Stormwater NSW held its 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday, 24th September 2026 via Microsoft Teams. The AGM brought together key stakeholders, industry leaders, and committee members to reflect on a transformative 12 months for the urban water sector in New South Wales and set our direction for the coming year.
You can access and download the draft minutes of the meeting here:
MINUTES COMING SOON
1. President’s Reflection: Impact Through Collaboration
Opening the meeting with an Acknowledgement of Country, President Nerida Taylor highlighted the collective strength of our association in tackling the macro-challenges facing our sector—including chronic underfunding, asset management backlogs, growth pressures, and climate uncertainty.
Key achievements highlighted from the 2025/2026 period include:
- Policy & Planning Reform: Stormwater NSW successfully advocated for crucial language in the final version of The Sydney Plan, which now officially identifies urban stormwater discharge as the highest priority threat to estuarine water quality in NSW. Members also contributed directly to the NSW Government's WSUD Guidelines.
- Funding Advocacy: Vice President Erin Sellers championed local government funding reform, ensuring the Stormwater Management Service Charge was elevated to the government's current review of statutory fees and charges.
- SQID Taskforce Progress: Under the leadership of David Nixon, the SQID Taskforce delivered actionable solutions and a roadmap to improve SQIDEP and maintenance standards across academia, government, and industry.
- Conference Momentum: Following the financial and engagement success of franc.2025 (where 97% of surveyed delegates expressed intent to return), early ticket sales for franc.2026 in Canberra have already outpaced previous benchmarks, with exhibition space completely filled.
2. Financial Recovery & Treasury Report
Treasurer Lachlan Shackcloth-Bertinetti delivered a positive Treasurer's Report, confirming that Stormwater NSW has returned to a robust financial standing after a challenging FY25.
- Net Operating Result: Total income reached $111,609, paired with controlled expenses of $58,260, generating an operating surplus of $53,350. (Much of this is due to prepayments for the upcoming conference)
- Balance Sheet: Net assets stand at $90,258 with zero liabilities at the close of the financial year (30 June 2026).
- Diversified Revenue: Financial returns from franc.2025, partnership commitments for franc.2026, and sales of the O&M Manual and workshops helped establish a more diversified, resilient revenue model.
Looking ahead to FY27, maintaining strict financial discipline and reinvigorating member retention and recruitment remain top operational priorities.
3. Election of Committee & Office Bearers
During the AGM, the meeting formally accepted nominations to fill open committee positions for the 2026–2028 term.
We extend our deep gratitude to outgoing committee members Andre Magar, Aditi Verma, Justine Barrett, Leanne Niblock, Yuna Chen, and Rapula Regoeng for their service and commitment to the association.
Executive Office Bearers & Committee (2026–2027)
- President: Nerida Taylor (Sydney Water)
- Vice President: Erin Sellers (City of Sydney)
- Vice President: David Nixon (Stormwater Services Australia)
- Treasurer: Lachlan Shackcloth-Bertinetti (Ocean Protect)
- Secretary: Stuart McTaggart (Alluvium)
Committee Members:
- Dr Andrew Thomas (Cooks River Alliance)
- Brent Cassidy (Hunter Water)
- Dr Brett C Phillips (Stantec)
- Indigo Munro (Graf)
- Lachlan Prentice (City of Canterbury Bankstown)
- Murray Powell (Optimal Stormwater)
- Nell Graham (Georges Riverkeeper)
- Ralph Ogden
- Robert Chesterfield (Atlan Stormwater)
- Shaw Abrey (Water Technology)
Stay Connected
As we step into FY27, Stormwater NSW remains dedicated to driving bold policy advocacy, fostering collaborative innovation, and serving our members across the state.
- Read the Full Annual Report: Download the SIA NSW Annual Report 2025-2026
- Upcoming Events: We look forward to seeing everyone at franc.2026 in Canberra from 27–30 October 2026!
