Tom Mollenkopf

CEO, Peter Cullen Water and Environment Trust; Senior Vice President – International Water Association

Tom Mollenkopf is an independent advisor on policy, strategy and governance; he is CEO of the Peter Cullen Water and Environment Trust, a Senior Associate with the Aither consultancy and Senior Vice-President of the International Water Association. Over the past twenty years, Tom has worked extensively in the water sector: as CEO of the Australian Water Association, Deputy Executive Director of the International Water Association (based in London) and Executive General Manager at South East Water in Melbourne. Tom’s professional career started in law, first in private practice and then as corporate counsel. His advisory work has covered utilities and water authorities, research centres, industry bodies and government agencies. He has worked extensively across water sector infrastructure, regulation, policy and governance. He is a former Non- Executive Director of Water Aid Australia, Western Water, Wyong Water and Chair of the Water Industry Superannuation Fund. His other current roles include: President, Life Saving Victoria; Director, Surf Life Saving Australia, Director, Dandenong Market, Expert Review Panel – Australian Water Partnership. He is qualified B. Juris. LL.B. MBA FAICD and FGIA.

Karlene Maywald

Strategic Advisor, International Water Opportunities with the South Australian Government and Chair — Board of Directors ICE WaRM

Karlene Maywald is the Strategic Advisor, International Water Opportunities with the South Australian Government, and the Managing Director of Maywald Consultants Pty Ltd, providing water policy and government relations advisory services. Until May 2015 Karlene was the Chair of the National Water Commission. Karlene was the representative for the seat of Chaffey in the South Australian House of Assembly from October 1997 until March 2010. During her tenure, from 2004 until 2010, she was South Australia’s Minister for Water Security and the River Murray during one of the worst drought periods in living memory. She has a proven, long-standing track record in water management and is passionate about water reform in Australia.

Darryl Day

Managing Director – ICE WaRM

Darryl has more than 35-years of experience in the water and energy sectors. Darryl is a Life Member of the Australian Water Association and was the National President of the Association from 2005 to 2007. In 2015 Darryl was appointed as a Fellow of the International Water Association, a Fellow of Engineers Australia and awarded the Professional Engineer of the Year for Engineers Australia – Northern Division. Previously, Darryl was Executive Director Water Directorate, Department of Land Resource Management with the Northern Territory Government and General Manager with the Power and Water Corporation. Darryl Chairs the International Water Association (IWA) – Australian National Committee and has been the Co-Chair of the Programme Committee for the Singapore International Water Week – Water Convention since 2009. Darryl is the Chair of the Industry Advisory Board of the School of Engineering and Information Technology of Charles Darwin University.

Karen Campisano

Manager, Research and Innovation – Water Service Association of Australia (WSAA)

Karen is Manager, Research and Innovation for the Water Service Association of Australia (WSAA). She has a background in Engineering, Science and Business (Economics) which has led to a passion for evidence based decision making, systems thinking, research and innovation. Karen has extensive experience in the water industry, including at Melbourne Water, and most recently in the role of Water Security Program Manager at Seqwater. This experience includes managing stakeholders to progress applied research, strategic needs and long term planning as well as in project and contract management. She has overseen applied research programs spanning concept through to commercialisation. Karen has been an active member of the Australian and International water industry for many years, serving five years as an advisory board member of the Australian and New Zealand Biosolids Partnership and collaborating with national and international members of industry to drive research, policy, strategy and innovation outcomes that address industry needs.

SRIDEVI PATNAIKUNI

Team Leader Water Innovation, Water Services Planning, Integrated Planning, Melbourne Water

Sri has a background in environment and sustainability across different industries within the private and public sectors. Sri is currently the Team Leader, Water Innovation at Melbourne Water and previously led a team that worked on strategies for waste to resources. She is currently working on Scenario Planning and innovation challenges. Previous roles include Manager, Environmental Incentives Services for KPMG and Team Leader Environment for the Port of Melbourne Corporation. Sri holds Bachelor degrees in Chemical Engineering and Science and Masters degrees in Engineering and Energy Studies.

Brigid Adams

Manager Integrated Water Management Planning and Support –  Victoria State Government

Brigid has over 15 years experience in the water sector, ranging from integrated water management (IWM), urban water policy, water conservation, the water energy nexus, water infrastructure construction in remote Indigenous communities to WASH programs in Vietnam. Brigid is an environmental engineer with a strategic planning focus. She works with the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning on a reform program to work with the broader water sector to successfully implement IWM across Victoria.

