Our executive leadership

Linda Dobe, Director-General

Linda is an experienced and highly regarded senior executive with more than 30 years’ experience across the water, lands, mining and education sectors.

Linda was appointed Director-General of DRDMW in May 2024, after acting in the role for more than 12 months. Prior to that, she was the department’s Deputy Director-General of Water Resource Management, the Queensland Government’s most senior water executive.

During her time leading DRDMW, Linda has steered the department to operational and transformational success. Achievements under her leadership include the delivery of Rookwood Weir (Australia’s largest bulk water infrastructure project in more than a decade), the launch of the first ever Women in Manufacturing Strategy, effective responses to natural disasters such as floods and cyclones, and progression of other important cross-agency and regional initiatives, including strategic support for regional communities and urban water security projects across Queensland.

In her previous role as Deputy Director-General, Linda led critical statewide water programs, including strategic water policy and reform, regulation of water entitlements, drinking water and dam safety, water planning and science, water security planning, and progression of bulk water infrastructure projects. She also represented Queensland on national bodies such as the Murray–Darling Basin Officials Committee.

Linda brings a unique mix of relevant knowledge and skills to her role as Director-General, along with an outcomes-focused approach and proven abilities in strategic leadership. She also has a longstanding commitment to stakeholder engagement, with a track record of building enduring and authentic relationships across diverse stakeholder groups. She has a particular interest in co-design with First Nations peoples on water management issues.

Linda holds a Bachelor of Science (Geology) from The University of Queensland, and began her career as one of the first female exploration geologists working in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Bernadette Zerba, Deputy Director-General, Regional Economic Development

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 policy development, strategic analysis, interdepartmental and interjurisdictional engagement, and negotiation.

Prior to taking the role of Deputy Director-General of Regional Economic Development, 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.

Jarrod Cowley-Grimmond, Acting 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’s substantive role is Executive Director of Water Operations and Systems, and he has previously acted as the department’s Head of Corporate.

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, Jarrod worked as a solicitor and as a barrister of the Supreme Court of Queensland.

Wietske Smith, Deputy Director-General (Corporate)

Wietske has been DRDMW’s Deputy Director-General (Corporate) since October 2021.

Wietske has extensive experience delivering corporate and operational services across the Queensland public sector and has provided strategic leadership across all corporate service functions, supporting transformational change and ensuring customer service delivery. She has held many senior roles including Head of Corporate Services (TransLink), Executive Director (Customer Experience) and General Manager (Governance) at the Department of Transport and Main Roads

Wietske holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting), is a Certified Public Accountant and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.