PRESS RELEASE

TITLE: WATER LEADERS RECOGNISED FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO AUSTRALIAN WATER SECTOR

Phillip Rudd was awarded the Liveability Victoria International and the Victorian Department of

Environment, Land, Water and Planning Award for Distinguished Leadership by a Graduate of the

IWC Water Leadership Program last week, 23 November at the International WaterCentre (IWC)

Water Leadership Alumni Event. The event was attended by 50 industry leaders from the Victorian

water sector and IWC Water Leadership Program Alumni at the Langham in Melbourne.

Phillip is the Goldenfields Water County Council General Manager and over the last two years has

taken on new leadership roles and used tools from the leadership program to deliver tangible

leadership outcomes across the ‘triple bottom line’ in often challenging circumstances.

On winning the award Phillip said he was humbled and honoured to be selected for the award and

that the Water Leadership Program had been pivotal to his professional career, complimenting his

engineering training.

“The Water Leadership Program has provided me with the know-how and passion to work opening

and honestly with others and empower them both professionally and personally,” he said.

“Since I completed the leadership program in 2014 I have been privileged to lead the delivery of

essential water supply services to many local communities.

“It is a pleasure to lead such a dedicated group of highly skilled and professional people who work

tirelessly to make sure every community that relies on Goldenfields Water receives quality, reliable

drinking water each day,” he said.

The awards were hosted by the IWC in partnership with Liveability Victoria International, the

Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, and the Water Services Association

of Australia.

- PAGE 1 of 2 -

Ciara Sterling, Yarra Valley Water Head of Community Inclusion and Head of the Thriving

Communities Partnership, was also awarded the Water Services Association of Australia Award for

Distinguished Leadership by an Australian Water Leader on the night.

Each award received more than ten nominations for water professionals in Australia who have made

an outstanding contribution to advancing more sustainable and integrated water management.

International WaterCentre Chief Executive Officer Mark Pascoe said that the quality of nominations

and the two awardees was testament to the exemplary leadership of Australia’s water professionals

in driving positive change in the sector.

“The outstanding achievements of our award winners highlights the leadership and motivation of

these individuals and what is being done in the Australian water sector to achieve more sustainable

and integrated forms of water management in Australia,” Mr Pascoe said.

The dinner was part of a two-day Water Leadership Program Alumni Event hosted by the IWC in

partnership with Liveability Victoria International and the Victorian Department of Environment,

Land, Water and Planning to celebrate, connect and support the continued development of

Australia’s water leaders.

The event included a workshop for Victoria-based Water Leadership Program Alumni on Advancing

Integrated Water Management in Victoria and another open to all Alumni and Water Leadership

Program partners on Fostering Creativity and Innovation in Teams. This was the inaugural delivery of

the event and awards evening which the IWC intends to host every two years.

####

More informationAndré Taylor Leadership Specialist, International WaterCentre mobile: 0438 182 709a.taylor@watercentre.org

- PAGE 2 of 2 -