Jason King

Manager – Aboriginal Water Program, DELWP, Victoria State Government

Jason King has worked in Aboriginal health and affairs since 2002, and is currently managing the Aboriginal Water Program of Department of Environment, Land, and Water Planning with the Victoria State Government. He is a proud Aboriginal man – his father’s ancestry comes from the Gunditjmara people of Western Victoria and Ngargio people of Southern NSW. Jason’s mother has Scottish and Irish heritage. He identifies with his grandfather’s people of Lake Condah the Gunditjmara.  Jason was born and bred in East Gippsland, Victoria, Australia growing up in Buchan and Bairnsdale. He has had many roles within Aboriginal affairs of Victoria and has been the CEO of Gippsland & East Gippsland Aboriginal Cooperative and Victorian Aboriginal Health Service in Fitzroy, including serving on numerous boards.

BELINDA HATT

Integrated Water Management Consultant/ Senior Environmental Scientist – Jacobs

Belinda is an environmental scientist and engineer with 15 years’ experience in integrated urban water management. She specialises in vegetated water treatment systems, water quality, monitoring and treatment of stormwater and greywater, water recycling and the application of stormwater harvesting to improve urban stream health. Prior to joining Jacobs, Belinda was an integral member of a number of research projects in the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities as well as its predecessor, the Cities as Water Supply Catchments Program. Belinda is passionate about understanding industry needs and translating research outcomes to practice. One example of this is where she led the development of the Biofilter Adoption Guidelines (FAWB, 2009; CRC WSC, 2015). Belinda has also delivered numerous workshops on the design, implementation and operation of WSUD systems nationwide.

LINDSEY BROWN

Managing Director – Foundry

Lindsey is an Engagement Strategist and dynamic water industry leader that brings local, interstate and international experience in the public and private sectors. She is known for using her water industry knowledge to powerfully communicate complex ideas and concepts for a broad audience. She has a strong background in policy and public affairs that assists technical professionals navigate government and regulatory issues that have implications for communities, businesses, and the environment. She has led award-winning projects and has a reputation for delivery. Her planning projects include the world first Little Stringybark Creek Environmental Significance Overlay and multiple reviews of planning policy relating to urban water management. She has helped develop key strategic documents including Opportunities for a Water Sensitive Greater Sydney, the urban water chapter of Water for Victoria and the Melbourne Urban Water Strategy. She has used her industry knowledge to perform strategic planning for industry organizations such as Stormwater Victoria and the Splash Network. Lindsey is currently the Victorian President of the Australian Water Association (AWA) and is the national representative for Victoria for Stormwater Australia.

JAMIE EWERT

National Engagement Manager – Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities

Jamie has over 21 years’ experience in the water and environment industry having worked in roles in service delivery, regulation, policy, strategy and research. He has recently joined the CRC for Water Sensitive Cities following 16 years at Melbourne Water Corporation with a focus on waterway management and integrated water management. At the CRC for Water Sensitive Cities Jamie works as a broker between researchers and industry and delivers the CRC’s ‘Research Synthesis’ service to facilitate the translation and adoption of CRCWSC research into practice. He has worked with cities across Australia to develop practical water sensitive city projects and  brings extensive facilitation, engagement and IWM strategic skills to this project.

Alison Whitten

Operations Coordinator – Resilient Melbourne

Alison Whitten is the Resilient Melbourne Operations Coordinator. She is responsible for program management to facilitate successful delivery of the suite of actions developed in the Resilient Melbourne strategy. Alison has a background in management consulting, international development and urban planning. Her planning experience has focused on the intersection of design with public health, housing, food systems, and risk mitigation in natural disasters. Alison has worked professionally across the public, private, and non-profit sectors in Australia, the United States, China and across Sub-Saharan Africa. She has led a range of relevant projects, including an evaluation of low-carbon urban development programs, a review of philanthropic engagement with the private sector to achieve development goals and multiple initiatives to promote sustainable food production. Alison holds a BS in Systems Engineering from the University of Virginia and a Master in Urban Planning from the Harvard Graduate School of Design.

Maree Grenfell

Network and Learning Manager, Resilient Melbourne – City of Melbourne

Maree Grenfell is the Resilient Melbourne Networks and Learning Manager. She has been working with the Chief Resilience Officer for three years; first developing Australia’s first resilience strategy and now forming collaborative networks to embed resilience thinking and share knowledge across partner organisations.

Maree has over seventeen years’ experience in a diverse number of project and leadership roles, influencing cultural change for improved sustainability and resilience outcomes. She has worked in private, community and government sectors developing and implementing policy frameworks to drive reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, improved biodiversity, adaption to climate change and greater organisational and city resilience to current and future challenges.

Her signature strengths include bringing clarity and purpose to projects, injecting creativity and enthusiasm while producing long lasting results. Holding qualifications in leadership, psychology, facilitation and engagement, Maree is passionate about influencing positive change and working for our planet and its people; her goal is a community-centered future in which cities and human wellbeing are interdependent.

