Andrew McConville

Andrew McConville is Chief Executive of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA). The MDBA supports the Authority Board of which Andrew is a member. The MDBA is required to prepare, implement and review an integrated plan for the sustainable use of the Basin's water resources and operate the River Murray system and efficiently deliver water to users on behalf of partner governments.

Before his appointment at the MDBA in May 2022, Andrew was CEO of the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association. As CEO he was responsible for leading the Association, its members and the Australian oil and gas industry in building community trust and support, developing and executing a strategy for growth of APPEA and improving its reach and impact.

Prior to joining APPEA, Andrew worked for more than a decade with Syngenta, one of the world's leading agribusinesses. His last role was as Global Head of External Affairs and Communication based in Switzerland and before that he held senior roles as Head of Corporate Affairs for Europe, Africa and the Middle East and as Head of Corporate Affairs for APAC.

Before joining Syngenta in 2008 Andrew ran his own agribusiness public relations consultancy for 5 years and also worked as Head of Corporate Affairs for Business at the National Australia Bank. Early in his career Andrew held various public relations and commercial leadership roles at the Australian Wheat Board including Head of Research and Development, State Manager for Vic and SA and Head of Corporate Affairs. He worked for 4 years as a senior policy advisor for the Victorian Government and began his career establishing a lamb exporting business in northern NSW.

Andrew holds a first-class honours degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of New England and a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics from Oxford University.

In addition to world class academic credentials Andrew was a distinguished sportsman at school, club and university levels being awarded Best and Fairest and Clubman of the Year for the Oxford University Rugby Football Club in 1993, winning two rugby premierships with the University of New South Wales and captaining Melbourne Rugby Club. He was awarded a Half Blue and Full Blue for rugby at the University of New England, captaining club, university and zone teams.

Andrew is a father of four, reads widely, runs regularly, has driven the Birdsville Track, crossed the Simpson Desert and rides (motorbikes) not enough.