Rob Dowling GAICD
Board Chair at Disability Living Inc- Claim this Profile
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Bio
David Pope
I only worked with Rob for 12 months, and what a pleasure it was. One could tell you about his super sharp mind, or the ability to think broadly then dive deeper and faster into an issue than anyone else in the room or the vision to see around corners, all with presence and persona of a rockstar. But when you meet Rob, you'll quickly recognise this. What I wanted to highlight, and stood out for me, is his extraordinary ability to develop leaders. I've worked with some awesome leaders in my time, but never with a leader who created so many other leaders. If what separates good leaders from great leaders is the development of more leaders, Rob is a master. He is an asset to any organisation and earns my highest recommendation.
Matthew Peake
Rob was one of SA Water's primary spokespeople for both reactive and proactive media. He was was extremely professional in his dealings with journalists, was always calm under pressure and was a confident and well respected spokesperson. Rob always made himself available for media interviews 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, he ensured he was fully prepared for the interview and a major skill of his was his abiliy to translate complex topics into simple messages for the public. I felt confident asking Rob to speak with media and he continually received positive feedback from journalists.
David Pope
I only worked with Rob for 12 months, and what a pleasure it was. One could tell you about his super sharp mind, or the ability to think broadly then dive deeper and faster into an issue than anyone else in the room or the vision to see around corners, all with presence and persona of a rockstar. But when you meet Rob, you'll quickly recognise this. What I wanted to highlight, and stood out for me, is his extraordinary ability to develop leaders. I've worked with some awesome leaders in my time, but never with a leader who created so many other leaders. If what separates good leaders from great leaders is the development of more leaders, Rob is a master. He is an asset to any organisation and earns my highest recommendation.
Matthew Peake
Rob was one of SA Water's primary spokespeople for both reactive and proactive media. He was was extremely professional in his dealings with journalists, was always calm under pressure and was a confident and well respected spokesperson. Rob always made himself available for media interviews 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, he ensured he was fully prepared for the interview and a major skill of his was his abiliy to translate complex topics into simple messages for the public. I felt confident asking Rob to speak with media and he continually received positive feedback from journalists.
David Pope
I only worked with Rob for 12 months, and what a pleasure it was. One could tell you about his super sharp mind, or the ability to think broadly then dive deeper and faster into an issue than anyone else in the room or the vision to see around corners, all with presence and persona of a rockstar. But when you meet Rob, you'll quickly recognise this. What I wanted to highlight, and stood out for me, is his extraordinary ability to develop leaders. I've worked with some awesome leaders in my time, but never with a leader who created so many other leaders. If what separates good leaders from great leaders is the development of more leaders, Rob is a master. He is an asset to any organisation and earns my highest recommendation.
Matthew Peake
Rob was one of SA Water's primary spokespeople for both reactive and proactive media. He was was extremely professional in his dealings with journalists, was always calm under pressure and was a confident and well respected spokesperson. Rob always made himself available for media interviews 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, he ensured he was fully prepared for the interview and a major skill of his was his abiliy to translate complex topics into simple messages for the public. I felt confident asking Rob to speak with media and he continually received positive feedback from journalists.
David Pope
I only worked with Rob for 12 months, and what a pleasure it was. One could tell you about his super sharp mind, or the ability to think broadly then dive deeper and faster into an issue than anyone else in the room or the vision to see around corners, all with presence and persona of a rockstar. But when you meet Rob, you'll quickly recognise this. What I wanted to highlight, and stood out for me, is his extraordinary ability to develop leaders. I've worked with some awesome leaders in my time, but never with a leader who created so many other leaders. If what separates good leaders from great leaders is the development of more leaders, Rob is a master. He is an asset to any organisation and earns my highest recommendation.
Matthew Peake
Rob was one of SA Water's primary spokespeople for both reactive and proactive media. He was was extremely professional in his dealings with journalists, was always calm under pressure and was a confident and well respected spokesperson. Rob always made himself available for media interviews 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, he ensured he was fully prepared for the interview and a major skill of his was his abiliy to translate complex topics into simple messages for the public. I felt confident asking Rob to speak with media and he continually received positive feedback from journalists.