Penny Ball

Water Sensitive Urban Design Coordinator at City of Melbourne

Penny has been developing and delivering on Victorian local government water policy for over 10 years. She is the Water Sensitive Urban Design Coordinator at City of Melbourne and and takes a collaborative approach to water planning, working closely across disciplines to identify and resolve issues and improve processes, taking into account latest industry thinking.  Penny led the development of a national award winning asset management process and received a scholarship for the International Water Centre’s Water Leadership Program. Her main focus is gaining staff and community support for Water Sensitive outcomes.

Khushru Wadia

Project Manager, Major Program Delivery  –  Melbourne Water

An experienced Project  with over 14 years in the Water and Waste Water Treatment and Transfer Industry. During his career, Khushru fulfilled design, procurement, construction, commissioning, completion and project management positions having worked in the government, operations, consulting and contracting environments.  His role with Melbourne Water is to provide stakeholders and customers value for money and robust capital project outcome. He is passionate about use of latest technology in water and wastewater treatment especially Virtual Reality to provide a common platform for designers, constructors, and operators in order to maintain safety and provide efficient delivery. He and his Safety team won the Victorian Worksafe award 2017  for  innovative Approach to a workplace health and safety.

TANIA STRUZINA

Project Office – Clearwater

Tania coordinates the design and delivery of Clearwater training and events and contributes to a range of stakeholder engagement activities. Having worked for the Clearwater program for over eight years she has extensive experience and knowledge in building capacity for Integrated Water Management. Tania has a background in environmental education and capacity building across a wide range of sectors. She holds a Bachelor degree in Communications and Masters in Environment and Planning. Her previous work history includes ECO-Buy Local Government Green Purchasing program at the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), MSSI Sustainability Institute in Melbourne University and Campus Planning at RMIT University, and in International Development with Oxfam Australia.Tania is passionate about environmental innovation and design, and community participation in driving change.

KAT HAWKINS

Program Lead (Metropolitan Melbourne) – Clearwater

Kat leads the design, development and delivery of a range of Integrated Water Management capacity building initiatives for Clearwater’s metropolitan Melbourne program. Kat brings extensive experience in the public and water sectors, with a local government background in environmental education and behavioural change programs for the community, and over 6 years of experience in the water industry, having previously worked in the Regional Services team of Melbourne Water managing waterways for river health.

Karen Kun

Executive Director & Founder, Waterlution

Karen is the Founder and Executive Director of Waterlution, and co-founder of Greatness – The Great Lakes Project. She credits her time living among Indigenous communities in Latin America as the inspiration behind applying water as a metaphor for everything essential in caring for and preserving ourselves and our planet. Thirteen years later, Karen continues to incorporate the practice of storytelling, building personal connections, peer-to-peer social engagement, and empathy as the fundamental tools in creating meaningful water dialogue.

Dona Geagea

Global Lead – Water Innovation Labs

Dona’s background is in water governance and community engagement. Over the past 7 years, she has been using creative methodologies and techniques to propel people and projects at the intersection of social and environmental (water) innovation as a facilitator and engagement designer. Dona is trained in the Art of Hosting, Cooperative Games, Non-Violent Communication, and Systems Theory. She is a member of the global organisation Water Youth Network, and combined with her work with Waterlution, she has hosted and facilitated workshops internationally at Water Innovation Labs – Canada, Europe, India; Budapest Water Summit; 7th World Water Forum in South Korea; Singapore International Water Week, and more. Her experience ranges from working with indigenous elders in South America, to presenting in corporate boardrooms.

Dr. Seanna Davidson

WIL Australia Project Lead

Seanna has over 10 years experience in the water sector.  She has worked across government, NGOs and the private sector in water management and policy, completed a Phd in water governance and is co-editor of the book Water as a Social Opportunity. A geographer by training, Seanna’s work draws across disciplines, to explore patterns and change within social spaces. A systems practitioner and process designer Seanna works with individuals and teams to unpack complex situations through systems approaches, reflective practice and action learning.  She draws on several areas of practice including art of hosting, theory of change, change and innovation labs, theoryU, systems thinking, social innovation and developmental evaluation.

Katia Bratieres

Water Research and Development Specialist

Katia has over 10 years’ experience working in the Victorian water sector and previously coordinated the Research and Development arm of the Clearwater Program, a leading Australian capacity building program in the water industry. Katia has a background in Civil Engineering and previously worked at Monash University as a researcher in the field of urban stormwater, focusing on the development and improvement of passive treatment technologies. Her subsequent work with a major multi-disciplinary research centre (the Centre for Water Sensitive Cities), led her to expand her focus to stakeholder engagement, communications and research development. Katia has been involved in the early adoption of WIL Asutralia and its design and development so emerging water leaders can experience unique aspects of the water system in Melbourne.