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New faces offer community voice at Westernport WaterNew faces this week joined the Customer Consultative Panel of Westernport Water. By Susan Webster - 14th November 2007 - Back to News Edgar Runge and Ian Samuel joined the group that offers community insights and responses to the regional water corporation.
Westernport Water’s Managing Director David Mawer explained: "The panel members represent the interests of all water users. They provide a community voice."
Edgar Runge is a member of the Phillip Island Tourism Association Committee executive committee and lives in Cowes.
He has run his own accommodation business for about six years and has worked at the Phillip Island Visitor Information Centre for about four years.
Mr Runge trained in Germany as an agricultural scientist with a specialisation in economics. He became interested in water issues from an agricultural context, an interest extended to dairying when he worked as a share farmer on Phillip Island.
Ian Samuel lives full-time in Ventnor after working with GMH in Melbourne, including two residential assignments overseas. He has built up a specialisation as an automotive manufacturing engineer, QA manager and project manager.
After 46 years in employment, he established his own consulting company providing engineering, management and QA services for global automotive component suppliers,.
He is currently the director/partner in a yacht import business and has held a number of committee positions in various education and sporting groups. He is currently Commodore of Cowes Yacht Club, a position he has held for three terms.
The pair were appointed by the Westernport Water board after advertisements seeking expressions of interest were placed in local papers.
Mr Mawer said: "Westernport Water is committed to building partnerships with its customer base and the community. It is keen to incorporate community expertise and advice into its service planning and decision-making process.
"The Customer Consultative Panel plays an important part in meeting the objectives of our customer-engagement strategy, in particular in the area of seeking customer feedback.
"We welcome the new appointments to the panel and will value their input."
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: susanw@ptarmigan.com.au

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