Around the world, our network of dedicated staff and local partners make our work happen.
In Australia, that includes our Board, Chief Executive and Senior Management Team.
Together, every decision they make ensures our work is efficient, effective and sustainable, and takes us closer to our goal: making clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene a normal part of everyday life for everyone, everywhere.
Making change happen on a global scale
WaterAid Australia is part of a global federation, alongside six other members: America, Canada, India, Japan, the UK and Sweden. Together we work with partners around the world to unlock people’s potential with clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene.

Meet our Chair
Hon Karlene Maywald - Managing Director of Maywald Consultants Pty Ltd, Chair of WaterAid Australia
The Hon Karlene Maywald has dedicated her career to the sustainable management of water and improving access to water for all. Karlene is the Managing Director of Maywald Consultants and holds a broad portfolio of Board positions including Chair of the CRC for Solving Antimicrobial Resistance in Agriculture, Food and the Environment; Chair of the Peter Cullen Environment and Water Trust; and a Director of the Australian Water Association.
She is currently the South Australian Water Ambassador where she is focused on water policy advise, international water diplomacy and supporting Australian water businesses to improve export opportunities.
Karlene was elected to the South Australian Parliament between 1997 and 2010 and served as a cabinet minister from July 2004 until March 2010. Her portfolio responsibilities included the River Murray and Water Security,
At the National level, Karlene was a Member of the Murray Darling Basin Ministerial Council from 2004 to 2010 and she chaired the Australian National Water Commission between 2012-2015.
Meet our Chief Executive
Tom Muller – Chief Executive, WaterAid Australia
Chief Executive of WaterAid Australia, leading with a deep connection to WaterAid teams in Cambodia, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste. Building on his eight years as Director of Policy and Programs at WaterAid, Tom places emphasis on working through local systems and country leadership teams, that best understand the political economy in which they operate. Tom is passionate about WaterAid's focus on integrating WASH with gender, health, climate, and water resource management. Tom brings 20-plus years of international development experience to the role and is focused on building new partnerships to accelerate and sustain access to water, sanitation and hygiene.
Meet our Board members
What makes our Board of Directors so special? They give up their time and energy for free, to help us make a bigger impact and change millions more lives.