Our Water Connection

This episode of Our Water Connection features a powerful conversation with Professor Phil Duncan about what true partnership with First Nations communities in water management can look like.

Together, we explore why traditional engagement approaches often fall short, how cultural science and Western science can work side by side, and what it takes to move from consultation to genuine co-design. Phil shares practical examples from projects like the Brewarrina fish passage, reflections from more than 40 years working across communities and government, and a hopeful vision for the future of the water sector.

This episode is a call for curiosity, courage, and collaboration, especially for the next generation of water professionals. From creating safe spaces for difficult conversations to empowering communities to lead, Phil challenges us to rethink how projects are planned, delivered, and connected to Country.

We also discuss:

• What the water sector has learned — and still needs to improve — in working with First Nations communities
• The meaning of cultural science and two-way knowledge exchange
• Why young professionals should not be afraid to challenge the status quo
• The importance of community ownership in water projects
• How purpose-built teams can shape a more inclusive future for water management

Through stories, reflections, and practical insights, this conversation invites us to think differently about water, leadership, and the relationships needed to care for Country together.

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🎧 Tune in now and stay curious about water! 🌊

#OurWaterConnection #WaterCuriosity #WaterManagement #KnowledgeSharing #WaterProfessionals #WaterLiteracy

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Intro/Outro music credit to Leva

This special episode of Our Water Connection is part of Podcasthon, a global movement where podcasters spotlight organisations working to make the world better.

To mark the occasion, we’re exploring the work of Engineers Without Borders Australia, an organisation that shows engineering is not just about technical solutions, but about people, partnerships, and long-term impact.

We are joined by Jack Nugent, Senior Manager for International Engineering Programs at EWB, and Meg Cummins, a water engineer at Aurecon who spent a year volunteering in Cambodia.

Together we discuss:

• What Engineers Without Borders does
• Why community-led engineering matters
• Water and sanitation challenges across the Asia–Pacific
• What volunteering can teach young engineers
• What the water sector can learn from humanitarian engineering

We explored what it really means to engineer with communities rather than for them, and how humanitarian engineering experiences can reshape our thinking about water, development, and the role of engineers in society. This conversation is about listening, collaboration, and designing solutions that truly last.

Get involved

Interested in supporting or learning more about Engineers Without Borders?

Visit: https://www.ewb.org.au

There are many ways to get involved, from volunteering and joining local chapters to supporting their programs.

Send us a message!

🎧 Tune in now and stay curious about water! 🌊

#OurWaterConnection #WaterCuriosity #WaterManagement #KnowledgeSharing #WaterProfessionals #WaterLiteracy

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Intro/Outro music credit to Leva

What’s keeping the water industry up at night? And how can young professionals help bring water into focus this National Water Week?

In this Season Two Finale, we bring together three generations of AWA Young Water Professionals of the Year: Chelsea Hayward (2023), Sam Skinner (2024), and Jess Bohorquez (2025) our host, for a special conversation on the challenges, opportunities, and impact of YWPs across the sector.

From tackling water security and climate resilience to attracting new talent and advocating beyond the industry, this episode dives into how the next generation is driving change and shaping the future of water.

To round out the conversation, AWA President Kevin Werksman joins the discussion, sharing reflections on leadership, visibility, and the role of initiatives like the Chris Davis AM Fellowship, which has supported this season and helped secure the podcast’s future.

Recorded across Kaurna Country, Naarm (Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), and Cammeraygal Country, this National Water Week special episode celebrates the people and ideas bringing water into focus for all of us.

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🎧 Tune in now and stay curious about water! 🌊

#OurWaterConnection #WaterCuriosity #WaterManagement #KnowledgeSharing #WaterProfessionals #WaterLiteracy

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Intro/Outro music credit to Leva

What keeps the water industry up at night? 

How can young water professionals shape the future of our sector? 

And how do we make sure everyone (not just those of us in the industry) truly values water?

