NSW Legends of Water 2026

Emma Berry 
Executive Manager Strategy and Engagement, Hunter Water 

Emma Berry 
Executive Manager Strategy and Engagement, Hunter Water 

Emma is a water sustainability professional with over 30 years’ experience in the water industry. She is passionate about the environment and delivering sustainable outcomes for the community. 

As Executive Manager Strategy and Engagement at Hunter Water, Emma leads a multi-disciplinary team responsible for strategy development, investment planning and community and stakeholder engagement; to ensure community values are reflected in a resilient and sustainable water future for the region. 

Emma has a degree in Environmental Engineering (Hons), a Master of Business Administration (with distinction) from the University of Newcastle and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. 

Emma has held multiple industry-wide roles and is currently the Chair of the Advisory Board of the Newcastle Institute of Energy & Resources at the University of Newcastle.

Jason Ip 
Manager Operations, Riverina Water

Jason Ip 
Manager Operations, Riverina Water 

Jason Ip is the Manager Operations at Riverina Water County Council based in Wagga Wagga in regional NSW. He has worked in the NSW local government water utility industry for over 25 years, specialising the treatment, production, delivery of potable water to both urban and rural townships and communities.

He is an active participant on the NSW Water Directorate Executive Committee for over 10 consecutive years assisting local government utilities in technical issues, policies, legislative reviews, training, and knowledge transfer challenges. He is passionate in the sustainable development of water industry workforce training and skills and participates on various state and national industry training committees and special interest groups.

Sandy Leask 
Senior Policy Advisor, Water Unit, Environmental Health Branch, NSW Health 

Sandy Leask 
Senior Policy Advisor, Water Unit, Environmental Health Branch, NSW Health 

Sandy Leask began working with water in 1995 doing freshwater macroinvertebrate surveys with the NSW EPA. He joined the NSW Health Water Unit in 2005. In this role he has been involved in the implementation of risk-based drinking water management systems, the NSW Aboriginal Communities Water and Sewerage Program, water fluoridation and the NSW Health Drinking Water Monitoring Program. 

Non-Member