Christine Cussen, Chief Executive Officer

Christine has extensive international commercial and P&L experience via Chief Executive roles with multi-national and entrepreneurial start-up organisations notably across a diverse range of industry sectors including pharmaceutical, biotechnology, industrial and sustainability. Christine has a passion for organizational development & growth and in particular business & market strategy, international business development, technology commercialisation, change management and delivering results through people and their collective wisdom.

Christine's leadership experience includes roles as Chief Executive Officer of ICI/Zeneca Pharmaceuticals Australia & New Zealand; Managing Director of Eiffel Technologies Limited & General Manager Innovation & Technology at Orica Consumer Products.

Christine has eight years' experience as a Board member in listed and not for profit organisations and serves as Council Member and Committee Chair of Governance & Risk at Camberwell Girls Grammar School in Melbourne.

Christine has qualifications in Science and Marketing and is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Ashraf Abdelmoteleb, Chief Investment Manager

Ashraf has extensive experience in investment, strategy and innovation management. He spent a considerable portion of his career guiding transformational technologies from infancy through to commercialisation with Invetech and Leica Microsystems (subsidiaries of the technology conglomerate Danaher Corporation) and previously with AMRAD Discovery Technologies. Ashraf has also held various strategic and advisory responsibilities as a management consultant with technology focused firms.

Ashraf has an MBA in technology management together with experience in technology sectors including water, clean technology, health and biomedical technology.

Dr Sarah Gray, Knowledge Transfer Manager

Sarah has worked within the water industry for over 10 years, and has gained extensive experience in research delivery, knowledge transfer, portfolio management and commercialisation. Sarah's experience includes developing a portfolio of water projects from early stage development through to commercialisation at Nanotechnology Victoria, as well as coordinating and managing testing programs for all products at Aqua Guardian Group, focusing on improving water quality and environmental sustainability.

Sarah achieved a PhD in analytical and environmental chemistry, as well as a Bachelor of Science (Honours) at the Water Studies Centre at Monash University.

Bryce Steele, Investment Manager

Bryce is an experienced business leader, advisor, consultant and facilitator, with experience in industry led research collaboration facilitation, change management, innovation, commercialisation, business & market strategy, manufacturing and project management. Bryce has delivered organisational improvement, value chain collaboration, innovation and commercialisation projects across a wide range of industries including rail, automotive, manufacturing, ICT, electronics, clean technology and construction. He has strategic and operational experience in specialist change management and commercialisation service providers, and as an executive manager in a number of businesses, including three of his own.

Bryce has worked with technology businesses, government departments and corporate organisations to assist them to realise the potential from innovation and gain the multiplier effect possible from effective engagement and collaboration with solution and strategic partners. Bryce holds a Bachelor of Building and a Masters in Enterprise Innovation.

Greg Hempenstall, Finance Manager

Greg Hempenstall joined the Smart Water Fund in 2011 and is responsible for managing the finance, treasury & governance functions of the Smart Water Fund.

Greg has extensive senior management experience in corporate & financial management including 23 years at the RACV where he served in several General Manager roles as well as Company Secretary. He has since worked as CFO and Company Secretary in a number of Public Companies limited by guarantee including World Vision, Vision Australia and WaterAid Australia Ltd.

He has fellowship status in the following organisations- Certified Practicing Accountants, Chartered Institute of Company Secretaries and the Institute of Company Directors.

Damien Connell, Contracts Manager

Damien has worked within the Melbourne water industry, previously for City West Water, and most recently as a member of Melbourne's Water Supply/Demand Strategy team. This work included researching 'emerging technology opportunities' to support the long-term strategy. Since 2007, he has successfully coordinated a team that developed water/resource demand management programs for large Melbourne businesses, using technical and people management expertise. Damien also pioneered many sustainability initiatives within local and state government agencies and has years of experience in the manufacturing industry, having previously worked for Qenos Australia Ltd.

Damien achieved his Bachelor Degree in Social Science (Environment) from RMIT in 2001 and is an AWA member and convenor of the AWA's Water Efficiency Specialist Network; a network promoting water efficiency information and outcomes to Australian water professionals.

Amy Hart, Knowledge Hub Coordinator

Amy joined the Smart Water Fund in early 2012 and is responsible for managing the Fund's online Knowledge Hub.

Amy has 18 months experience in the water industry as a member of Melbourne's Water Supply/Demand Strategy team. This work included managing organisational development activities, providing operational support to the project team as well as undertaking investigations on integrated planning and water related research to support the overall strategy.

Amy has a Bachelor of Arts and Graduate Diploma in Human Resources.

Angela Ganley, Contract Manager

Angela has three years' experience in the water industry, working with industry to improve water efficiency and wastewater quality and project managing water efficiency programs at City West Water. Angela began her career in the metals processing industry first as a process engineer at OneSteel, and then as a refractories engineer at Hatch Associates.

Angela has a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering and Bachelor of Commerce and is currently studying for a Master of Environment from the University of Melbourne.

Hilary O'Shea, Group Administrative Assistant

Hilary O'Shea joined the Smart Water Fund in 2011 and provides administrative support and assistance to the SWF group.

For 5 years she was the Advertising Manager (Publications) at the Law Institute of Victoria and has extensive administration experience gained working for various Victorian Government bodies including Department of Treasury & Finance, Department of Sustainability and Environment and VicRoads.

Hilary has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from Lancaster University, England.