Experience
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Disability Living Inc
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Australia
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Non-profit Organizations
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1 - 100 Employee
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Board Chair
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Feb 2022 - Present
Established in South Australia in 1984, DLi began its journey by providing long-term accommodation and support for young adults who had reached a stage where their traditional housing options had narrowed. Since then, DLi has grown significantly to now employ over 240 support staff in multiple locations across metropolitan Adelaide to provide disability services, including: Supported Independent Living (SIL) / Specialist Disability Accommodation; Short-to medium term accommodation; In-home support; Community Participation; and Therapy services.
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Advisory Board Chair
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Jun 2021 - Present
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Linking Futures
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Australia
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Business Consulting and Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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Director
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May 2020 - Present
We are a Professional Services company, working with a wide variety of clients to assist them in developing their capacity to work with Aboriginal stakeholders, and meet the expectations of the various communities in which they work. We support companies and government to meet Indigenous procurement targets, and enhance their relationship with Indigenous Australians, by linking Indigenous businesses with companies, project developers, commercial investors and government. We develop cross cultural understanding, appreciation and competence, and support the development of commercial and collaborative capability (including the development of RAPS- Reconciliation Action Plans) and business delivery systems.
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Inside Infrastructure (a Ricardo company)
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Australia
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Business Consulting and Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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Associate
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Nov 2019 - Present
Using my Australian and international utility experience to craft culture, develop people and deliver results. Using my Australian and international utility experience to craft culture, develop people and deliver results.
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SA Water
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Australia
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Utilities
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700 & Above Employee
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Interim General Manager Operations
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Nov 2020 - Mar 2021
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Unitywater
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Australia
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Utilities
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400 - 500 Employee
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Executive Manager Customer Delivery
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Sep 2016 - Mar 2019
Reporting to the CEO, the Executive Manager Customer Delivery has full operational accountability for 5,700km's water mains, 114 reserviors, 5,500km's sewer mains, 777 sewer pump stations, 17 sewage treatment plants, and 12 recycled water treatment plants. 320 staff in the operational sphere service a population of 765,000 people in one of the fastest growing regions of Australia. Reporting to the CEO, the Executive Manager Customer Delivery has full operational accountability for 5,700km's water mains, 114 reserviors, 5,500km's sewer mains, 777 sewer pump stations, 17 sewage treatment plants, and 12 recycled water treatment plants. 320 staff in the operational sphere service a population of 765,000 people in one of the fastest growing regions of Australia.
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SUEZ
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France
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Environmental Services
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700 & Above Employee
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Chief Operating Officer Environmental Services North America
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Jun 2014 - Aug 2015
Reporting to the President Suez Environnement, the Chief Operating Officer Environmental Services is responsible for the financial performance, safety, environmental, legal, operational, and contract compliance of more than 90 Operations and Maintenance Contracts for water treatment and distribution systems, and waste water treatment and collection systems across 19 states in the US, and two provinces of Canada. The portfolio is overseen by 340 staff with an annual operating budget of $280m and a $70m annual capital program, in addition to the necessity for effective client and key stakeholder engagement and management.
