Meet IWN Program Co-lead: Jonathan Crook
Maths is far from boring when you look at it through Jonathan Crook’s eyes. As co-lead of our Big Data and Analytics program, he is inspired by using data to improve the Victorian water industry’s operations.
Jonathan Crook
LET’S START WITH THE PERSONAL. TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.
I was born in England, grew up in New Zealand and decided about five years ago that I wanted a change of scenery and a move back to a big city. My partner and I agreed on Melbourne, despite never having been here!
Outside of work I play football (soccer) and have found it’s a great way to get to know people when moving to a new city.
We have fostered dogs in the past for the SPCA and GAP and currently provide a temporary home for dogs from Arctic Breed Rescue.
WHAT’S YOUR PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND?
My background has been fairly varied!
I’ve been at South East Water for just over five years and in my current role as the Lead Data Scientist for our Digital Utility team for the last 18 months.
Prior to working here, I was employed in a dairy laboratory in New Zealand looking at everything from specialty testing through to modelling changes in milk composition.
And before that, I studied Applied Mathematics and received a PhD in Antarctic Sea Ice modelling from Victoria University of Wellington.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT YOU DO EACH DAY (BUT TO YOUR GRANDMA)?
My role has two key components. The first is to drive how we can use data analytics on the significant quantities of information we receive each day (as well as our historic data) to help the business make more informed decisions, including the people, tools and structures we might need.
The second is to look at what analytics projects we should champion to gain the most value from the new digital devices we’re installing in residential and commercial properties.
Editor’s note: Your Grandma must be a very smart lady, Jonathan!
WHY DID YOU JOIN IWN AS A PROGRAM CO-LEAD?
I joined IWN at the very end of 2018 and moved into a co-lead position about a year ago. The data analytics community isn’t huge within the water industry and it seemed a great place to meet other professionals with similar goals and to see and share what project and innovations were being worked on. Moving into the co-lead position gave me the opportunity to drive some of those projects.
WHAT IWN PROGRAMS INTEREST YOU THE MOST?
Big Data and Analytics of course! However, the key point about data and analytics is that it has to be there to support projects that meet business needs so we are linked to all the programs. So far we’ve worked particularly closely with the Asset Management and Optimisation and the Pipeline Intelligence groups, and I imagine we will work with the recently launched Digital Metering Program in the future, too.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE IN THE IWN ROLE?
Within the industry, we all have similar opportunities and face similar problems and it’s no different for data and analytics. I’d like to see a greater amount of sharing within the water corporations, including the successes that should be easily transferable but also the difficulties so that we don’t have to make the same mistakes twice. Ultimately this will benefit our customers, which should be our key goal.
Personally, I really value the contacts I am making, followed closely by a fascination in seeing how these projects can influence the way our businesses operate.
WHAT GETS YOU OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING?
Data and analytics is a rapidly changing field. I’ve always been interested in numbers but they need to have some sort of meaning and application. I’m always looking to see what patterns may be hidden within the numbers beyond what people may see as ‘the obvious’. It’s a great feeling to be able to do that within something as critical as our water and waste systems.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE ANYTHING ELSE?
I’d encourage people to get involved in these collaborative IWN teams. We are in a rare position as an industry where we have a real ability to share our work in great detail to create better value for our communities.