James Stuart

Background

About James Stuart

With over 25 years of experience in the management of water, dam safety, assets, and community safety, I have developed a deep technical and strategic expertise through senior and executive roles in consultancy, the Federal Government, a State-owned corporation, Non-Executive Directorships, and business. My career was sparked by helping to push cars out of floodwaters in 1985, igniting an interest that continues internationally as Chair of the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) Climate Change Committee. I volunteer extensively and love my rugby, carpentry, hiking and my wee dog. As an Executive at Sunwater, I led a multi-disciplinary team in a high stakes organisational risk environment managing financial, physical, and stakeholder risk, that required extensive Board engagement. In 2017, I commenced my own Board career with the USA National Hydrologic Warning Council and have been Company Secretary of PCD Australia since 2023. I have a demonstrable record of delivery including retiring multiple complex legacy issues for critical infrastructure, overhauling business functions, and introduction of innovative engineering methods for major projects. I am a Chartered Civil Engineer and a Fellow of Engineers Australia. Key highlights: Successful business founder with clients from three levels of Government, private sector, and overseas. Leadership and transformation: Led a team of 200 through comprehensive organisational restructure and overhauled critical functions of public safety, dam safety, and crisis management. Decision making: Demonstrated strong decision-making skills, tested under multiple high pressure/risk situations, with imperfect information. Strategy: Collaborated with the Board to establish long-term strategic goals delivered through aligning vision to actionable plans. Culture: Deep understanding of the link between culture, leadership, and risk developed through study of global lessons learned. Risk: Engagement with the Board and Executive and advocated for a balanced risk position for an emerging critical asset integrity issue with global attention and significant uncertainty. Stakeholder engagement: Developed and maintained excellent relationships with stakeholders across multiple sectors, and managed regulatory relationships. Excellent communication to suit the level required – tech or exec. Demonstrated outcomes managing risk and opportunity related to operational tech, cyber, and climate risk. Crisis leadership through multiple events impacting assets including earthquakes, cyclones, and asset integrity.