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SA Water
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Australia
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Utilities
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700 & Above Employee
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General Manager Operations and Maintenance
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Mar 2011 - Jun 2014
As a member of the SA Water Senior Executive and reporting directly to the CEO, the GM Operations & Maintenance holds joint responsibility for the development and execution of all strategic corporate initiatives. In addition, the General Manager Operations & Maintenance holds chief responsibility for: • 680 people state-wide, with an additional 350 people in the Allwater Alliance serving metropolitan Adelaide• State-wide water treatment and distribution network comprising 25,000 km’s water mains, 29 water treatment plants, 18 large dams, 156 bores, 88 water dosing stations, and a 100 GL desalination plant• State-wide wastewater treatment and collection network comprising 8,000 km’s waste water mains, 23 wastewater treatment plants, 565 wastewater pump stations, and 136 km re-cycled water mains• 24/7 Operational Control Centre for network control, pumping programs, demand forecasting, SCADA monitoring, control, administration and expansion; all major pumping across South Australia, water license compliance, field-staff dispatch, and coordination of SA Water’s emergency bushfire and flood responses• Contract Management of a suite of over $200m in water and waste water treatment plant and ancillary support contracts• Corporate Security and Emergency Management • Oversight of $340m recurrent, and $40 million annual capital budgets • Oversight of the Allwater Alliance $100m per annum O&M services contract• Oversight and operation of MDBA River Murray Operations assets from Lake Victoria in NSW to Goolwa with all locks, weirs, barrages, fish ways and Salt Interception Schemes throughout the River Murray System within South Australia• Extensive media exposure
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Head of Regional Operations
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Sep 2007 - Mar 2011
As a member of the SA Water Senior Executive, the Head of Regional Operations reported directly to the CEO and was responsible for the regional aspects of SA Water's state-wide water treatment and distribution, and wastewater treatment and collection operational and maintenance activities. This accountability includes: safety, environmental, financial, customer service, water quality, all aspects of system performance, capital delivery, Asset Management interface, stakeholder engagement, emergency response, disaster management, and extensive media exposure.
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Service Delivery Manager- Northern Region
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Dec 2001 - Sep 2007
The Service Delivery Manager- Northern Region held accountability for the efficient maintenance, operation and management of SA Water’s water treatment and distribution, and wastewater treatment and collection infrastructure across Northern South Australia. This accountability includes: safety, environmental, financial customer service, water quality, system performance, capital delivery, Asset Management interface, stakeholder engagement, emergency response, disaster management, and extensive media exposure.
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General Motors
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United States
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Motor Vehicle Manufacturing
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700 & Above Employee
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Assistant Production Manager
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Apr 1998 - Nov 2001
Jointly responsible for overseeing the management of the General Assembly manufacturing business unit (approximately 1,300 Employees) through planning and directing the activities of area personnel including Production, Final Assembly, Build Quality, and Vehicle Dispatch; Material Control; Maintenance; Manufacturing Engineering; Production Control; Safety and Employee Relations to achieve the business plan objectives of: Productive Efficiency; Strategy / Five Year Business Plan Targets; Financial and Budgetary Responsibilities; Build Quality; People and Safety; Materials and Logistics.
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Employee Relations Officer
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Mar 1996 - Apr 1998
Responsible for the provision of specialist Employee Relations / Industrial Relations services and advice to approximately 1,500 wages and 230 staff including: all aspects of Industrial Relations including Union Negotiations and Liaison, Enterprise Bargaining, Risk Management, and Equal Employment Opportunity.
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Human Resources Coordinator
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Jun 1995 - Mar 1996
Responsible for providing general Human Resource Management services to approximately 230 Award Covered and Award Free staff including: Recruitment, Progression & Succession, Organisational Development, Training and Development.
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Graduate Trainee
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Feb 1995 - Jun 1995
Initially recruited by Holden as part of the 1995 Holden Graduate Development program. Graduates were provided with thorough exposure and experience of all of Holden’s operations including Dealerships/Marketing, Test Track, Customer Assistance, Worldwide Purchasing and Logistics, and Production.
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Business Owner
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Jul 1984 - Nov 1991
Owner / Manager of a Wholesale Milk and Dairy Product Distribution business and solely responsible for the distribution of a wide range of dairy products to rural towns within Western Victoria, the securing of competitive tenders to supply government schools, hospitals and aged care centres. Owner / Manager of a Wholesale Milk and Dairy Product Distribution business and solely responsible for the distribution of a wide range of dairy products to rural towns within Western Victoria, the securing of competitive tenders to supply government schools, hospitals and aged care centres.
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Education
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2018 - 2018
Australian Institute of Company Directors
Company Directors Course -
1998 - 2000
University of Adelaide
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Business Administration and Management, General -
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University of Melbourne - Melbourne Business School
Management Development Program -
1991 - 1994
Griffith University
Bachelor’s Degree, Business/Commerce, Industrial Relations, Organisational Behaviour
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