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
Rosie Wheen – Chief Executive, WaterAid Australia
Rosie’s commitment to service and thirst for adventure drove her to begin her career in education. At 23, with a love of languages and other cultures, she jumped at an opportunity to volunteer at a school in Indonesia. The school and community were resource poor - no electricity, running water or teaching resources - but rich in so many other ways.
These formative experiences propelled Rosie into International Development. After six years in Indonesia, she joined WaterAid Australia at its inception in 2004 and, after 5 years as Director of International Programs, became Chief Executive in 2016. She also serves the sector as Vice President of the peak body, the Australian Council for International Development.
Rosie is passionate about human rights, gender equality and universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene. Knowing that we must “Be the change we wish to see in the world”, Rosie has worked with her Board and leadership team to audit and transform the gender dynamics and power relationships across Wateraid Australia. In concert with this, she strives to make space for others to step into leadership and to blossom in all aspects of their work.
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.