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Paul Arnold

Paul Arnold

Pronoun

Chief Executive Officer

Urban Utilities

Paul is the Chief Executive Officer of Urban Utilities; one of Australia’s largest water service providers serving more than 1.6 million customers within Southeast Queensland. Reporting to an independent Board, Paul has executive accountability of an annual capital and operating budget exceeding $1 billion per annum with up to 2,000 employees and contractors with an annual turnover of more than $1.1 billion.

From 2017 to 2021, Paul was Chief Executive and Managing Director of Energy Resources of Australia Ltd (ERA.AX), operating the Ranger Uranium Mine in the Northern Territory within the surrounding Kakadu National Park. In 2021, he was recognised as the industry’s Gender Diversity Champion at the Northern Territory Women in Resources Awards.

Paul built over 30 years’ experience in the resources and energy sectors with Rio Tinto and BHP, spanning operations, project development and execution, stakeholder relations, Indigenous engagement, business development, technical assurance, corporate governance, and strategy.

Paul is dedicated to fostering success through the development of people-centric business cultures that uphold the highest standards of safety, wellbeing, integrity, operational excellence, and environmental responsibility.

Paul holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Mining degree and a Master of Business Administration. He is a Fellow of Engineers Australia and Member of both the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

SESSIONS

Day 2

11:25

Keynote Panel: Strengthening Financial Equity

  • How macroeconomic trends are deepening financial inequity for women, and why leaders must act on the ripple effects across pay, progression, and retention

  • The long-term impact of superannuation gaps and career breaks on women's financial security and leadership continuity

  • What leaders can do to create financially resilient pathways that support advancement, equity, and long-term success

  • Embedding financial wellbeing into leadership strategy – transparent pay, equitable benefits, career mobility, and education


Moderator: Chiou See Anderson, Head of Delegation – Australia, Women20; Chair, Conpago


Dr Diaswati Mardiasmo, Chief Economist, PRD Real Estate; Board of Director, Multicultural Australia


Kate Farrar, Chief Executive Officer, Brighter Super


Anne Browne, Chief People and Impact Officer, Australian Retirement Trust


Paul Arnold, Chief Executive Officer, Urban Utilities

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