Read about the latest news, events and research from VicWater, and your colleagues around the Victorian water sector.
VicWater Update - November 2025
Incorporating IWN
Last month 135 directors commenced their appointment (or reappointment) to the boards of Victorian water corporations, CMAs and the Birrarung Council. In her announcement, Minister for Water Gayle Tierney highlighted the Government’s commitment to ensuring that Victoria’s water entities are led by boards that reflect the diversity of the communities they serve.
More than half of water board directors, and more than 60% of board chairs, are women. First Nations representation has also increased, with 23 out of 29 water sector boards now having an Aboriginal board member. People from regional Victoria, the LGBTIQ+ community, and younger people (under 35) are also represented on water sector boards.
One of VicWater’s strategic priorities is to advance member capability and performance through strengthening sector governance and leadership. The new cohort of board directors joining our sector gives us an opportunity to put this into practice by offering professional development opportunities to complement organisational inductions.
Some of the ways in which VicWater is supporting non-executive directors include:
New Director Introduction Webinaron 19 November 2025 – we run this in partnership with Vic Catchments for all newly appointed directors to water corporation and CMA boards, to welcome them and let them know about the role of the two peak bodies and opportunities to participate in the broader sector beyond their own organisation.
VicWater Director Masterclass on 16 - 17 March 2026 – this is a program that we deliver in partnership with Monash Sustainable Development Institute. The program is designed for non-executive directors who want to develop deeper insight into the sector and ways of thinking to strengthen their governance and leadership skills.
Director Development Forum on 18 March 2026 – this is a biennial event which we deliver in partnership with DEECA and Vic Catchments for all directors of water corporations, CMAs, the VEWH and Birrarung Council. The program includes sessions on sector governance and topical issues, and is a great opportunity to bring new and continuing directors together for professional development and networking.
We congratulate all newly appointed and reappointed directors, and we look forward to working with them to strengthen collaboration and resilience across our sector.
We are now in the countdown to mince pie season, and it feels like October has passed in a blur. There has been quite a bit on, but a few key items that I am pleased to highlight:
RMIT EnGenius Awards: As both a woman in STEM and an RMIT Alumni I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to present the VicWater Women in STEM Award at the recent RMIT EnGenius Exhibition. This award was presented to Angelina Iliaskos, Hannah Merry, and Chloe Pattas for their project Design and Development of a 3D-Printed Waterjet Propulsion System for Uncrewed Vessels.
Tara Daniel with the winners of the VicWater Women in STEM Award: Hannah Merry, Chloe Pattas and Angelina Iliaskos
Firstly, congratulations to Michael Thomas, Barwon Water R&D Manager and IWN Circular Economy Lead for winning the AWA Victorian Water Professional of the Year. IWN was delighted to support Michael’s nomination for all the incredible work Michael does and the positive impact that Michael has in our sector.
IWN was also delighted to be a key collaborator in the ARC Centre for the Transformation of Australia’s Biosolids Resource along with South East Water, Melbourne Water, EPA Victoria and RMIT University which won the AWA Victorian R&D Excellence Award.
We also congratulate Wannon Water and NovoLabs who were finalists in the R&D Excellence Award for the IWN Super Critical UV Disinfection trial at Port Fairy.
Proud Mary Consulting has commenced in its role as the program manager for the offsets project. The tasks it has been working on include; finalising the members’ agreement and constitution, leading the assessment of proposals that were received from carbon consultants in response to the RfP and preparing for the establishment of the special purpose vehicle.
Mike Rolls to speak at WaterAble’s International Day for People with Disability celebrations
This year WaterAble are thrilled to have Mike Rolls speaking as part of their International Day for People with Disability celebrations.
Join WaterAble online on 3 December 2025, from 10:30 am – 11:30 am, to celebrate International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) and continue raising awareness, understanding, and acceptance of the 5.5 million people with disability in Australia.