Tune in NEXT WEEK for the Season Two Finale Episode with:

✨ Chelsea Hayward (2023 YWP of the Year), process engineer at Jacobs and global volunteer currently based in Cambodia.

✨ Sam Skinner (2024 YWP of the Year), Associate Process Engineer at Aurecon and leader in sustainable water innovation.

With the special appearance of Kevin Werksman, President of the Australian Water Association!

Tune in for inspiration, insights, and some honest reflections on where the water sector is headed and the role of the next generation in getting us there.

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🎧 Tune in now and stay curious about water! 🌊

#OurWaterConnection #WaterCuriosity #WaterManagement #KnowledgeSharing #WaterProfessionals #WaterLiteracy

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Intro/Outro music credit to Leva

What does real innovation look like in the water sector, and what’s holding it back?

In this special 40th episode of Our Water Connection, we celebrate a unique milestone with a cross-podcast connection! Our host, Jess Bohorquez, was recently invited to be the guest on Episode 40 of Executive Exchange, an Isle Utilities podcast and to mark the occasion, we have invited their host, Dr. Piers Clark, to join us!

Piers is a global leader in water innovation. As the founder and former Chairman of Isle Utilities, he has worked with over 350 utilities around the world to accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies. From Thames Water to private equity and the creation of the pioneering Technology Approval Group (TAG), Piers brings unmatched insight into what it takes to drive real change in the water sector.

In this episode, we explore:

• What innovation means in the water sector
• Why it's so hard to scale new technologies
• The role of regulation, risk, and leadership in enabling innovation
• What sets successful innovators apart
• And Piers' message to the next generation of water professionals

This episode was recorded on Kaurna Country.

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🎧 Tune in now and stay curious about water! 🌊

#OurWaterConnection #WaterCuriosity #WaterManagement #KnowledgeSharing #WaterProfessionals #WaterLiteracy

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Intro/Outro music credit to Leva

How do we protect our drinking water from one of the smallest but most stubborn threats?

In this episode of Our Water Connection, Dr Yulia Shutova shares her expertise on Cryptosporidium — a microscopic parasite that has challenged water utilities worldwide. With her background in water treatment and advanced monitoring, Yulia unpacks how the industry tackles this pathogen and keeps our water safe.

We discuss:

• What Cryptosporidium is and why it’s so difficult to treat
• Key lessons learned from past outbreaks in Australia and overseas
• How water treatment plants monitor and control for Cryptosporidium
• Recent innovations and future research directions
• The role of collaboration across science, utilities, and regulation

We mentioned the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines quite a bit on this episode - you can have a look at them here: https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/publications/australian-drinking-water-guidelines

We also talked about a talk by Professor Karl G. Linden. University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA.

Learn how the water sector stays one step ahead of invisible threats and why vigilance is key to keeping our drinking water safe.

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🎧 Tune in now and stay curious about water! 🌊

#OurWaterConnection #WaterCuriosity #WaterManagement #KnowledgeSharing #WaterProfessionals #WaterLiteracy

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Intro/Outro music credit to Leva

Can we redesign the way cities use water, not just to save it, but to reuse it, regenerate it, and make our communities more liveable?

In this episode of Our Water Connection, we explore how Integrated Water Management (IWM) is changing the way we plan and build our cities. We speak with Celeste Morgan, Arup’s IWM Lead for Australasia and 2025 Australian Water Professional of the Year, about what IWM really means, how it’s reshaping infrastructure, and why it’s key to building circular and climate-resilient cities.

From stormwater reuse to governance challenges, this conversation brings together policy, planning, and personal reflections on how to shift from siloed systems to integrated thinking.

Tune in to hear:

• What integrated water management is and how it works in practice
• How our cities can become more circular and climate-resilient
• Why changing how we value water infrastructure is essential

This episode was recorded in Kaurna Country and Wurundjeri Boonwurrung Country.

