--- title: NSW water leader steps down description: WaterNSW will operate under new leadership next month, following the resignation of the water authority’s CEO David Harris. --- [![Indigo by AWA logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Indigo_colour.png?height=24&name=Indigo_colour.png)](https://indigo.awa.asn.au/) [![Ozwater logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Ozwater.png?height=24&name=Ozwater.png)](https://www.ozwater.org/) [![Careers in Water logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Careers%20in%20Water_colour.png?height=24&name=Careers%20in%20Water_colour.png)](https://www.careersinwater.com.au/) [![NWW logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/NWW.png?height=24&name=NWW.png)](https://www.nationalwaterweek.org/) - [Join ![user icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-nav-user-icon.svg "user icon")](https://www.awa.asn.au/new-registration) - [Member Hub ![user icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-nav-locked-icon.svg "user icon")](https://memberhub.awa.asn.au) - 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[ Upcoming Events ](https://www.awa.asn.au/upcoming-events) - [ Events Calendar ](https://www.awa.asn.au/national-events-calendar) - [ Ozwater ](https://www.awa.asn.au/events/ozwater) - [ Photo Gallery ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/133291504@N03/albums) - [ Awards ](https://www.awa.asn.au/awards) Show submenu for Awards ![Plus icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-menu-plus-icon.svg) ![Plus icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-menu-minus-icon.svg) - [ Awards Overview ](https://www.awa.asn.au/awards) - [ Individual Awards ](https://www.awa.asn.au/awards-individual) - [ Chris Davis AM Fellowship ](https://www.awa.asn.au/chris-davis-am-fellowship) - [ Guy Parker Award ](https://www.awa.asn.au/guy-parker-award) - [ Organisation Awards ](https://www.awa.asn.au/awards-organisation) - [ Student Awards ](https://www.awa.asn.au/student-awards) - [ Australian Stockholm Junior Water Prize ](https://www.awa.asn.au/awards/student-awards/asjwp) - 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WaterNSW Board Chair Anne McDonald said Harris was instrumental in the creation of WaterNSW in 2015, after the merger of the two organisations. “In the past six years, David has led the organisation with passion and energy and has implemented some important water reforms for NSW,” she said. “Major achievements include [real-time water information](https://ozwater.org/Watersource/business/assets-and-operations/telemetry-system-set-to-bolster-nsw-water-management/) and water systems operations for customers in rural NSW [and] the delivery of the [Broken Hill pipeline](https://ozwater.org/Watersource/business/assets-and-operations/wentworth-to-broken-hill-pipeline-switched-on/), which was delivered on time and ahead of budget.” McDonald said she was confident WaterNSW would continue to thrive thanks to Harris' input. “The last year has been an extraordinary period – the continuing [extensive drought](https://ozwater.org/Watersource/business/assets-and-operations/drought-continues-despite-wet-reprieve/) across NSW, [bushfires](https://ozwater.org/Watersource/community/public-health/bushfires-water-sanitation-australia/) in most catchments, and the one-in-20-year rain event in metropolitan catchments. Then, of course, there has been the operational[ impact of COVID-19](https://ozwater.org/Watersource/business/assets-and-operations/water-utility-essential-works-continue-despite-covid-19/),” she said.  “The response by WaterNSW to these significant challenges is a tribute to the agility and performance culture that David has fostered within the organisation, allowing the team to successfully pivot between situations whilst seamlessly continuing to deliver on its core functions." Reflecting on his time with WaterNSW, Harris said he was proud of the authority’s work and dedication to the water sector. “It has been an honour and a privilege to serve the organisation from its inception through some of the most significant improvements in water quality and water system operations that this state has ever seen," he said. "Simultaneously, we have battled some of the worst natural disasters in our catchments. “I thank my team of passionate and committed individuals, the Board, my contemporaries from elsewhere in the sector and the NSW Government. I am proud of what we achieved together and I leave a high-performing organisation ready for its next phase.” [ Water Authority ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/water-authority) [ Leadership ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/leadership) [ NSW ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/nsw) [ C-suite ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/c-suite) [ Workplace ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/workplace) [ Utilities ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/utilities) [ WaterNSW ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/waternsw) Share [![email icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-email.svg "email icon") ](mailto:?subject=NSW%20water%20leader%20steps%20down&body=Check%20out%20https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/workplace/nsw-water-leader-steps-down) [![facebook-icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-facebook.svg "facebook icon") ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/workplace/nsw-water-leader-steps-down) [![LinkedIn icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-linkedin.svg "LinkedIn icon") ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/workplace/nsw-water-leader-steps-down) [![Twitter icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-twitter.svg "Twitter icon") ](https://twitter.com/home?status=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/workplace/nsw-water-leader-steps-down) ## RELATED NEWS ### [ Wentworth to Broken Hill pipeline switched on ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/assets-and-operations/wentworth-to-broken-hill-pipeline-switched-on) Water Source Broken Hill’s water supply has been secured with the commissioning of a 270 km pipeline between the Murray River at Wentworth and… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/assets-and-operations/wentworth-to-broken-hill-pipeline-switched-on) [![](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/lake%20wide.jpg?width=352&name=lake%20wide.jpg) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/long-term-strategy-to-help-protect-source-water-in-nsw) ### [ Long-term strategy to help protect source water in NSW ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/long-term-strategy-to-help-protect-source-water-in-nsw) Water Source As populations grow and land-uses change, increasing pressures are being placed on the health of drinking water catchments, but one… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/long-term-strategy-to-help-protect-source-water-in-nsw) ### [ Real-time data streams boost WaterNSW network ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/assets-and-operations/real-time-data-streams-boost-waternsw-network) Cecilia Harris Real-time data collection from 4600 measurement devices is set to improve water availability in communities across NSW thanks to a… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/assets-and-operations/real-time-data-streams-boost-waternsw-network) Advertising --- ### Subscribe to our newsletters Sign up to get the latest news and insights from us Advertising --- ![white arrow pointing upwards](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-white-arrow-up.svg) Top [![Footer-logo-02](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/Footer-logo-02.svg) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/) The **Australian Water Association** acknowledges the Traditional Custodians across Australia, where we live, work and play, for their deep connection to our precious waters and land. 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