ICID Australia National Committee (IACID)

About ICID

Established in 1950 ICID is the leading scientific, technical and not-for-profit non-government organisation (NGO). ICID, through its network of professionals spread across more than a hundred countries, has facilitated sharing of experiences and transfer of water management technology for over half-a-century. ICID supports capacity development, stimulates research and innovation and strives to promote policies and programs to enhance sustainable development of irrigated agriculture through a comprehensive water management framework.

IACID Australian National ICID Committee

The Irrigation Australia Board are committed to the important relationship it has with the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) and have approved an Australian National Committee and Charter.

Information on the role and responsibilities of the Australian National Committee can be found in its Charter. 

Download Australian National Committee Charter HERE

Karlene Maywald Former Minister for Water Security – South Australia Government

Until recently Karlene Maywald was the Chair of the National Water Commission. Karlene was the representative for the seat of Chaffey in the South Australian House of Assembly from October 1997 until March 2010. During her tenure, from 2004 until 2010, she was South Australia’s Minister for Water Security and the River Murray during one of the worst drought periods in living memory. She has a proven, long-standing track record in water management and is passionate about water reform in Australia. Ms Maywald has served on numerous national ministerial councils including the Murray Darling Basin Ministerial Council, the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council, the Primary Industries Ministerial Council and the Regional Development Ministerial Council. Karlene is also the Managing Director of Maywald Consultants Pty Ltd, providing water policy and government relations advisory services. She has served as a board member of the South Australian Water Corporation, together with related SA Water Board Committees and is currently the Deputy Chair of ICE WaRM.

Peter Hayes Wine Sector Strategy, R&D, Innovation

Peter has 30+ years of experience in the wine industry serving many Executive, Managerial, Educational and Research roles across the public and private sector. Peter is currently an Independent for the wine sector strategy, R&D, Innovation and advisor for projects in Australia, India, and the UK. He is also Deputy Chancellor of Charles Sturt University and serves in several other roles. Peter holds many qualifications including a Bachelor of Science from the University of Melbourne, Diploma of Education from Monash University, Bachelor of Applied Wine Science from Riverina College (now CSU), and a Masters in Horticulture from UC Davis. Peter was award the MacLean Iedema Award in 2020 - the Award recognises an outstanding individual who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of the irrigation industry, or a sector of the industry.

Carl Walters Manager Sustainable Irrigation - Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority

Carl Walters is Manager Sustainable Irrigation - Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority. He has had active involvement with IAL and its predecessor organisations for over 20 years, including working groups and overseas representation through ICID, with several Australia sessions. Carl is also Deputy Chair for the Sustainable On-Farm ICID Work Group. He has an Associate Diploma (Civil) and Grad. AICD

Andrew Ogden, Western Irrigation 

Andrew held the position of Chair from 2014 handing the role over to Simon Treptow in October 2022.  He is the Board's longest serving director, first appointed in 2013.  Andrew is Managing Director of Western Irrigation, based in Bibra Lake, WA. He commenced his career in the irrigation industry in 1987 as a Graduate Engineer with Western Irrigation and became Managing Director of the company in 1993 and has worked continuously in the industry since then. He places a high priority on achieving increased recognition of the irrigation industry and its members as valuable contributors to the effective management and use of Australia's most precious resource - water. He believes growing training and knowledge of industry members is key to supporting that effort and has been actively involved with Irrigation Australia throughout his career.  Andrew holds a B.Eng (Civil) from the University of Western Australia and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD).

Claire Miller CEO – New South Wales Irrigators' Council

Claire Miller joined the committee in 2023. She is the Chief Executive Officer of the New South Wales Irrigators' Council. Claire has almost 40 years of experience immersed in complex operating environments where policy, politics, community values, ecological sustainability and economic imperatives clash. She was with The Age for more than 20 years, covering the environment, politics and rural affairs, before joining the Victorian Government as a senior ministerial water policy adviser. Since 2011, she has worked in various roles agricultural industry groups and regional communities. Claire has a Masters Degree in Environmental Studies and is a director on the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority board.

Richard McLoughlin

Richard’s career has been focussed on primary industry and natural resource management.  His career commenced with more than 13 years in research roles with CSIRO, followed by senior NRM roles in the Tasmanian and Victorian governments including as Director of Fisheries Victoria.  In 2004 he transferred to the Australian Government as Managing Director of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA), followed by roles as Assistant Secretary for National Irrigation Efficiency and National Water Resources, as well as a/CEO of the National Water Commission.  Included in these national water policy roles was responsibility for international engagement including the administration of water policy and irrigation management cooperation agreements with Indonesia, India, the US, and China.

In April 2019 he was tasked with establishing a new Commonwealth agency, the North Queensland Water Infrastructure Authority, and was appointed as its inaugural Chief Executive, retiring from the role in mid 2021.  Richard holds a B.Sc.(Hons) and M.Sc. from the University of NSW, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Executive Fellows program of the Australian and New Zealand School of Government.

Michael Scobie Research Engineer - University of Southern Queensland

Michael Scobie is a Research Engineer at the National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture, University of Southern Queensland, based in Toowoomba, QLD. Michael joined the committee in 2021 following his colleague Erik Schmidt's retirement.

Michael is an award winning scientist and engineer. He has worked in the agrienvironmental field for the past 20 years, with significant experience leading projects and teams. He is a Certified Irrigation Designer (ASUR10561) and has been engaged across a range of irrigation and water resources projects. Michael has managed water and irrigation efficiency projects in Australia, USA, UK and Asia.

Naomi Carragher, Company Secretary & Business Admin Manager – Irrigation Australia

Naomi is the IACID National Australia's committee secretariat.

Naomi is the Company Secretary and Business Administration Manager at Irrigation Australia. Naomi joined Irrigation Australia in November 2022.

If you have any enquiries about the activities of the IACID please email Naomi at [email protected], or contact her on +61 7 3517 4000.