Carmel is an experienced water infrastructure professional with extensive leadership and management skills. She has successfully combined both executive and non-executive roles and is the immediate past National President of the Australian Water Association.

Carmel has over 40 years water industry experience and has made a significant contribution to the water sector and to the advancement of women. She was the first female to graduate from the NSW Institute of Technology (now UTS) in Civil Engineering.

Carmel has had many years experience in local government in several senior roles, has worked in the private sector and has also worked as an Infrastructure Advisor for the Australian Aid Program. In 2019 Carmel was awarded an OAM for her contribution to civil engineering. In that same year she was also awarded a Special Achievement Award by the NSW Minister for Local Government for her contribution to the sector.

Carmel holds a Master of Engineering from the University of Technology Sydney, a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) from the NSW Institute of Technology, a Post Graduate Diploma in Local Government Engineering from the NSW University of Technology and a Master of Business Administration (Technology Management) from La Trobe University.