Samantha Guy is a Water Engineer at Arup based out of the Cairns office. She started her career with Unitywater and has experience working in Far North Queensland with the Torres Strait Island Regional Council. Sam is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Global Development. We caught up with Sam, one of our Regional Water Champions, about her water story.
What drew you into the water industry?
There is just something about it, right! The community aspects, the linkages with the environment and the impact that it can have all are part of my interest.
Who or what do you draw inspiration from?
Those people, you’ll know the kind, that are just always excited by the opportunities that are around us and the work they are doing. Usually, the kind to happily call themselves nerdy or lame. I think it's inspiring when someone is truly and genuinely ‘geeked out’ about what they do.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Any kind of sport or beach activity.
If you were a breed of dog, which would you be and why?
Not a dog, but I would be a wombat – one that particularly enjoys swimming.
What do you believe is currently the greatest challenge for your part of the water industry?
Personally, I am most interested in strategic thinking; the planning and strategising on all things water. However, water aspects are intricately linked with politics. As such, the ability to influence and navigate within the political sphere is a skill set of both importance and significance. This can be challenging, resulting in outcomes that are equally as predictable as they are unpredictable. The challenge I am most interested in is how can we better achieve holistic and integrated planning within non-aligned/ uncertain or shifting political climates?
How do you consider your organisation benefits from most by being a member of the Australian Water Association?
While the business opportunities are important, I value the ability to think of the ‘big picture’, which is enhanced by opportunities to have a broader understanding of the industry and what is happening in and across different contexts.
What messages would you like to give to your colleagues in the Queensland water sector?
If we aren’t trying to make a positive impact, then ‘wat-er’ we doing? Further, I would hope that others might be thinking more deeply about what a positive impact truly means.
by Samantha Guy & Janice Wilson
