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International engineering design and advisory company Aurecon’s Lisa Currie is one of three water leaders in New South Wales (NSW) to be named a Legend of Water by the Australia Water Association (AWA).
Lisa, who is Aurecon’s Client Leader for Australia’s largest water utility Sydney Water, was honoured at the annual AWA NSW event on 1 December 2021 alongside Wayne Beatty, Water and Sewerage Manager at Orange City Council and David Kirby, Utilities Manager at Brewarrina Shire Council.
Lisa is known for her passion towards creating more sustainable, climate resilient and liveable places through water sensitive urban design and integrated water cycle management.
“Water plays such an essential role in our lives, it’s not just about providing clean and safe water and sanitation services but also in protecting our waterways and greening and cooling our communities so they are great places to live,” Lisa said.
Lisa has worked in the Australian water industry for more than 20 years. With qualifications in both engineering and business administration, Lisa has held a variety of technical, project delivery and management roles in both the private and public sector.
Her experience spans the drinking water, wastewater and recycled water process engineering, project delivery and operations sector, as well as water strategy and policy development, water sensitive urban design, sustainability, advocacy for regulatory reform and organisational change management.
“I’m extremely honoured to receive this award and to be recognised by my peers for my contribution to the industry and the communities we serve,” Lisa said.
The NSW Legends of Water awards recognises the achievements of water industry leaders who have not only been committed to creating a more sustainable water future but have dedicated their careers to promoting the importance of water in their respective fields.
Aurecon’s Water Capability Leader Kevin Werksman said the Water community was incredibly proud of Lisa who is an advocate for water sensitive cities, and who in a previous role as Manager of Water Strategy at City of Sydney, led the Council’s approach to making Sydney a more blue/green city.
“Lisa’s passion for sustainability in the water sector means she is sought out by Aurecon’s clients who are looking to diversify their businesses and strongly connect with the communities they serve. As Aurecon’s client leader for Sydney Water, Lisa has been key to developing partnerships in Sydney that will leave a lasting legacy for the city,” Kevin said.
In an environment of high growth and evolving policy and project complexity, Lisa has been leading industry discussion around the current move among water utilities to develop long-term partnerships with consultants.
The flexibility of the Partnership model is promoting deep, cross-project knowledge, preventing rework and creating efficiencies for utilities.
“The Sydney Water Partnership is an Australian first model and Lisa has been key to developing a global best practice approach for other utilities to follow,” Kevin said.
You can read more about Lisa’s thinking on this transition and the work the Sydney Water partnership is doing in from panels to partnering.
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