Meet IWN Program Manager Jacinta O’Connor

Jacinta is a civil engineer with a special interest in digital metering. As a friend of IWN’s for a few years, we were pleased to welcome her on board formally as our Digital Metering Program Manager. Here’s a bit more about her.

LET’S START WITH THE PERSONAL. TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.

I am from Shepparton and am very much a regional kid. In my spare time: I dance, jazz ballet and rock and roll; I am a fisher and hunter and I love water and reading.

I spent 14 months in the UK after I graduating from university. It was a great time. I made some wonderful friends and did the family heritage thing in Scotland and Ireland with my parents, as well as a battle fields tour in France and Belgium where my great-grandfather fought in the war.

WHAT’S YOUR CURRENT ROLE?

I am a Civil Engineer - Asset Optimisation at Goulburn Valley Water. My work mainly involves intelligent/digital metering, above-ground asset replacement and revenue water meter replacement. I also help out with drawdown tests and assist on project teams.

WHAT’S YOUR PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND?

I am a civil engineer, and have spent most of my time at Goulburn Valley Water so far, initially on a scholarship moving through to a graduate position and then to my current role.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT YOU DO EACH DAY (BUT TO YOUR GRANDMA)?

I help make sure taps provide water to customers, and that wastewater goes away from a long-term perspective by making sure things are replaced before they fail or with minimal service disruption.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR IWN ROLE?

I became the Digital Metering Program Manager in December 2020, but have been involved with IWN since 2018 after attending the Knowledge Sharing and Collaboration workshop and being particularly interested in digital metering.

IWN is a great space for sharing and bouncing ideas off others, as well as learning about new innovations that can help our industry.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE WITH IWN?

For the industry, I want to make sure digital metering is accessible to all water authorities, and that we are all learning and building on each other’s knowledge rather than reinventing the wheel individually.

For me personally: I want to improve my leadership skills and get better at asking for help and delegating tasks.

WHAT GETS YOU OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING?

Knowing I am working with great people and helping provide a vital resource to our community.