The Victorian Environmental Water Holder has four part-time Commissioners appointed by Governor in Council, on recommendation of the Minister for Water.
The Commissioners are supported by a small, dedicated team, led by Chief Executive Officer, Dr Sarina Loo.
Julie Miller Markoff (Chairperson)
Julie is a non-executive director with extensive experience leading and guiding complex business transformation for better environmental, social and economic development. Her expertise combines wise governance with progressive systems thinking, collaboration and change leadership that delivers valued results.
As Chair of the North Central Catchment Management Authority from 2017-2023 Julie focused on sustainable, climate-responsive investments in natural resource management, creating shared benefits from environmental water, supporting First Nations self-determination, and deepening community partnerships to care for catchments. She chaired the Regional Catchment Strategy Steering Committee, the Audit and Risk Subcommittee and advisory Community Consultative Committee.
Julie was co-founder and Chair of the bHive Co-operative, Australia’s first platform cooperative, for local places to connect, own and share their digital economy and keep equity and profit local. She has been Chair of Heathcote Health, and has designed and established strategic plans with regional executives and communities for Regional Development Australia and Regional Development Victoria. Before moving to central Victoria, Julie spent two decades in senior roles tasked with improving organisational performance for national and international organisations while implementing disruptive change.
Julie has a Master’s Degree in Applied Science (Innovation) and is an Advanced Analytic Network Leadership Coach and member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Dr Rohan Henry (Deputy Chairperson)
Rohan is an experienced strategic adviser working across state and national water policy with previous experience working in environmental impact assessments and approvals.
He’s a skilled Indigenous engagement and facilitation practitioner with significant experience collaborating and partnering with Aboriginal Corporations and their communities.
Rohan is currently a Director (Deputy Chair) of South East Water Corporation; acting CEO of the Self-Determination Fund Limited (Trustee of the Self-Determination Fund), and a Director of One-Basin Cooperative Research Centre. He also holds positions as Chair of the Commonwealth Government’s Indigenous Advisory Committee Division Councillor of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (Victorian Division) and an independent member of the Victorian Murray Floodplain Restoration Project Control Group.
Rohan continues to practice as an independent consultant working nationally across water policy and development projects, Traditional Owner facilitation and outcome negotiations.
Peta Maddy (Commissioner)
Peta is an experienced practitioner in water policy and strategy setting, governance and water engineering.
Peta is the Deputy Chair at Barwon Water (Chair, Risk Committee) and the Chair of Barwon Asset Solutions (Member, Audit and Risk Committee). She is also an independent member of the Risk and Audit Committee at Surf Coast Shire Council. She is a past President of the Victorian branch of the Australian Water Association and was previously a non-executive director at Southern Rural Water (Chair, Asset Governance) and Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water (Chair of the inaugural Water Resources Committee).
In 2018, she chaired the interdepartmental reference group for the Victorian Rural Drainage Strategy and was a member of the Victorian Catchment Management Council for six years. Peta has a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering (honours), a Bachelor of Science (Pharmacology and Toxicology) and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Tim Chatfield (Commissioner)
Tim has led many organisations in making sustainable change for Indigenous communities across housing, health, culture and wellbeing, and in economic development through generating employment and building workforce skills, knowledge and training. He is a Gunditjmara Traditional Owner and a Djabwurrung Elder Traditional Owner.
Tim has extensive experience as an executive and nonexecutive director and chairperson. His experience embraces leadership, strategy, corporate governance, business management, developing culturally appropriate policies and processes towards self-determination, and advice to Victorian and Commonwealth governments.
Between 2017 and 2023, Tim was an Independent Director to First Super Pty Ltd and Chair of the Board’s Audit and Finance Committee. For the past 20 years he has been Chairperson of Aboriginal Housing Victoria, the only Aboriginal housing organisation in Australia accredited as a housing association, and he is founder and CEO of Budja Budja Aboriginal Cooperative, an innovative primary health care service, GP and community health clinic in the Gariwerd/Grampians National Park. He is also Chairperson and CEO of Martang Pty Ltd, a community-based company and farming operation.
Dr Sarina Loo (Chief Executive Officer)
Dr Sarina Loo is the Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Environmental Water Holder.
She joined the VEWH in 2017 and is passionate about improving waterway and catchment health. Previously, she was a senior public servant at the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning in Victoria for over 10 years. Her areas of expertise include environmental water management, policy and strategy development, investment, monitoring, evaluation, reporting and governance in the areas of waterway health and catchment management.
Sarina has been a lecturer of sustainability at Swinburne University of Technology and an independent consultant to government and private business. She is an ardent contributor to the work of the Peter Cullen Trust, having been a graduate of the Leadership Program, a Board Director, and having established and Chaired the National Fellows Network and established the Women in Water Leadership Program.
Sarina has a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Science (Honours), a Doctor of Philosophy in freshwater ecology and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Page last updated: 17/09/25