The Good Drop with Hawkes and AD

Our guest on Episode 042 is Darron Nutt, Founder and Managing Director of GANDEN Engineers and Project Managers, one of Australia's leading water infrastructureconsultancies.

With more than 34 years of experience in the waterindustry, Darron has played key leadership roles on major water and wastewater projects across Australia and internationally. Uniquely, he's seen projects from almost every perspective, having worked as a client representative, designer, independent verifier, client's engineer, commissioning team member and operator.

Outside of engineering, he's also a passionate supporter and sponsor of AFL programs, including the Gold Coast Suns andParramatta.

Today we'll explore the experiences that shaped him, the journey of building GANDEN, and the lessons he's learned from more than three decades in the water industry.

Hawkes & AD

Graham Caswell is a retired pump fitter, supplier, andwidely respected “pump doctor” with more than 50 years of experience across Australia’s water, wastewater, and fire protection industries. Growing up on a dairy farm in rural Queensland, Graham developed an early fascination withmechanical systems — particularly pumps — long before electricity arrived at his family home. That practical upbringing shaped a career grounded in hands‑onproblem solving rather than theory.

After earning his trade as a fitter and turner in1970, Graham worked across major infrastructure projects, power stations, water treatment plants, and ultimately specialised in fixed fire pump systems for thefinal 25 years of his career. He held senior sales and management roles before founding SureFire Pumps Pty Ltd, which quickly became known for technical integrity and loyalty-driven relationships.

Despite being “unqualified on paper,” Graham became amentor to engineers, a trusted adviser to clients, and a steady force in an industry often focused on credentials over competence. Now retired and living in Lawrence, NSW with his wife Dianne, Graham remains passionate about the fireprotection industry and continues to offer guidance where needed.

His story is one of resilience, respect, and the often-overlooked value of experience.

Graham Caswell is a retired pump fitter, supplier, and widely respected “pump doctor” with more than 50 years of experience across Australia’s water, wastewater, and fire protection industries. Growing up on a dairy farm in rural Queensland, Graham developed an early fascination withmechanical systems — particularly pumps — long before electricity arrived at his family home. That practical upbringing shaped a career grounded in hands‑on problem solving rather than theory.

After earning his trade as a fitter and turner in 1970, Graham worked across major infrastructure projects, power stations, water treatment plants, and ultimately specialised in fixed fire pump systems for the final 25 years of his career. He held senior sales and management roles before founding SureFire Pumps Pty Ltd, which quickly became known for technical integrity and loyalty-driven relationships.

Despite being “unqualified on paper,” Graham became a mentor to engineers, a trusted adviser to clients, and a steady force in an industry often focused on credentials over competence. Now retired and living in Lawrence, NSW with his wife Dianne, Graham remains passionate about the fireprotection industry and continues to offer guidance where needed.

His story is one of resilience, respect, and the often-overlooked value of experience.

Hawkes & AD

From fixing tractors on a Sunshine Coast fruit farm to leading teams through cyclones and complex water infrastructure challenges, Margit Connellan’s career is anything but ordinary.

Now National Director of Water Utilities at RP Infrastructure, Margit shares candid reflections on leadership under pressure, why respectful disruption leads to better project outcomes, and how listening, and not always being the loudest voice, builds stronger teams. Drawing on 30+ years across engineering design, asset management, finance, local government and executive leadership, she offers practical insights for navigating complexity in the water sector.

Beyond the work environment, Margit also speaks about one of her great passions, rehabilitating rescue horses, and the surprising leadership lessons they’ve taught her about patience, trust and consistency.

Thoughtful, grounded and genuinely inspiring, this episode is a must‑listen for engineers, leaders and emerging professionals alike.

Enjoy!!!

Hawkes & AD

In this episode, we were privileged to have Sarah Wheeler join us in The Good Drop studio.

With over 25 years of experience across water and wastewater design, project management, and complex multidisciplinary delivery, Sarah has built an exceptional career. Originally from Wales, she studied Civil Engineering at Imperial College London before spending nearly a decade with Binnie Black & Veatch working on major Thames Water programs. In 2005 she moved to Australia, working across Sydney, Launceston, and Brisbane, and is now Aurecon’s Technical Director – Major Projects. Known for seeing the big picture while mastering the detail, she’s become a trusted leader in major D&C projects and a go‑to problem solver across the industry.

