Our executive leadership

Joshua Hannan, Acting Director-General

Josh has more than 20 years’ experience in the Queensland public sector and is especially passionate about delivering for regional communities. Josh has a Bachelor of Business (Organisational Communication), Bachelor of Arts (Media/Journalism) and Master of Business Administration. Josh has a comprehensive and contemporary understanding of the strategic issues facing governments and has expertise in the areas of infrastructure planning and delivery, local government relations and strategic policy.

As General Manager, Transport Strategy and Planning at Transport and Main Roads, Josh forged strong relationships with local governments across Queensland. His experience engaging with the local government sector through the Roads Alliance provides him with a deep appreciation of the challenges faced by councils, particularly related to sustainability, which is the key priority of the department’s Local Government Division.

In leading the department, Josh believes in working hard to find meaningful solutions to complex problems and make a real difference to long-term sustainability.

Bernadette Zerba, Deputy Director-General
Water Infrastructure Policy and Partnerships

Bernadette has worked in government for more than 20 years, holding leadership roles in multiple agencies across state government. She specialises in leading regional economic development initiatives across the state, including bulk water infrastructure delivery, policy development, strategic analysis, interdepartmental and interjurisdictional engagement, and negotiation.

Prior to taking the role of Deputy Director-General of Water Infrastructure Policy and Partnerships, Bernadette was the Executive Director of Water Infrastructure and Strategic Co-ordination for the department. In that role, she provided governance oversight of government-owned bulk water providers, contributing advice on bulk water infrastructure projects and regional urban water security and oversight of SEQ water supply planning.

Bernadette is also the department’s Executive Champion for Gender Equity, demonstrating her commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace.

Jarrod Cowley-Grimmond, Deputy Director-General
Water Resource Management

Jarrod has more than 20 years’ experience in policy development and implementation, project management, and best-practice regulation in Queensland and the United Kingdom, with skills in leadership, stakeholder management, intergovernmental relations, strategic reform and legislative development.

Jarrod is also active in the National Regulators’ Community of Practice, and represents Queensland at the Murray–Darling Basin Regulatory Leaders Forum.

Prior to joining the public sector, he worked as a solicitor and as a barrister of the Supreme Court of Queensland.

Jarrod is also the department’s Executive Champion for the LGBTQ+ community, actively supporting inclusion, representation and advocacy for LGBTQ+ employees and stakeholders.

Stephen Robbins, Acting Deputy Director-General
Corporate

Stephen has worked in the public sector for more than 20 years, and has extensive experience leading policy development, project delivery and program management initiatives across government.

He has held many senior roles, including Executive Director of Finance, Performance and Programs in the Local Government Division of the Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers. In this role, Stephen was responsible for leading the development and administration of local government grants programs; monitoring and advising on council sustainability and financial performance; and overseeing the department’s engineering and project management support to councils.

Stephen is also the department’s Executive Champion for domestic and family violence (DFV) prevention, demonstrating his commitment to creating a safe work environment that supports the elimination of DFV.