Veolia appoints Craig Barker to lead Australia and New Zealand

Veolia ANZ Chief Operating Officer Resource Recovery Craig Barker assumes regional leadership. Barker replaces CEO Richard Kirkman who will return to the UK as Veolia CEO of Northern Europe.

Veolia is moving into a new chapter in its development following the successful completion of the first stage of its Green Up strategy, leading to key new appointments, including in its Australian and New Zealand operations.

Richard Kirkman who has led Veolia ANZ for almost six years, will be succeeded by Chief Operating Officer Resource Recovery, Craig Barker, who assumes the top leadership role as CEO and Managing Director of Veolia ANZ. Barker has been with Veolia group for more than 17 years in Australia and is widely recognised as a leading infrastructure leader with a strong focus on diverting waste from landfill through recycling, resource recovery and energy from waste. His deep experience and understanding of the local market makes him well placed to lead the ANZ in its next phase of growth.

The leadership change comes as the company accelerates its Green Up strategy through sustainably boosting its growth trajectory, fostering innovation, and driving international expansion while maintaining the fundamental strength of its operational performance. This is at a time when the Australian and New Zealand business has been named a high priority region, as part of that strategic acceleration to respond to the growing needs of the populations and the need for increasingly sophisticated environmental services, advanced resource recovery options, well planned water utilities and a national revolution in its energy infrastructure.

“ I am humbled  to be given this leadership role as our Australian and New Zealand businesses gather momentum. With the region’s circular economy accelerating, it will create new opportunities for Veolia to serve our Australian and New Zealand customers and those visionary businesses poised to play a key role in the future. As a priority geography for Veolia’s growth, the ANZ region offers strong potential for the deployment of our world-class expertise in waste, water and energy, positioning us well for future growth,” Mr Barker said. 

“Richard set the tone for our region in the first phase of our Green Up strategy, which has seen Veolia move into new markets and bring new technologies to Australia. I look forward to solidifying and building on that strong foundation.”  

Craig Barker has worked in the resource recovery sector with the  Veolia group over the past 17 years and is widely regarded as one of Australia’s preeminent leaders in resource recovery and recycling. He has managed major resource recovery projects across Australia and has been a key driver behind initiatives in municipal and commercial waste that have positioned Veolia as a leader in this sector.    

This experience gives him a clear sense of the way forward as Australia and New Zealand move towards a circular economy in a rapidly changing regulatory and legislative environment. He is well respected across the region as a thought leader with an insight supported by a strong record of achievement.