Utility Leaders with James Foden

Faith Styles: Building Human Capability for a Future-Ready Water Workforce

In this episode of Utility Leaders: Live from the Road, James Foden sits down with Faith Styles to explore a topic that should be at the centre of every utility’s workforce strategy: human capability.

Episode 21, Season 2: Tom Muller, CEO of WaterAid Australia

Guest: Tom Muller, Chief Executive, WaterAid Australia
Utility Leaders Podcast

What does it actually take to deliver sustainable access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene, particularly in communities where infrastructure, funding and workforce capability can look very different to Australia?

In this episode of the Utility Leaders Podcast, James Foden sits down with Tom Muller, Chief Executive of WaterAid Australia, to explore the work happening behind the WaterAid name and the role the Australian water industry continues to play in supporting that mission.

Tom joined WaterAid Australia in 2015 following a career spanning international development and Australian social policy, including working in Afghanistan and homelessness services. After eight years as Director of Policy and Programs, he stepped into the Chief Executive role, overseeing WaterAid Australia's work across Australia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Cambodia, alongside its broader regional engagement across Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

The conversation explores why delivering water and sanitation is far more complex than simply installing infrastructure.

Tom explains how WaterAid focuses on understanding the local context, building capability and developing solutions communities and institutions can operate, maintain and finance over the long term. He also shares examples where technically impressive infrastructure has failed because the workforce, maintenance systems or access to replacement parts simply weren't there.

• Tom's journey from international development and human rights work to leading WaterAid Australia

• How WaterAid Australia operates across Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Cambodia

• The relationship between WaterAid Australia and the broader global WaterAid Federation

• Why access to water, sanitation and hygiene is fundamentally a human rights issue

• Why successful infrastructure needs to be designed around local context, capability and long-term sustainability

• The importance of local workforce capability, operations and maintenance

• How WaterAid works with governments, women's rights organisations, disability organisations and technical partners

• The role of gender, disability and inclusion in water and sanitation programs

• How WaterAid uses locally relevant communication, including netball in Papua New Guinea and traditional village law in Timor-Leste

• Tom's approach to leadership and building an open, transparent and inclusive organisational culture

• WaterAid's exploration of how it may contribute to First Nations water issues in Australia

• The relationship between WaterAid Australia and the Australian water industry

Tom leaves the industry with an important challenge.

Supporting universal access isn't only about donating money. He wants people working across Australia's water sector to continue using their knowledge, networks and influence to advocate for the importance of water, sanitation and hygiene within their communities, supply chains and with government.

For an industry built around providing one of life's most essential services, it's a powerful reminder that access to safe water and sanitation still isn't universal.

In this episode of Utility Leaders, James Foden sits down with Andrew Forster-Knight, General Manager Enterprise Transformation & Delivery at South East Water, to explore innovation, transformation and the unexpected career opportunities within Australia’s water sector.

Andrew shares his journey from chemical engineering into operational technology and ultimately leadership, and why more than 20 years later, the diversity and purpose of the water sector continues to keep him there.

They discuss South East Water’s digital meter rollout, tackling non-revenue water through data and sensing technology, the evolution of IOTA, and how technology, engineering, data science and people are coming together to transform the modern utility.

But perhaps the biggest takeaway is for anyone considering a career in utilities: there is no single career path.

From engineering and technology to data, customers, environment, project delivery and leadership, Andrew explains why a career in water can become multiple careers — all within the same sector.

In this episode:

• Digital transformation at South East Water
• Smart meters and reducing non-revenue water
• Innovation and the story behind IOTA
• AI, machine learning and data science in utilities
• The changing skills utilities need
• Andrew’s career from engineer to senior leader
• Why the water sector offers far more career opportunities than many people realise

In this episode, we chat with Sascha Kurz - Director and Founder of Infrastructure Project Solutions

We are thrilled to be back for season 2 In this episode, we chat with Robert Scott - Director Infrastructure and Engineering Services with Midcoast Council.

We are thrilled to be back for season 2 with more content and even more to offer than before.

In this Trailer Episode, we cover what to expect in season two in a raw and uncut message from James Foden the Founder and Director of Utility Leaders

In this episode, we chat with Jessica Bohorquez

Advisor – Inside Infrastructure (a Ricardo company)

Postdoctoral Researcher – The University of Adelaide

Jessica made a big move this year, she decided to step away partially from her academic career to work as an Advisor in Inside Infrastructure (a Ricardo company). She also made a big move five years ago when she moved to Australia all the way from Colombia.

Jessica has seven years of experience in the industry both in Colombia and Australia and is keen to see where her career takes her in the next 10 years.

She has a Bachelor and MSc in Civil Engineering from Universidad de los Andes (in Colombia) and PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Adelaide.

As the Deputy Director General, Water Resource Management with the Queensland Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water Linda is Queensland’s most senior state government water executive with broad government and private sector experience across the water, mining, finance and education portfolios. She has successfully led numerous large multi-disciplinary teams, with a focus on culture transformation while delivering strategic, innovative solutions. Linda operates in a diverse and complex stakeholder environment, building lasting relationships that stand the test of time.

This week we bring you William Speirs the Futures Strategist - Liveability and Economy at Urban Utilities

Barton is an  RPEQ (Registered Professional Engineer Queensland) currently working with the Queensland Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water.  Barton has had an extensive carer working with various government agencies over his career including NSW Public Works & Services, South East Water Corporation and Seqwater.  Barton is regularly involved within the community and has also been a keynote speaker at recent events such as the Hydrology & Water Resources Symposium hosted by Engineers Australia.

