Greater Western Water has appointed Michael Caswell as its new Chief People Officer, marking a significant step for the organisation as it strengthens its people, culture and workplace strategy across Melbourne’s rapidly expanding western corridor.
Based in Victoria, Caswell moves into the role at a time when essential services providers are under growing pressure to modernise how they support their workforces, balance capability needs and build resilience for future infrastructure demands. His appointment brings a mix of operational depth and strategic HR leadership shaped across infrastructure, higher education and essential services.
Caswell most recently served as Head of People Operations & Services at Greater Western Water, where he led several core people functions, including talent acquisition, workplace relations, people systems, payroll, remuneration and recognition. This hands-on experience gives him a strong understanding of the organisation’s evolving priorities and the needs of its diverse workforce.
Alongside his work with GWW, Caswell has been Director at Marlot Consulting Australia, advising leaders on team effectiveness, organisational capability and navigating complex workplace issues. This consulting lens adds strategic insight as the organisation continues to support the region’s growth.
Before joining GWW, he spent nearly five years at McConnell Dowell in progressively senior roles, including General Manager Human Resources – Australia. His work there spanned people strategy, industry capability and large-scale workforce planning across major projects. Earlier in his career, Caswell held leadership positions with the University of Melbourne, IXOM, and Orica, strengthening his grounding in workplace relations, transformation, and HR partnering.
Greater Western Water services more than 580,000 customers across Melbourne’s west, from the CBD to Lancefield. As the region continues to grow, Caswell’s blend of operational rigour and strategic capability is expected to play a key role in strengthening culture, supporting safety and delivering a future-ready workforce strategy.
Michael Caswell steps into Chief People Officer role at Greater Western Water