What really sets Sarah apart is her passion for people. She has dedicated more than two decades to mentoring—from UK school students to female undergraduates, graduates, and chartership candidates across multiple organisations. Her commitment to diversity and inclusion spans Women in GHD, Aspire, Pride & Allies at KBR, ICE Connects: Women in Fellowship, and the AWA committee in Tasmania. She’s also an ICE Professional Reviewer, an RPEQ assessor, and helped establish the Brisbane WaterAid Committee in 2013.

And most recently, she was recognised as the 2025 Australian Water Association (Qld) Water Professional of the Year—a tremendous achievement.

Hope you like it.

Hawkes & AD

In episode 038 of The Good Drop Podcast, we spoke with Janice Wilson, the founder, Managing Director, and Principal Engineer of Double Black Diamond Solutions—a consultancy dedicated to tackling complex projects for clients across regional and national government, utilities, and mining sectors.

Her client list includes organisations such as Mackay Regional Council, Mount Isa Water Board, and Whitsunday Regional Council, just to name a few.

She brings 20 years of experience in infrastructure delivery and the utilities sector, and she holds a Master of Applied Science, a Bachelor of Engineering, and many more related to the drinking water, wastewater, and recycled water sectors.

With such a full schedule, we were honoured that she found the time to join us today to talk about her remarkable career journey.

Enjoy!!

Hawkes & AD

In our first episode for 2026, we spoke with Matthew Hegarty, who is the SEQWater Catchment & Dams Operations Supervisor for Moreton.

Matthew brings more than 25 years of experience in catchment and dam operations, along with deep expertise in protecting catchment health and managing water quality risks.

Proud of his Wakka Wakka, Gungarri, and Bindal heritage, Matthew brings a cultural lens to his leadership—seeing land and water as living systems with responsibility and meaning — which shapes the way he approaches safety, stewardship, and long‑term outcomes for communities and Country. Driven by purpose, continuous improvement, and a strong connection to Country, he hopes that sharing his story helps others better understand the cultural, environmental, and operational significance of caring for our catchments and the people who rely on them.

It was a wonderful chat, and we both came away with a far better understanding of Caring for Country, and a better connection with First Nations Culture and Traditions.

Enjoy the episode

Hawkes & AD

With us today on Episode 036 was a good friend of ours, and a good friend of many in the water industry, the one and only Dr Purvi Midwinter.

For those that don’t know Purvi, she has a PhD in organic chemistry and has worked all across the globe. She is currently working a Business Development Manager at Hach - But she has several other identities such as a the most energetic and passionate Water Professional Advocate on the planet, as well as being a brilliant Storyteller and writer. In her own words, she describes her journey as “it isn’t a straight line it’s a mosaic of science, movement, resilience, and reinvention.”

With that poetry, we knew it was going to result in a wonderful hour of conversation.

Enjoy the interview!!

Hawkes & AD

So after many months away from the Podcast recording studio, we kick off 2025 with a wonderful guest.

Episode 035 is with Brad Tite – who is a civil engineer with over 35 years’ experience in water engineering design/construction and in water resource management. AD used to work with Brad when he first joined Parsons Brinckerhoff (now WSP). Brad has worked on a wide range of drainage related projects including large scale road/rail infrastructure projects. He has also extensive experience with environmental impact assessments, flood levees, hazardous dams, mining infrastructure, floodplain management, water sensitive urban design and residential subdivisions.

Some of his career highlights include being responsible for drainage design associated with the Toowoomba Second Range Road Crossing Project and the Adelaide Metro Rail Revitalisation Project.

Brad is now semi-retired, as Brad's life took a major U-turn in June 2021, when he suffered a cardiac arrest at a train station and almost died. Since this 2021 event, Brad has embarked on a journey of change and rebuild, which will inspire.

Hope you enjoy his interview - it's fantastic.....

Hawkes & AD

In this episode, the Good Drop Podcast team continue to promote a theme of water quality.  And with us today was Cameron Jackson who is the Principal Environmental Scientist in the Futures Servicing Team at Urban Utilities in Brisbane. 

Cameron has a passion for science and in 1990 he graduated with a 1st Class Honours degree in Environmental Chemistry.

AD has known Cameron Jackson for over 26 years, and this was a great opportunity for them both to reconnect. Since that initial meeting however their paths haven’t crossed too many times, but it did recently in October, when Cameron took over the reign as Australian Water Association’s Qld “Water Professional of the Year”.

We were so privileged to have Cameron join us and talk about his amazing career and accomplishments.

Enjoy his interview!!

Hawkes & AD