QLD Regional Tech Event 2025 - Rockhampton

18 Jun, 2025 |

From 6.45am |

Rockhampton

Overcoming Challenges and Celebrating Successes: Shining a Light on the Regions

The regional Queensland water sector and the communities it supports continue to face significant challenges, from addressing skills shortages and workforce housing constraints to delivering critical projects that support their communities.

Despite these hurdles, the industry continues to explore innovative solutions, demonstrate resilience, and collaborate effectively to ensure sustainable water management. Recent successes include the completion of major infrastructure upgrades, training initiatives to build local capacity, and creative strategies to attract and retain skilled workers. These achievements not only secure water services for regional communities but also highlight the resilience and ingenuity of the people driving progress in the regions.

With thanks to our hosts Sunwater and Fitzroy River Water / Rockhampton Regional Council, AWA invites you for a morning of presentations, panel discussions and networking, with a site visit to Sunwater’s award winning Rookwood Weir.

** Return coach to Rookwood Weir, morning tea and light lunch are included in your ticket.

*** Please note this event has been rescheduled from March 19 to June 18 2025

Speakers and Panelists

Melanie Sutton

Melanie Sutton
Operations Manager Lower Fitzroy
Sunwater

Melanie Sutton is a results driven and solutions focused senior manager extensively experienced in leading and advising on complex, large scale projects within the oil & gas as well as the public sectors. With over two decades in managing projects within the heavy industry, Melanie is a skilled leader with outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, enabling teams to be motivated and achieve organisational targets as well as leading and guiding staff through change processes. She is a self-motivated and resourceful professional and thrives in demanding and collaborative work environments encompassing multidisciplinary work practices and strives tirelessly to achieve positive outcomes.

Darren Barlow
Chief Executive Officer
Gladstone Area Water Board

Darren joined GAWB as Chief Executive Officer in March 2018. Darren has extensive leadership and executive experience, having held senior roles in commercial, financial, strategic and business transformation areas across the public and private sectors. Darren was previously the Chief Executive Officer of the Residential Tenancies Authority and has held a range of senior executive positions at Aurizon, Master Builders Association of Queensland and Ergon Energy.

Darren Barlow

Mark Wiltshire

Mark Wiltshire
Senior Engineer
Fraser Coast Regional Council

Mark is a professional environmental engineer with over 20 years experience in the water industry. He has worked in technical, business development, project and managerial capacities in both water utilities and the private sector. Over this time he has been involved in the many different aspects of delivering water, wastewater and recycled water projects. Currently he is working as a Senior Engineer within the capital delivery team at Fraser Coast Regional Council’s Water and Waste Services.

Edward Brooks
Senior Project Manager
Rockhampton Regional Council

Edward Brooks RRC

Panelists

Cassie Brophy
CQ Regional Jobs Committee Project Manager
Industry Engagement
Dept of Trade, Employment and Training

John Rolfe
Professor
CQ University

Event Details

Itinerary

Tuesday Evening - 17 June, 2025
6.00pm Informal Dinner (at own cost)
The Criterion Hotel, 150 Quay Street

Wednesday - 18 June, 2025
6.45am Registration
7.00am Speaker Presentations
8.30am Morning Tea hosted by Sunwater Rockhampton
9.00am Panel Presenter Discussion
10.20am Bus departs for the newly opened Rookwood Weir, Lower Fitzroy *
11.20am Site Tour **
1.00pm Refreshments serve before Bus departs Rookwood Weir to return to Rockhampton CBD
2.00pm Estimated return to the Old Art Gallery

* Parking is limited at Rookwood Weir, return travel by air- conditioned coach is included.
** Rookwood Weir is a hi-vis site. Enclosed shoes, long pants, long sleeve shirt and a sunhat are required.

Venue

Old Art Gallery, Gold Room
62 Victoria Parade, Rockhampton City

Rockhampton Event Registration

Member $60

Non-Member $90

Concession Member $30

* Includes return coach transport to Rookwood Weir, morning tea and a light lunch.

Thankyou to the Queensland Regional Technical Event Sponsors

Enquiries

Please contact Kylie Pinwill, Member Engagement Manager - Queensland, with any queries in relation to this event on kpinwill@awa.asn.au or phone 0417 274 876

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