Mike Scott
Chief Executive Officer
Master of Engineering (Civil)
Mike ensures WWL delivers on its strategic objectives and manages the WWL team.
He has a Master of Engineering with Distinction in Civil Engineering from the University of Canterbury, specialising in environmental engineering and has completed executive international management training at the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona. Mike has 32 years’ postgraduate experience in business and project development, strategy, planning, operations and engineering in predominantly the energy sector in Australia, Scotland, the United States and New Zealand. Before joining WWL in April 2019, Mike was the Vice President North West Shelf Venture at Woodside Energy Limited. He also held the position of Chief Executive Officer at the North West Shelf LNG Joint Venture Project. Mike previously held the position of Vice President for Strategic Business Development and Growth at Woodside Energy Limited.
Dave Ashcroft
Chief Financial Officer
Chartered Accountant
Dave manages the company’s accounts and financial obligations and ensures WWL meets the accounting and financial requirements and expectations of the legislation, shareholders, financer and auditor.
He has significant commercial experience spanning three decades, specialising in organisations undergoing significant change in a variety of industry sectors in New Zealand, Australia, the United States and Europe. Previously he had senior executive team roles at the Cawthron Institute and at a Sealord aquaculture joint venture in Tasmania. Dave is passionate about the success of the region and supports a small number of local businesses and organisations in both a commercial and volunteer context. He is a Chartered Accountant and a member of the NZ Institute of Directors and of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Richard Timpany
Richard TimpanyCommercial Manager and Company Secretary
Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Commerce (Finance)
Richard was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 2004 following graduating with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) from Otago University.
Richard worked in various capital market roles in Sydney and then London before returning to New Zealand. He has consulted on irrigation projects in Central Otago prior to becoming the Chief Executive Officer at Hunter Downs Development Company in Timaru.
Ken Smales
Project Director
Ken leads dam design, construction and commissioning activities, while managing commercial and contractual issues with the contractors. He provides the project with nearly 50 years of engineering experience in all aspects of dam building, including design, consents, construction, operation, safety, hydropower generation and irrigation. He was involved in the Central Plains Irrigation Project in Canterbury worth $450M for five years and for 10 years was the Deputy Chairman of Damwatch, and a Director of Southern Generation Australia, a subsidiary of Meridian Energy New Zealand. From November 2018 to July 2022 Ken was a director of Waimea Water Ltd.
Daniel Murtagh
Projects Manager
Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) (Mechanical)
Daniel transitioned from Construction Manager to Projects Manager in September 2022. He is a Chartered Professional Civil Engineer, an International Professional Engineer and member of the NZ Society on Large Dams (NZSOLD). Daniel has extensive knowledge in the development of challenging large-scale capital projects around New Zealand. Daniel successfully managed the ground up development of the $45M Sheffield Water Scheme in mid-Canterbury. This project involved the design, consenting, capital raising and construction of a cooperative irrigation scheme including a High PIC earth ring embankment dam. Daniel has significant experience in infrastructure project management, administration of New Zealand construction contracts, water reticulation design, quality control and plant commissioning.
Alasdair Mawdsley
Operations Manager
Bachelor of Science (Geography and Environmental Management)
Alasdair was appointed Operations Manager during this financial year to prepare the organisation for dam operations. He was previously Environment and Sustainability Manager from May 2019 to September 2022.
Alasdair has ten years’ environmental management experience and a Bachelor of Science from Auckland University. Prior to joining WWL, he managed consenting, environmental, sustainability and heritage issues for Downers and McConnell Dowell Constructors Ltd on the Auckland City Rail Link, a project that involved underground tunnelling in a high risk, dense urban environment. Alasdair’s former experience also includes work on the Te Mihi Geothermal Power Project, Waterview tunnels and a range of smaller tunnelling projects. He also brings eight years’ experience from an earlier career in the freight industry.
Richard Greatrex
Construction Manager
Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) (Civil), Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng), International Professional Engineer (IntPE (NZ))
Richard oversees construction and manages the Contractor’s and other separate contractors’ work and technical issues.
He is a generalist civil engineer with experience in design, construction and contract management. His broad experience includes industrial process engineering, structural, roading, three waters and geotechnical. He has successfully completed several full-time site roles on heavy civil construction projects as either the owner’s or designer’s representative. Richard has worked on some of New Zealand’s largest infrastructure projects. His international experience includes geothermal exploration infrastructure in Indonesia. Prior to working with WWL, Richard worked for Stantec on the design and contract management of pipework, river and dam upgrades around New Zealand. He is a member of NZSOLD.
Andrew Busfield
Mechanical and Commissioning Engineer
Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical)
Andrew manages the design, procurement and construction of the mechanical, electrical and control elements of the dam.
He brings to WWL 18 years’ experience in the power and water industries, working in the project planning, pre-construction and construction phases for engineering consultancies, project owners and developers, and a major international hydropower contractor. Andrew’s years in site-based roles during project construction have given him a strong understanding of elements such as planning, equipment specification and layouts, constructability and logistics considerations, construction and installation methodologies, and contractual relationships.
