My enchantment with Tasmania began when I was about 8 years old. My parents decided to take me and my siblings on a big Tassie road trip. We spent three weeks travelling around the state, camping by the beach, swimming in the sea, and scrambling up mountains. It was an amazing adventure.

Those memories have stayed with me, and since then I’ve been no stranger to Tassie.

It was around my twentieth trip that I stopped counting the number of times I’d visited this beautiful part of the world. It really is a dream come true that I get to live and work here, and call Tasmania home.

It’s been just over five months since I started in the role of CEO at Hydro Tasmania and a lot has happened in that short period of time. Tasmanians went back to the polls and we’ve seen some significant decisions that will influence how Hydro Tasmania operates in the future.

Hydro Tasmania Chairman, Richard Bolt, with Hydro Tasmania CEO, Rachel Watson 

I’m excited to be leading the business as it enters this next important phase of the renewable energy transition.

In late June, the Australian Energy Regulator accepted APA’s application to convert Basslink into a regulated asset from July 2026, a decision warmly welcomed by Hydro Tasmania. In the interim, APA is trading Basslink on the electricity spot market, and this is one of the factors our team has been managing as we handle another very dry year.

In August, Marinus Link took a big step forward, with funding now locked in. This will be a gamechanger for Hydro Tasmania. When Marinus Link comes online, we’ll have greater access to the National Electricity Market and more flexibility to import and export energy when it benefits Tasmania most.

We signed a new Strategic Collaboration Agreement with the University of Tasmania in July. The agreement focuses on three key areas: skills and future workforce, research and development, and community engagement. Together, we're leading environmental research, developing innovative technologies, and training the scientists and engineers who will continue to secure Tasmania's position as a leader in the renewable energy industry.  

Hydro Tasmania's EGM Assets & Infrastructure Jesse Clark, CEO Rachel Watson, and Upper Derwent Production Supervisor Matthew Breward, at Tarraleah Power Station. 

We have a wealth of industry knowledge to share at Hydro Tasmania. Our Entura clean energy and water institute (ECEWI) is currently providing training in Hobart for 23 engineers from Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and India, as part of the Australian Government’s South Asia Regional Infrastructure Connectivity initiative.

Participants are gaining knowledge of leading practices in dam safety, including risk assessment and management, inspection and monitoring techniques, emergency preparedness, and infrastructure development for safe and sustainable dam operations.

In August, Entura entered into a collaboration with AFRY, a European leader in engineering, design and advisory services. Together, AFRY’s global offshore technical expertise and Entura’s extensive experience on local Australian power projects will help support Australia’s emerging offshore wind industry.

Across the Bass Strait, Momentum Energy has rolled out the first batteries for the ARENA Community Batteries Project in Adelaide. The initiative is part of the Hydro Tasmania Virtual Power Plant (VPP), which is managed by Momentum. Five battery energy storage systems have been installed and switched on across Adelaide. The rollout is just the start of a bigger project to install 39 batteries along Australia’s east coast by mid-2026.

While it's been a busy five months, one of the best parts of starting a new job is meeting the people you work with. Since stepping into the role in April, I’ve spent a lot of time getting to know the vastly different teams across the business that are working hard to keep the lights on for Tasmania.

Tarraleah Power Station

It’s no secret that it’s been very dry, and as water managers, we have to be very strategic in how we manage the system. It’s a complex operation and requires a collective effort drawing on many areas of expertise. I’ve watched in awe as our staff carefully manage Tasmania’s water storages, which I’m pleased to say are sitting above both the Prudent Storage Level and High Reliability Level despite two of the driest years on record.

I’ve also been getting out and visiting our sites across the state, including Tarraleah, Poatina Power Station, Liapootah, Edgar Dam and Gordon. It’s no wonder people are fascinated by our worldclass hydropower system. Tasmania has a lot to be proud of.

It’s been incredible to see these mighty assets up close and reflect on the legacy Hydro Tasmania has built, and I’m grateful to be a part of its next chapter.

The first five months in the job have been fantastic. I’m looking forward to what the next five bring.