Q&A with Program Manager: Rian Sullings
Did you know IWN has a Digital Metering program? It started this year to share learnings and resources between water corporations to help make digital meters a success in our state. Here, you can get to know program manager Rian Sullings from City West Water, who knows a thing or two about digital meters.
Tell us a bit about your personal background
I moved from Sydney to Melbourne in 2019. I’ve always been interested in electronics and trying to create positive change for sustainability. I love travelling and I’m learning Chinese (Mandarin).
What is your professional background?
I’ve been with City West Water for almost a year now as Operational Technology Lead for Digital Metering. Prior to CWW, I worked with WaterGroup in Sydney for almost five years. My role there was Manager Digital Metering and IoT.
I have worked on digital metering projects with most of the large water utilities and many smaller ones across Australia. I’ve also led many Australian-first digital metering projects and productisations with LPWAN technologies such as LoRaWAN, Sigfox, Wize, and NB-IoT.
In 2017, I was invited to speak at the Metering China conference where I met the international director of a large metering company. Together, we successfully launched Australia’s first commercially available NB-IoT water meter.
What inspired you to want to become the program lead?
Victorian water utilities are highly regarded as leaders in the Australian digital metering space. I have a long-held belief that by streamlining collaboration between water utilities, we can remove many barriers, reduce the cost of acquiring knowledge, and accelerate the successful adoption of digital metering across Victoria and nationally. This role with IWN is strongly positioned to make a significant positive impact on the Australian industry.
What IWN project interests you the most?
One of the first projects that is already underway is the IWN Annual Digital Metering ‘State of Play’ Report, which will cover where the Victorian utilities are now and where we are heading with digital metering. Beyond that, I’m keen to learn more about what IWN members will gain the most value from and how we can deliver it.
What are you hoping to get out of your new role?
I’m hoping to give valued support to IWN members on digital metering and make a noticeable difference to accelerate its adoption. I’m also hoping to meet many people with similar interests in digital metering and collaboration.
If anything, what do you want to give back to IWN?
I’m fully committed to delivering the projects that are agreed between IWN and our member organisations. I’d like our members to feel that they can contact me for any help they need in their digital metering journeys.