Tasmanian Irrigation Chairman, Samantha Hogg, has announced the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer to Tasmanian Irrigation.
After an extensive recruitment process, Andrew Kneebone was selected as the preferred candidate and will take up the position effective immediately.
Mr Kneebone was previously Tasmanian Irrigation’s General Manager Water Delivery and Infrastructure, and has been acting in the CEO role since late November 2018.
He previously worked in senior management roles in Tasmanian, Victorian and West Australian water companies, including as CEO of Cradle Mountain Water.
Ms Hogg said Mr Kneebone’s extensive experience in delivering significant water infrastructure projects, as well as engaging with key internal and external stakeholders, would ensure a strong and vibrant future for the organisation.
“Tasmanian Irrigation has planned, constructed and managed 14 complex irrigation projects around Tasmania, has another under construction in the North East and a further ten irrigation projects are being planned as part of Tranche Three,” Ms Hogg said.
“It is essential that we have strong leadership, expertise and capability to further our agreed irrigation agenda in the state to assist the Tasmanian Government meet its target of increasing the value of Tasmania’s agricultural sector to $10 billion a year by 2050.
“I have full confidence in Mr Kneebone’s ability to work closely with the Tasmanian Irrigation Board, our Ministerial Shareholders, our highly-skilled team and our irrigator communities to deliver our vision and enable more farmers to diversify, value-add and grow their agricultural businesses.”
Mr Kneebone said he was elated to be appointed CEO and looked forward to working with his team to reposition the organisation for long-term sustainable success.
“This is one of the most exciting times in Tasmania’s history as we work collaboratively to build irrigation schemes that are designed to last at least 100 years and deliver water at an average reliability of greater than 95 per cent.
“These irrigation schemes are a game changer for our state and I am incredibly excited to be leading the organisation through the next stage of irrigation project development and water delivery management.”