Mike is someone who doesn’t just talk about resilience, he lives it, challenges it, and teaches it in ways that truly cuts through the noise. A double amputee, proud husband and father, and passionate advocate and mentor for others living with disability, Mike shares his extraordinary story of recovery and reinvention, helping us shift perspectives on our own challenges, reimagine what’s possible, and appreciate the profound power of adaptability, open-mindedness, and the questions we ask ourselves.
The IWA Conference and SIG meetings will be held in-person on 19 & 20 November 2025 in Geelong.
From Uncertainty to Action: Building an AI Ready Workforce
The future of our workforce depends on its ability to adapt, innovate, and lead. This conference puts a spotlight on the transformational role of artificial intelligence including automation, data analytics Generative AI in reshaping how we manage water, make decisions, and develop skills.
We'll explore how you can harness these tools to build resilience, with a focus on people. We’ll delve into the practical implications of AI for the sector, highlight the emerging skillsets needed across all levels, and discuss how to future-proof careers in an era of rapid change.
Please register for the components of the conference you wish to attend including:
If there’s money in your super account when you die, or you have death insurance through your super, there are specific rules that apply to that money. Super isn’t automatically included in your estate or will, unlike many other valuable assets.
However, if you make a valid binding death nomination, you can choose who gets your money. Nominating your beneficiaries is the best way to let your super fund know where you want your money to go when you die. Without a valid beneficiary nomination, your super fund decides who gets your money – meaning it may not get distributed the way you would have wanted.
South East Water celebrates 2 wins at Victorian water awards
South East Water has been named a winner across 2 categories at the 2025 Australian Water Association’s (AWA) Victorian Gala Dinner and Awards.
Held on Thursday 16 October at the Melbourne Town Hall, the AWA awards ceremony recognises the outstanding achievements of individuals, organisations and students. The awards showcase and celebrate innovation, leadership, infrastructure and positive change to drive a sustainable water future.
Winners of the Infrastructure Project Innovation Award (Regional) - photo credit - AWA Vic Awards
Sport and sustainability in Beaufort celebrated at state awards
Greener schools, community recreation spaces and playing surfaces across Beaufort took out the top prize at the 2025 Australian Water Association (Vic) Awards on Thursday 16 October at Melbourne Town Hall.
The Beaufort Reuse for Recreation project, which developed infrastructure to create safe and sustainable local reuse wastewater, and deliver long-term environmental benefits, was announced as the winner of the Infrastructure Project Innovation Award (Regional).
The project was the result of a $3 million investment focused on integrated water management with the benefits extending to the Beaufort secondary and primary school, Goldfields Recreation Reserve, and the local golf course and croquet club.
AWA Victorian Water Professional of the Year – Michael Thomas
Barwon Water were thrilled to have Michael Thomas, Research and Development Lead awarded the Australian Water Association‘s Victorian Water Professional of the Year!
This prestigious award recognises Michael’s outstanding leadership, technical excellence, and unwavering commitment to advancing innovation and collaboration across the Australian water sector.
Michael’s achievements speak volumes:
Leading over 40 research projects that are advancing sustainability and water security
Driving award-winning initiatives including Biochar 2 Batteries, the Deakin REACH partnership, and the RMIT and SEW on PYROCO Mk2 collaboration, positioning the water sector as an active player in Australia’s clean energy and net-zero transitions
Demonstrating exceptional leadership during COVID-19, coordinating passive wastewater sampling when our sector needed it most
Mentoring the next generation of water professionals, with three Barwon Water-sponsored PhD students winning the prestigious WaterRA Nancy Millis Research Award since 2020
Beyond Barwon Water, Michael leads the Intelligent Water Networks (IWN) Circular Economy Program, co-chairs the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) Research Managers Network, and serves on the Geelong Tech School board, connecting more than 20 regional high schools with real-world water and environmental STEM experiences.
Do you have a water sector event you'd like to promote? Maybe an announcement you'd like us to share on behalf of your organisation? VicWater Update has opened the news and events section of the monthly update to promote visibility of things that are happening within the water sector.
If you'd like something included email Lauren Vines with your request for consideration in our next edition.
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