Dona is an experienced leader within the Victorian water industry and has a strong passion for the role of the public sector in creating a fair and just society.

This week we bring you Jessica Kahl Strategy Lead at Sunwater and the Founder & Director of Dream Big Australia

This week we bring you Kate Bowker Senior Planner for Water Corporation

This week we bring you Steve Adamthwaite - NSW/ACT Water Leader for Arup

This week we bring you James Benjamin CEO of Bowen River Utilities.

Reach out to James here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-benjamin-8a1b2910/

We are excited to bring you our Second "Under 10 Series" podcast. In this episode, Sam shares that while in her final years of study, she wasn’t sure where her combined Bachelor of Chemical Engineering / Bachelor of Science degree would take her. After landing a graduate role with a regional water consultancy, she fell in love with all the water industry has to offer. Since entering the industry in 2018, it has been evident that Sam has an innate passion for the water sector. Having early career experience working in consultative, government and private sectors has given her the opportunity to support the community that she both lives in and serves, through the sustainable design, delivery and operation of crucial water infrastructure.

This week we spoke with Anna Murray of Barwon Water

Anna Murray is a dynamic leader with over 20 years’ experience in industry in key operational, maintenance and reliability roles enabling best practice operation and management of infrastructure for the delivery of key services to customers and the community.

This week we spoke with Janice Wilson of Double Black Diamond Solutions

Janice grew up on a dairy farm in rural Québec, Canada and after 16 years of experience in infrastructure delivery and the utility sector across Canada and Australia, Janice founded her own business Double Black Diamond Solutions. 

Janice is a specialist water and wastewater engineer and project manager with extensive experience in both operations and maintenance and is passionate about the industry. Janice is actively involved with the Australian Water Association and sits on Multiple boards including Mount Isa Water Board. 

Janice holds qualifications including, a Cert III in water industry treatment, a Bachelor of Engineering, Master of Science - in Water Resources Engineering.

This episode features Shaun Nesbitt the Chief Digital and Information Officer at Urban Utilities

With over 20 years’ experience in the ICT industry, Shaun has successfully led ICT transformation and driven improvements in team culture, ICT System resilience and leveraged contemporary technical solutions to drive business change by investing in analytics, data management capabilities, CRM and Internet of Things (IoT) to enable them to deliver better services.

This episode covers all things from hiring, diversity, leadership and so much more that makes a career in water exciting.

Deb Frecklington is the State Member for Nanango and Shadow Minister for Water and the Construction of Dams, Shadow Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing.

Deb was elected to State Parliament in 2012 as the Member for Nanango.

Deb was re-elected for a second term in January 2015 and In 2017, Deb was re-elected for a third term as the Member for Nanango, and in December was honoured to be chosen by her colleagues as Leader of the Opposition. 

In 2020, Deb was relected for a fourth term as the Member for Nanango, and is also the Shadow Minister for Water and the Construction of Dams, Shadow Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing.

Hear Robbie take part in our first "Under 10 Series" podcast which will take place on the last Thursday of each month. 

Robbie has a refreshing career story to share, he has been in the water sector for under 10 years and is looking forwards to where the next 10 take him and the industry.

Robbie has worked with Seqwater, Australian Water Association the Australian Defence Force and is currently a Strategic Planning Advisor with Sydney Water. 

Robbie has a B.eng in Civil & Structural and Civil & Environmental Engineering from the University of Adelaide

This week we chat with Geoffrey Veneris, Manager Production and Services at Goldenfields Water

Geoff is a Professional Chartered senior manager with over 10 years of local government operations experience. Geoff started his career with a trade background before completing a tertiary education including a Bachelor of Business and becoming a chartered Manager via the Institute of Managers and Leaders Australia and New Zealand.

Welcome to episode 3 of utility leaders, this week I am chatting with David Wiskar of Urban Utilities. Today we cover a wide range of including leading people, picking a career path you are passionate about and not just following a trend

Bradd started his career straight out of school with a trade and was on the fast track to management by 25. Over his career, Brad has worked with John Holland for over 12 years where he climbed to a senior role before taking his first CEO role at Harvey Water in Western Australia. After 4 years in the top job with Harvey, Water Brad made the career change that has taken him into his current role as the Alliance manager with Southern SeaWater Alliance.  Brad likes to keep busy and also serves as Chair and Deputy Chair of several organisations both in and out of the water sector. Bradd Holds an MBA from Charles Sturt as well as Post graduate qualifications in OHS and Employment relations.

Welcome to episode 2 of utility leaders, this week I am chatting with David Wiskar of Urban Utilities. Today we cover a wide range of topics around the future of the industry and the diversity in career opportunities, the Olympic games even got a mention.

David has over 25 years in the water and public services sector. During that time David has worked with organisations such as Wide Bay Water Corporation, North Burnett Regional Council, Power and Water Corporation and Queensland Water Directorate. In October 2021 David commenced his current role with Urban Utilities where he is now the General Manager City and Regional Futures.

Join us as Olivia Newman of CPM Advisory and Project Management talks about leadership diversity and technology.

Olivia has over 20 years in the Infrastructure, water and public services sectors. During that time Olivia has worked with organisations such as Gold Coast City Council, Ipswitch City Council, Urban Utilities, ARTC and Sunwater.  In 2020 Olivia commenced her current role with CPM where she is now the Operations Manager at CPM Advisory and Project Management. And continuing her stellar career Olivia is a current committee member with the Australian Water Association.  Tune in to your favourite podcast platform in September 2022 to hear Oliva's story.