This month we celebrate International Women’s Day, and it’s a good time to reflect on the current state of gender equity in the Victorian water sector.
Around this time each year, VicWater publishes an annual performance report against the Water Industry Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2024-2028. All Victorian water corporations have committed to the Strategy, in recognition of the importance of having a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve, and a safe and inclusive workplace that enables all staff to thrive.
Gender data collected from all Victorian water corporations (at 30 June 2025) shows that women are well represented at board level – 13 of 18 chairs are women, and there are 55% female non-executive directors overall. Looking at our workforce, the industry average is 46% female executive leaders (including managing directors and general managers) and 38% female employees in total. (Note these are average figures across the 18 water corporations – individual statistics may be higher or lower).
One of the targets in the Strategy is to reduce the gender pay gap year-on-year. The gender pay gap limits the lifetime earnings of women, reducing their ability to save, invest and build long-term financial security for themselves and their families. This year’s performance report will show that the average median gender pay gap across the 18 Victorian water corporations is 9.2%[1]. While this figure compares favourably to the national water industry median gender pay gap of 18.9%[2], it represents an increase of 2% from the previous year.
This is the second year of collecting gender pay gap data. Over the coming months, VicWater’s Diversity & Inclusion Steering Committee and Practitioners Network will be analysing the data and seeking to understand the underlying reasons for the year-on-year results and what actions we can take to ensure the sector is moving in the right direction.
[1] Based on 2024-25 data provided directly to VicWater and taken from the Victorian Commission for Gender Equality in the Public Sector
In-Stream Customer Experience Stream Launches with Strong Momentum
Following the successful launch of the In-Stream Asset Intelligence Stream with NCS, this month we held the first workshop of the Digitising Customer Experience Stream facilitated by Salesforce.
The session brought together passionate representatives from VicWater, Yarra Valley Water, North East Water, South Gippsland Water, and Coliban Water, along with industry partners and facilitators from Salesforce.
The Essential Services Commission also joined the discussion, contributing valuable regulatory insights—particularly around safety-by-design and protecting vulnerable customers, which sparked one of the day's most significant "aha" moments. The workshop demonstrated the power of genuine collaboration, with participants openly sharing challenges and opportunities facing the sector.
First workshop of the In-Stream – Digitising Customer Experience Stream facilitated by Salesforce
The VicWater programs are now in full swing, and this year there is much allignment, with all programs focusing on partnerships and being “better together”.
Before I go further, I will add that we welcomed Lucy Hall to VicWater in late January, to support VicWater programs including WaterAble and IWN. It has been fabulous to have her on board to support our members. If you see her around, please make sure you say hi!
WaterAble
WaterAble have started planning for this year and will be holding a members meeting on 23 March 2026. This meeting is open to all employees of WaterAble’s partner organisations and will share some of the key activities they will be undertaking this year.
On 22 January 2026, ASIC approved the establishment of Zero Emissions Water Carbon Offsets (ZEWCO) Limited. With this milestone now achieved, the participating water corporations were able to sign their members agreement and management of ZEWCO formally transitioned to the Board.
Now, with over four years of managing this project for the Victorian water sector, VicWater is stepping back and leaving it in the very capable hands of the ZEWCO Board and Member Reference Group. It’s been quite a journey that we and the sector have been on with this project, and the fantastic outcome we have achieved is a testament to all of those involved.
Last chance to register for the Director Development Forum 2026
Registrations for the 2026 Director Development Forum will close next Tuesday 10 March, so make sure you don't miss out.
The forum consists of one full day program with an optional networking dinner, which has been designed to match the needs of both our newly appointed board members as well as our more experienced leadership cohort.
Key Details
When: Wednesday 18 March 2026
Where: RACV City Club, 501 Bourke St, Melbourne
Forum: FREE Optional Dinner: $90 + GST
A Seminar on Economic and Financial Regulation will also be held as a side event to the Director Development Forum, designed for both newly appointed and existing board members of water corporations and will provide a 101 session on economic and financial regulation in the water sector.
