The Mount Isa Water Board (MIWB) is a Queensland Government owned Category 1 Water Authority located in Mount Isa, Queensland.
MIWB is a statutory authority defined as a Category 1 Water Authority by the Water Act 2000 (Qld) to operate on a commercialised basis. MIWB’s activities are fully funded from charges to customers, a fact sheet is available for information about these charges. Customers served by MIWB include:
- Mount Isa City Council (MICC)
- Mount Isa Mines (MIM)
- Incitec Pivot
Key business activities include:
- acting as a registered Water Service Provider under the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008
- managing the infrastructure required to transport bulk water from storages at Lake Moondarra and Lake Julius to customers, and applying appropriate water treatment processes to comply with MIWB’s legislative and commercial requirements
- conducting ongoing investigations and planning for future infrastructure requirements relevant to MIWB operations
- constructing, operating and maintaining the bulk water transport and treatment infrastructure, necessary to MIWB operations and
- acting as trustee for the Water and Recreation R48 Reserve (R48 Reserve) on behalf of the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, as administrator of the Land Act 1994.
MIWB’s key responsibility is to provide assurance to the continuity of supply of water to customers and the quality of water delivered to the city.
Board Structure
The Board of the MIWB is comprised of:
- Four persons nominated by the chief executive of the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy (DNRME)
- One person nominated by the Mount Isa City Council
The members of the Mount Isa Water Board are:
Leonie Davey, Director and Chair of the Board since April 2026
Leonie Davey has lived and worked in regional Queensland since 1994. She has extensive experience in community development, legal practice and corporate governance. Ms Davey held the position of Chief Executive Officer for the Federal Government’s North Queensland regional development body from 2004 to 2007, and was a Director of the North Queensland GP Training Organisation from 2008 to 2016. Since 2019, she has practised as a solicitor in Queensland and, from January 2021, has been the Managing Partner of a private law firm.
Cr John Tully, Director
Originating from a property near Bedourie, Queensland, Councillor John Tully returned to Mount Isa with his family in 2013. He established City and Country Realty more than 10 years ago and is a long-term advocate for Mount Isa and the surrounding region. Cr Tully has a strong interest in initiatives that support Mount Isa’s liveability, including community infrastructure, sport and recreation, local business, housing and public amenity. His family is heavily invested in Mount Isa, including through operating local businesses.
Eryan Haddon, Director and Chair of the Audit, Risk and Finance Committee
Eryan Haddon is a Chartered Accountant with more than 30 years of experience in public practice and is the owner of a locally based accounting and business advisory firm in Mount Isa. Ms Haddon has a strong background in working with business owners and company directors on strategic planning, business improvement and financial performance, with a focus on enhancing efficiency, cash flow, profitability and sustainable growth. A Mount Isa local for more than 25 years, Ms Haddon has a genuine commitment to the community and has held a range of board, governance and committee roles throughout that time. She brings this combination of financial expertise, strategic thinking and community connection to her role as a Director of the Mount Isa Water Board.
Brett Peterson, Director and Chair of the Strategy, Asset and Technical Committee
Brett Peterson is a long-term Mount Isa resident and former Mount Isa City Councillor. He served as Deputy Mayor from 2012 until March 2016 and was a Councillor for more than 12 years. Mr Peterson was also the Managing Director of Mount Isa Mining Supplies for more than 20 years. He has previously served as a Director of the Mount Isa Water Board following nomination by a former elected City Council, and has held a range of board and advisory roles across the private, public and community sectors. Mr Peterson is Chair of MIWB’s Strategy, Asset and Technical Committee and a member of MIWB’s R48 Committee.
Cr Jane McMillan, Director and Chair of the R48 Committee
Councillor Jane McMillan is an experienced agricultural director, pastoral executive and local government representative based on a beef cattle station on the outskirts of Cloncurry, Queensland. Cr McMillan has a multifaceted career spanning agricultural advocacy, board governance, local council leadership and rural healthcare. She is highly regarded for her background in agribusiness risk management, compliance, regional healthcare operations and corporate governance. Cr McMillan is committed to, and understands the importance and challenges of, providing the Mount Isa community and region with essential water to support liveability and productivity.
Executive Structure
MIWB’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Bill Esteves, oversees MIWB’s Executive Leadership Team (ELT). The ELT is comprised of the following roles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- General Manager – Corporate & Governance
- General Manager – Operations
Mr Esteves career and leadership profile is outlined below.
William (Bill) Esteves
GCLP, GC.Bus, B.Law, MA, MBA, MAICD
Mr Esteves has accumulated more than two decades of valuable experience overseeing areas such as prosecutions, litigation, government inquiries, transformation, change and performance management, policy development, and health and safety. Mr Esteves has held various executive roles and lead many milestone projects such as Queensland’s Greyhound Commission of Inquiry, Queensland’s Independent Review of Passenger Transport, and most recent to joining MIWB, the Northern Territory (NT) Work Health Authority, Electrical Safety Regulator, Chief Inspector of Radioactive Ores and Concentrates, and head of NT WorkSafe. Mr Esteves is a former member of Safe Work Australia, the NT Public Service Strategic Workforce Board, Injured Workers Family Committee, Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Advisory Council, and former Chair of the Return-to-Work Scheme Monitoring Committee.