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🎧 Tune in now and stay curious about water! 🌊

#OurWaterConnection #WaterCuriosity #WaterManagement #KnowledgeSharing #WaterProfessionals #WaterLiteracy

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Intro/Outro music credit to Leva

How does wastewater become a resource for farms, parks, and industry? And who makes it happen?

In this episode of Our Water Connection, we shine a spotlight on water operators, the unsung heroes who, in this case, turn wastewater into a valuable resource for parks, farms, and industries.

We are joined by Ben Evans, Lead Operator at South East Water and 2025 WIOA Victorian Operator of the Year. With over 37 years of hands-on experience across regional Victoria, Ben shares how recycled water is produced, why it matters for local communities, and what life is really like behind the scenes at a wastewater treatment plant.

From technical challenges to community impact, this episode celebrates the essential role of operators in regional water resilience.

👷‍♂️ Go behind the scenes of wastewater operations

♻️ Learn how recycled water is safely produced and reused

🌾 Hear why it’s a game-changer for regional communities

This episode was recorded in Kaurna Country and the Kulin Nation.

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🎧 Tune in now and stay curious about water! 🌊

#OurWaterConnection #WaterCuriosity #WaterManagement #KnowledgeSharing #WaterProfessionals #WaterLiteracy

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Intro/Outro music credit to Leva

What is really happening with South Australia’s coastal algal bloom, and why does it matter?

Since March 2025, a toxic bloom of Karenia mikimotoi has spread along over 150 km of South Australia’s coastline, killing hundreds of species and upending local fisheries, tourism, and marine ecosystems. 

In this episode, ecologist Faith Coleman helps us understand how this bloom came to be: its causes, its consequences, and what coastal communities and science are doing about it.

We explore the role of marine heatwaves, nutrient run-off, and climate patterns and discuss whether this is a one-time event or a spoiler of what is to come.

🔗 Do you want to learn more about this algal bloom?

• Environment SA: https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/news-hub/news/articles/2025/07/sa-harmful-algal-bloom-update
• The Guardian: https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/news-hub/news/articles/2025/07/sa-harmful-algal-bloom-update
• LinkedIn Article: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/cold-enough-yet-faith-coleman-hsezc
• Croakey Health Media: https://www.croakey.org/health-experts-sound-alarm-on-algal-bloom-crisis-calling-for-climate-action-and-comprehensive-responses/
• ABC News: https://www.abc.net.au/btn/classroom/sa-algal-bloom/105583560

This episode was recorded in Kaurna Country and Ngarkat Country. 

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🎧 Tune in now and stay curious about water! 🌊

#OurWaterConnection #WaterCuriosity #WaterManagement #KnowledgeSharing #WaterProfessionals #WaterLiteracy

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Intro/Outro music credit to Leva

What does it mean to build a career that crosses countries, communities, and causes all related to water?

In this special episode of Our Water Connection, we sit down with Daniel Lambert AM, a leading voice in water innovation, sustainability, and inclusive partnerships. Dan shares how a career in water has taken him to work on projects in over 25 countries, from utilities to humanitarian efforts, from infrastructure to industry partnerships, all with purpose at the centre. We explore how water offers one of the most diverse and meaningful paths in engineering, and why the sector must embrace new ways of thinking to meet the challenges ahead.

From building recycled water projects to shaping models of ethical collaboration in the Pilbara, Dan’s story is one of curiosity, courage, and the power of staying true to your WHY. Whether you're a student, a seasoned professional, or someone curious about water, this episode is full of insights into how engineering can adapt, evolve, and create lasting impact.

This episode was recorded in Kaurna Country and Kabi Kabi Country.

Send us a message!

🎧 Tune in now and stay curious about water! 🌊

#OurWaterConnection #WaterCuriosity #WaterManagement #KnowledgeSharing #WaterProfessionals #WaterLiteracy

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Intro/Outro music credit to Leva