Like-minded people: building connection through the AWA Mentoring Program

The Australian Water Association is set to launch the new National Mentoring Program later this year, offering water professionals of all ages and disciplines across Australia the opportunity to share experiences, connect networks and inspire one another towards a sustainable water future.

Traditionally a state and territory-based program, the new national mentoring offering is designed to connect aspiring water professionals with experienced mentors regardless of geographic location or career stage.

AWA National Mentoring Program Manager Carlie Sargent said the program supports those new to the sector as well as mid-career individuals to develop their networks and receive tailored support for navigating a career in water.

“We know that mentoring is a critical part of many people’s career development journey, which is why the Association has expanded its mentoring offering to accommodate water professionals from all over Australia, not just those able to participate in our capital cities,” she said.

“Our mentoring program participants will receive personalised guidance, support and insights, and build confidence through the help of experienced water professionals. For mentors, the program is an opportunity to develop leadership and communication skills and invest in the next generation of water leaders.

“Anyone within the water community can participate in the program. All you need to do is sign up as an Australian Water Association member, and we will organise the rest.”

To celebrate the upcoming launch of the National Mentoring Program, Water Source caught up with a recent AWA mentoring pair to explore some of the benefits of the program, with the potential to create new relationships, expand networks and build confidence just a few of the perks.

Amber Craig, Senior Project Officer, Murray–Darling Basin Authority

I joined the AWA Mentoring Program in 2023 after I relocated to Brisbane from Canberra. I had just transitioned into a remote working arrangement. But I am a community-minded person and was very aware of no longer having regular face-to-face interactions with colleagues.

I was drawn to the AWA Mentoring Program as a way to build a professional network of like-minded people up here in Brisbane. I was also looking for guidance about how to achieve some long-term career aspirations, some goals I hadn’t yet figured out how to get started with; I wanted to establish my next steps.

I see mentoring as an important part of my personal and professional development. So, I jumped at the chance to be able to come into the program as a mentee.

One of the amazing things about the water sector is that we all have very similar values. Once you start talking to one person, like a mentor, you realise how similar our aspirations and values are – we tend to click with one another pretty quickly.

I’ve always considered the term ‘networking’ a bit detached and transactional. What we are really doing is creating connections and relationships with people. Something I’ve realised through my relationship with Emma is that mentors can help grow our connections.

And you could say labels like ‘mentor’ and ‘mentee’ feel detached – this is a very formal way of describing relationships. I recently attended a First Nations Leadership & Allyship Summit, and there was a great conversation there around “reverse” mentoring.

The idea was about having a Traditional Owner working with a senior leader in a corporate setting. It’s mentoring – there should be no assumed hierarchy and therefore no “reverse” label is needed, it doesn’t matter where people are positioned on the corporate ladder. It’s a knowledge exchange, experience exchange, and that is something I definitely experienced in my relationship with Emma.

Connecting with Emma has been such a fun and fruitful experience. Sometimes we exchange books or podcasts, but we have also been exploring Brisbane and attending industry events together, too. We talk about work, but our conversations often transcend work and touch on our personal goals, too, as well as our opinions and ideas about the state of the world.

Emma has been incredible in opening up a lot of new opportunities for me, and she has also been very encouraging. Emma helped me recognise the extent of my skill set and what I am currently contributing to the water sector.

I’ve only been in the industry for five years. I’m not an engineer. I have been trying to understand how I can contribute to people’s health and the planet without that specific technical background.

Through Emma’s encouragement, I applied for the 2023 Queensland Young Water Professional of the Year award. I am not usually one to step into the spotlight. I wouldn’t have put myself forward in this way without Emma’s support. And I ended up winning the award.

Emma's incredibly wise. I have really appreciated her ability to be open and vulnerable and share all of her insights with me. I think that's a key part of mentoring relationships.

I would absolutely recommend the AWA Mentoring Program to anyone within the water community. It’s about broadening horizons, gaining different perspectives and benefiting from having an impartial sounding board.

It’s a two-way exchange, really, and what comes out of that will be unique for every mentoring relationship formed.

Emma O’Neill, Water Sector Consultant

The AWA has a range of interesting events and programs to get involved with, which is why I like being part of the AWA community. When I discovered the Mentoring Program, I thought it would be a great way to get more involved, to meet new people and expand my network.

With a background in environmental management and experience working in Australia and internationally, I bring some insights to my work in the water sector that are different to many of my engineering peers within AWA.

I was really fortunate to be matched with Amber. We have similarities in our professional interests, like including climate change in decision-making for water management and a shared understanding of the importance of including diverse perspectives in the water sector.

Amber is a really vibrant person and spending time with her, hearing about her ideas and work experiences, has been really enjoyable. While we have been meeting up over the past year or so under the guise of mentoring, we have definitely transitioned to friends.

Amber has a really interesting role within the Murray–Darling Basin Authority, but getting to know more people within South East Queensland has also been very important to her. My role as her mentor has included offering advice on work related challenges and also helping her meet new people within the broader water community.

I have looked for opportunities to invite Amber to industry events I have attended, but also social events with colleagues from the water sector. During the World Cup, I had tickets to a Matilda’s game, so I invited Amber and some other water sector colleagues to introduce them to each other. It was really nice to then see them all talking and building their own connections.

I moved to Australia in 2013 and I know the water community can be difficult to break into – it can be a bit daunting at first. There were a couple of instances when I knew Amber was going to an event that I was not attending. So I reached out to people I knew who were also going, as a means of making sure Amber had people to connect with when she went.

I think that kind of thing is important – it can be a bit overwhelming when you go to an industry event when you don’t know a lot of people.

Helping people feel comfortable is really important for inclusion. Making sure Amber had someone to connect with at events was a small thing to do, but something that I hope made her feel more comfortable and included.

Amber’s goal to expand her professional network has absolutely been achieved, she didn’t really need a lot of help from me in that regard. I facilitated a few introductions and she has successfully built new relationships.

In terms of what I have gained from the relationship, there's obviously the benefits of getting to know a different person who works in a different organisation and getting to understand more about their area of technical expertise.

But I believe it’s important for more experienced water professionals to connect with new and emerging thinking and to challenge ourselves with new perspectives. My mentoring pairing with Amber has given me a valuable opportunity to hear about what emerging professionals are thinking.

Interested in getting involved in the AWA’s new National Mentoring Program? Everything you need to know is here.