---
title: What you might not know about your AWA Membership Benefits – Specialist Networks
description: Our Specialist Networks are a little-known part of the AWA; Members can join any of our 11 Specialist Networks for free.
---

[Latest News Blog ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news)

# [What you might not know about your AWA Membership Benefits – Specialist Networks](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/news/what-you-might-not-know-about-your-awa-membership-benefits-specialist-networks)

 Written by [Water Source](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/author/admin) | Sep 3, 2021 6:34:33 AM

**Our Specialist Networks are a little-known part of the AWA; Members can join any of our 11 Specialist Networks for free. **

These networks connect like-minded water professionals from across the country and are facilitated through elected committees supported by an AWA Membership Engagement Manager. You can enrol in as many as you like by updating your member profile – just login to the AWA website and update your details (under the AWA Networks tab). 

Each of the Specialist Networks host several Member Circle events each year via Zoom – these are invitational discussion forums for members who have chosen to join a Specialist Network. The networks play an essential role in sharing information and knowledge, connecting members with like-minded professionals nationally, and inspiring positive change. They share information through their focused newsletters and host other member activities. The Specialist Networks are separate from the Branches that focus on serving our members in each State and Territory.

We have a number of Victorian representatives on the 11 Specialist Network committees: 

**Asset Management:**   
Tom Carpenter, CEO, Institute of Quality Asset Management  
Stephanie Hastings, Process Safety Engineer, Melbourne Water 

**Catchment Management:**   
Kerry Matthews Water Resources and Catchment Coordinator, South Gippsland Region Water Corporation   
Barry Floyd, Water Catchment and Land Use Planning Coordinator, Coliban Water 

**Desalination:**   
Pamela El Jbeily, Process Engineering Manager – WTS IXOM 

**Industrial Water and Trade Waste:**   
Maazuza Othman, Program Manager, Senior Lecturer RMIT University 

**Water Literacy and Education:**   
Stefano Freguia, Senior Lecturer University of Melbourne   
Karen Owens Team Leader, Communications and Marketing Melbourne Water 

**Operations:**   
Ravi Raveendran, General Manager Operations, South Gippsland Water   
Matt Pledge, Contract Manager, Programmed Facility Management  
Charles Swain Wastewater Network Manager South East Water 

**Regional, Rural and Remote Water:**   
Damien Abbott Business Development Manager – VIC GEA Westfalia Seperator Australia Pty Ltd 

**Water for All:**   
Carl Larsen, Associate RM, Consulting Group (RMCG)   
David Kirby, Water & Environment Manager, VIC & TAS KBR (Kellogg Brown & Root Pty Ltd)   
Tanja Rosenqvist, Lecturer Humanitarian Engineering, RMIT University   
Norman Walker, Technical Executive, WSP 

**Water Efficiency: **  
No Victorians represented yet! 

**Water Quality Monitoring and Analysis:**   
Emily Quek, Water Quality Manager, TRILITY 

**Water Recycling:**   
Mark Forbes, CEO Akovtek Yunal Kumar Treatment Plant Coordinator, Yarra Valley Water   
Dr Kathy Northcott, Research Manager, Veolia

More details on the Specialist Networks can be found on the [Specialist Network Home Page.](https://www.awa.asn.au/AWA_MBRR/Our_members/Specialist_Networks/AWA_MBRR/Communities_/Specialist_Networks.aspx?hkey=08ccb890-1ce4-4551-a24d-f444de7a67b1) 

A committee is elected from members of each network who have nominated themselves to take a seat on the committee to determine its goals and plan for related activities. Being part of a Specialist Network committee provides you with excellent networking opportunities with a diverse range of professionals from different parts of the country. 

To learn more about the benefits of being an Australian Water Association member, head to the [Membership page](https://www.awa.asn.au/AWA_MBRR/Our_members/Why_join/AWA_MBRR/Membership/Membership.aspx). 

[View full post](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/news/what-you-might-not-know-about-your-awa-membership-benefits-specialist-networks)

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