Ruth Coulson Email & Phone Number

Brisbane City, Qld, Au

Brisbane, Australia

Urban Utilities enriches quality of life through the delivery of drinking water, recycled water and sewage services to over 1.5 million customers, servicing the areas of Brisbane, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim and Somerset. Ruth is responsible for Urban Utilities financial activities, regulation, pricing and procurement functions. Collectively these functions champion, safeguard and drive customer, community and shareholder value.

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

The Great Barrier Reef Foundation solves the most complex and challenging problems facing the survival of the Great Barrier Reef, raising and directing funds at projects with large scale impact, helping protect the coral reefs and the animals that depend on them

Brisbane

Heading the inbound Supply Chain capability of the organisation, I oversee the purchasing, demand optimisation, warehousing, logistics, manufacturing workshops, governance and standards within a complex MRO environment for heavy assets and construction. A national footprint, encompassing circa 20 warehouses and distribution points, and workshop production incorporating overhaul of heavy components (engines traction motors, wheels, brakes components) and midlife overhaul of wagons.The major focus has been on centralising and transforming the function to deliver improved performance to the business including standardising processes, optimising the groups demand management and purchasing requirements, embed inventory management processes to meet external assurance scrutiny and reduce the operating working capital requirements to drive ROI. A key highlight has been the significant reduction of inventory holdings by 20% over 18 months through centralisation of demand and purchasing requirements.I manage a workforce of over 300 employees nationally including 160 production, 100 warehousing, and 40 white collar. Overall responsible for approximately $350 million in addressable spend for running maintenance and capital programs, to support $4 billion of rolling stock assets and facilities, and $4 billion of track and infrastructure.

Brisbane

Finance leadership in both group and business partnering roles providing executive insight into financial issues supported by a strong governance mind-set. Key roles included GM Capital Allocation, IPO Finance Lead, GM Finance and Finance Partner Operations. Experience includes privatisation and listing of ASX50 company, due diligence, internal and external reporting obligations in a listed company environment, financial advisory, business transformation, complex business case and capital evaluation.During my tenure as IPO Finance Lead and GM Finance, the role was focused on delivering the group internal and external requirements transitioning from a Government Owned Co-operation to a listed company. This included separation of legal entities, listing obligations and due diligence for the IPO, establishment of external reporting, rigid budgeting and forecasting processes and systems, and capital governance. As Finance Partner Operations, I worked directly with the Executive Vice President for Operations, with a major focus on transformation and achievement of business outcomes to deliver improved performance and profitability. This resulted in record improvements in the areas of safety, service, productivity and financial outcomes.

In 2002, joined Hanson PLC as a project accountant, and quickly progressed to Deputy Chief Accountant and then Group Chief Accountant. During this time, gained strong skills across international accounting (IFRS and US GAAP), commercial finance, and regulatory experience in a UK and US listed environment. A key highlight of this time was to prepare the company for relisting, by restoring capital reserves and provide financing through debt offerings.Achievements • Manage internal and external reporting requirements for the group, including the Annual Report and Form 20-F, monthly management reports to Board of Directors, and annual and multiyear budgets.• Reporting on significant accounting issues at the Group Audit Committee meetings.• Resolution of significant regulatory enquiries from the Financial Reporting Review Panel (FRRP) and Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), together with significant accounting issues under IFRS, UK and US GAAP.• Transitioned the group from UK GAAP to IFRS.• Post acquisition integration and closure of Hanson PLC head office functions to Heidelberg.• Implemented Sarbanes Oxley s404 compliance, which formalised and embedded a robust, control based, commercial environment within the group. • Led implementation of new group reporting and management system (SAP BPC) and upgrade of central companies ERP including transitioning offshore Treasury companies. • Company Director and signatory for UK and offshore legal entities (approx. 300 entities).• Re-listing of Hanson PLC to restore £2 billon of distributable reserves. • Listing of debt offerings, providing financing of US$1.5 billion.

Audit manager on large listed companies based in Hong Kong and Brisbane• Managed audit teams of 2 to 12 on large HK listed clients such as Swire Pacific Limited (Cathay Pacific and Coca Cola), Jardine Motors Group, Jardine Pacific Restaurants (Pizza Hut, Taco Bell) and Stanford Hotels Group• Managed audit teams on large Brisbane based clients such as Bundaberg Sugar (Tate & Lyle PLC), Bundaberg Distillery (Tate & Lyle PLC), Comalco Limited (Rio Tinto PLC), Sheraton Hotels, Sanctuary Cove Resort and Couran Cove Resort