Today we thank and farewell Bob McMullan, who retired as a Director of the eWater Limited Board (eWL) at the conclusion of our 2024 AGM on 13 November.
With five decades of public service, including as federal Minister for Trade, Minister for the Arts and Administrative Services, and having served as parliamentary secretary to the Treasurer and for International Development Assistance, eWater Group has had the privilege of drawing upon Mr McMullans’ experience and wisdom as an eWL Director and Chair of the Australian Water Partnership Advisory Committee (AWPAC) for the past seven years.
During his time with eWater, Mr McMullan has been an extraordinary source of advice and support for our international development flagship, the Australian Water Partnership (AWP), which is funded by the Australian development assistance program through the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Since 2015, AWP has been responding to the growing demands for Australia’s sustainable water resource management expertise to tackle existing and future water and climate change issues in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
Mr McMullan has played a pivotal role in the success of AWP’s first and second phases, as well as providing strategic guidance for AWP Phase 3. His impact on the eWater Board, AWP Advisory Committee and our wider organisation has been immense.
Michael Wilson, Group CEO, said, “Having had a long professional association with Bob McMullan, I have appreciated beyond measure the commitment he has given to the eWater team, especially to our people who manage the Australian Water Partnership. We have all learnt an immense amount from Bob about advocacy, strategic clarity and the vital importance of well-targeted and well-designed international development cooperation in promoting sustainable development, poverty reduction, and increased opportunity for all people.”
“Bob’s particular contributions to placing gender equality and disability inclusive development on the international development policy agenda have been especially important. Not surprisingly, the needs of women and girls and people with disability in terms of access to water and their involvement in decision-making in relation to water management remain particularly pressing,” Michael Wilson said.
Greg Claydon PSM, Chair eWL, said, “I very gratefully acknowledge Bob’s wonderful contribution to eWater, and, indeed, to public service in Australia and internationally, over many years. Importantly, I thank him very much for his wise counsel, deep knowledge and very helpful insights, especially when it comes to international development and partnerships and government-to-government connections. His leadership of the AWPAC since November 2018 has been particularly valuable and valued, always aimed at achieving practicable and better outcomes. Bob’s contributions will be greatly missed, and we wish him well for the future.”
We thank Bob McMullan and wish him all the best.
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