Key Details
When: Thursday 19 March 2026
Where: VicWater Office, Level 4, 99 William St, Melbourne and online
Registrations are still open for the Plenary Session and SIG Meetings next week!
PLENARY SESSION - 9am - 9:45am online
Resilience in Action: Lessons from Victoria’s recent bushfire response
This panel will bring together leaders from three water corporations affected by the fires and will reflect on three key elements of the response: emergency planning and response, customer and community communications, and infrastructure repairs and recovery.
The discussion will highlight the power of collaboration across agencies and organisations, and how the sector is translating experience into action — building stronger systems, smarter partnerships and greater resilience for the challenges ahead.
SIG MEETINGS - 10am onwards online
All 12 SIG meetings will be online and available to Victorian water corporation employees. Register via the button below.
What’s the difference between a self-managed super fund and an industry fund?
There’s a lot of choice when it comes to super funds and the type of fund you’re invested in can affect things like the fees you’ll pay or the investment choices you have – which can impact your retirement savings.
One of the main types of super fund in Australia are industry funds. Unlike retail funds owned by banks or financial institutions, industry funds do not pay dividends to shareholders; profits are returned to the members.
Look Inside the 2026 VIC Water Industry Operations Conference Program
Join the Water Industry Operations Association [WIOA] in Bendigo on 25–26 March 2026 for two days of applied learning, operational insights, and real‑world case studies.
This year’s program has been shaped by operators, engineers and managers to address the real challenges facing Victorian utilities today – with practical lessons you can take straight back to site.
WIOA Members: check your email for your 20% Delegate discount code, available at checkout.
If you work in water operations, treatment, maintenance, networks or asset management, this conference has something for you.
L-R: Peter Gee, WSAA, Digna Nichols, MW, Zach Powell, WaterRA, Natasha Sharrock, AWA and Jason Cotton, VicWater and IWN
Melbourne Water hosts Industry Partner Showcase
On 17 February, Melbourne Water staged an Industry Partner Showcase onsite at its Melbourne office.
The event included representatives from the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA), the Australian Water Association (AWA), VicWater and Intelligent Water Networks (IWN), Water Research Australia (WaterRA) and Melbourne Water’s Corporate Partnerships Manager, who highlighted the importance of industry partnerships; and shared details on the International Water Association (IWA) and the Institute of Water Administration (IWA).
Clearwater’s highly requested Maintenance of WSUD Assets – Street Scale Systems training is back, offering a practical, hands-on learning experience for anyone involved in maintaining or influencing the upkeep of street scale water sensitive urban design (WSUD) assets.
When: Tuesday, 17th March 2026 from 9:00am to 4:00pm Where: The Hunt Club Community and Arts Centre, 775 Ballarat Road, Deer Park, Vic 3023
Shakira Winmar, local artist and Angeleen Jenkins, Chair, Central Highlands Water
First Nations bottle honours culture, Country and collaboration
In collaboration with the Ballarat Miners, Central Highlands Water have launched an all new First Nations water bottle ahead of the 2026 Ballarat Begonia Festival.
Designed by Noongar Traditional Custodian Shakira Winmar, the design represents ‘Our Country - honouring Wadawurrung Country, where waters, ancestors and all living beings move as one, carrying a connection that lives beyond time and guides all who walk upon it.’
Alongside this, she oversees the Student Water Innovation Showcase (SWISH) at Deakin, which supports final-year engineering students to work on real-world water sector challenges.
Backup power boost to support communities during extreme weather
Gippsland Water has invested $6.8M in a fleet of new generators to reduce interruptions to services during times of emergencies. The organisation will deploy 25 new generators to critical sites across the service area.
Managing Director Sarah Cumming said that extreme weather events in recent years highlighted the demand to invest in generators.
"In recent years we’ve seen more extreme weather events in our service area than ever before,” Ms Cumming said.
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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