Canberra offers.

Read full bio here.

Noel Graham AM

Member Director

Mr Noel Graham AM, was appointed to Murray Irrigation’s Board of Directors on 13 May 2024. 

Noel is a director with experience in the Corporate, Government and Not-for-Profit sectors.

Noel’s corporate directorships have included board positions both international and domestically and cover both upstream and downstream supply chains, particularly related to Sunrice in the rice industry and Murray Irrigation in the water industry.

Noel’s government experience incorporates knowledge of the Marketing of Primary Products Act in the State of NSW.

In the Not-for-Profit sector Noel’s experience relates to NDIS, Aged care, families, and children.

Noel’s expertise include governance, finance, risk and ESG.

Noel has a Masters in Business Administration (MBA), is a graduate and fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD) and a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program. 

Read full bio here.

Lachlan Marshall

Member Director

Mr Marshall was appointed to Murray Irrigation’s board of directors on 28 October 2021.

Along with his family, Mr Marshall operates a dairy business at Blighty, and is currently the Chair of SpeakUp 4 Water and Deputy Chair of the Murray Regional Strategy Group.

Read full bio here.

Leanne Small

Member Director

Mrs Small was appointed to Murray Irrigation’s Board of Directors on 13 May 2024.

She is a partner and business manager for her families’ farm enterprise, which includes irrigation holdings in the Murray Irrigation footprint, a dry land farm in the Murray Shire and a cattle farm in the Bega Valley in NSW. 

Mrs Small has extensive senior management and team leader experience gained through her 40 years’ employment in the Vocational Education sector, as well as strategic planning and implementation, negotiation, and formal qualifications in leadership, business management, administration and finance. 

She has served on a number of Boards and local committees over the years and currently chairs the Country University Centre (CUC) Steering Committee, which is working to gain government funding to establish CUC’s across four shires in the Southern Riverina. She is also a member of the Kusik (Deniliquin Newspapers) Board. 

Read full bio here.

Ron McCalman

Chief Executive Officer

Ron commenced at Murray Irrigation in June 2022 and has significant and diverse experience within the Australian agricultural sector including leadership roles with supply chain, commodity, corporate farming, and finance businesses both publicly listed and multinational. Ron has a passion for building aligned teams who have clarity on the strategic direction of the business and are empowered to deliver value for customers and shareholders while ensuring all staff operate in a safe and sustainable manner. With a strong focus on business improvement, ESG and value creation, Ron holds a EMBA from the University of Sydney and is a member of the AICD.

Scott Barlow

General Manager Operations

Scott commenced at Murray Irrigation in April 1996. He holds significant and diverse experience within the bulk irrigation industry. With a background in both irrigated and mixed dryland farming, and experience in the forestry and agricultural sectors prior to commencing with Murray Irrigation, he has played a large role in the water efficiency and operational development of the Murray Irrigation gravity supply network. Scott has an Associate Diploma in Applied Science.

Nathan Holahan

Company Secretary and General Manager Corporate Services

Nathan commenced with Murray Irrigation in 2012. He has a background in journalism, communications, and compliance. Nathan holds a Bachelor of Laws degree and is currently studying towards his Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice. Nathan is the company’s in-house corporate governance specialist. He is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a member of both the Governance Institute of Australia and the Law Society of NSW.

Tessa Chartres

General Manager Business Development

Tessa has been with Murray Irrigation since January 2018 and lives in Deniliquin with her husband and twin boys. She has over 10 years of corporate experience as an accounting and analytical professional, working across both the public and private sectors. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and is a member of both the Certified Practicing Accountants of Australia and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Tessa believes that Murray Irrigation is critical in ensuring the growth and sustainability of the regional economy.

Rob Kotkin-Smith

General Manager Finance

Rob commenced with Murray Irrigation in October 2014. Rob holds a Bachelor of Accountant degree, a Master of Business Leadership, and is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA Australia). He has a background in Corporate Finance and Project Accounting. Rob has a passion for project accounting having worked in the construction industry in South Africa, as well on large alliance projects in utilities (water), rail and defence in Australia. Rob was senior project accountant on the Murray Irrigation PIIOP Round 2 & 3 projects. Rob believes in adding value, growing teams, and sharing knowledge.