The Hon. Karlene Maywald
Chair
“Although antimicrobial resistance is a serious global threat, it is preventable through sufficient investment, stewardship and collaboration.”
About
The Hon. Karlene Maywald is the Chair of SAAFE CRC, the South Australian Water Ambassador, and an experienced water industry professional. Her mission to reform the way we manage water was forged during her time as the former South Australian Minister for Water Security during the Millennium Drought.
The Hon. Karlene Maywald is the Chair of SAAFE CRC, the South Australian Water Ambassador, and an accomplished water industry professional who brings a breadth of valuable leadership experience to our board.
Karlene’s mission to reform the way we manage water was forged during her time as the former South Australian Minister for Water Security (2007-2010) during the Millennium Drought. She experienced first-hand the devastation caused by water scarcity – both in quantity and quality.
Karlene acutely understands the threat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses to our agriculture, food, and environment. She’s passionate about providing the strategic governance required to enable our partners to find real solutions that can make a real difference – from the grass roots to the regulatory environments needed to tackle the challenges presented by AMR.
As the South Australian Water Ambassador and Chair at WaterAid Australia and Cancer Council SA, Karlene is recognised for her ability to establish solid relationships with key stakeholders at local, state, national and international levels.
During her tenure as a Member of Parliament (1997-2010) and a Cabinet Minister in the South Australian Government (2004-2010), she gained experience in high-level strategic planning, budget oversight, change management and problem solving across a broad range of high-risk sectors.
Karlene was recognised for her outstanding contribution to the South Australian water industry with a Chairman’s Award from the Water Industry Alliance in 2014. She was also awarded a Degree of Doctor of the University by Flinders University in 2015, in recognition of her distinguished service to the community through the development of public policy.
Karlene’s other notable high-profile positions include, Director of SA Water (2014-2018), Chair of the National Water Commission (2012-2015), and Chair of the International Centre of Excellence in Water Resources Management (ICEWaRM) (2015-2021).
