The Good Drop with Hawkes and AD

Graham Caswell is a retired pump fitter, supplier, and widely respected “pump doctor” with more than 50 years of experience across Australia’s water, wastewater, and fire protection industries. Growing up on a dairy farm in rural Queensland, Graham developed an early fascination withmechanical systems — particularly pumps — long before electricity arrived at his family home. That practical upbring...

From fixing tractors on a Sunshine Coast fruit farm to leading teams through cyclones and complex water infrastructure challenges, Margit Connellan ’s career is anything but ordinary. Now National Director of Water Utilities at RP Infrastructure , Margit shares candid reflections on leadership under pressure, why respectful disruption leads to better project outcomes, and how listening, and not al...

In this episode, we were privileged to have Sarah Wheeler join us in The Good Drop studio. With over 25 years of experience across water and wastewater design, project management, and complex multidisciplinary delivery, Sarah has built an exceptional career. Originally from Wales, she studied Civil Engineering at Imperial College London before spending nearly a decade with Binnie Black & Veatc...

In episode 038 of The Good Drop Podcast, we spoke with Janice Wilson, the founder, Managing Director, and Principal Engineer of Double Black Diamond Solutions—a consultancy dedicated to tackling complex projects for clients across regional and national government, utilities, and mining sectors. Her client list includes organisations such as Mackay Regional Council, Mount Isa Water Board, and Whits...

In our first episode for 2026, we spoke with Matthew Hegarty, who is the SEQWater Catchment & Dams Operations Supervisor for Moreton. Matthew brings more than 25 years of experience in catchment and dam operations, along with deep expertise in protecting catchment health and managing water quality risks. Proud of his Wakka Wakka, Gungarri, and Bindal heritage, Matthew brings a cultural lens to...

With us today on Episode 036 was a good friend of ours, and a good friend of many in the water industry, the one and only Dr Purvi Midwinter. For those that don’t know Purvi, she has a PhD in organic chemistry and has worked all across the globe. She is currently working a Business Development Manager at Hach - But she has several other identities such as a the most energetic and passionate Water...

So after many months away from the Podcast recording studio, we kick off 2025 with a wonderful guest. Episode 035 is with Brad Tite – who is a civil engineer with over 35 years’ experience in water engineering design/construction and in water resource management. AD used to work with Brad when he first joined Parsons Brinckerhoff (now WSP). Brad has worked on a wide range of drainage related proje...

In this episode, the Good Drop Podcast team continue to promote a theme of water quality.  And with us today was Cameron Jackson who is the Principal Environmental Scientist in the Futures Servicing Team at Urban Utilities in Brisbane.  Cameron has a passion for science and in 1990 he graduated with a 1st Class Honours degree in Environmental Chemistry. AD has known Cameron Jackson for over 26 yea...

On Episode 033 of The Good Drop with Hawkes & AD - was Dr Stuart Khan, Professor and Head of School Civil Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering, University of Sydney. Stuart is also an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Engineering at UNSW, and a Hans Fischer Fellow at the Technical University of Munich, Germany. He’s published over 200 peer reviewed journal articles on issues relating to...

This week, we had an insightful chat with Dr Stacey Hamilton CF about her journey down the #PRW river. Stacey is the Team Leader in the Treatment Performance and Review division at Water Corporation from Perth in Western Australia. Stacey has a PhD in Chemistry from Curtin University, and has been working as a scientist in the water industry for over 15yrs. She has spent many years as a cornerston...

On Episode 031 - we spoke with award winning Brisbane based personal, editorial and campaign stylist – Kerrie Carucci.  Kerrie is passionate about helping both men and women to elevate their personal brand and to unlock their best version. Through this passion, Kerrie has established herself as a trusted advisor to clients, businesses, and brands across SEQ and Australia-wide. With a keen eye for...

In Episode 030 - we were fortunate to talk with author, speaker, and content writer Patrick Skene.  In addition to these roles, Patrick likes to refer to himself as a Chief Creative Officer, Curious Optimist, and Story Teller.  For those that are avid LinkedIn users, you probably have seen the stories that Patrick tells.  Every morning, without fail, Patrick puts up a post, often focussing on his...

In Episode 029 of The Good Drop - A Water Industry Flavoured Podcast, we interviewed Rob Welke who is the Managing Director of “Water Pumping Institute” which is an international body committed to education in sustainable pumping for water pipeline systems. Rob is a true inspiration.  At 76yrs young, he has racked up over 5 decades of experience, more than both of us combined - simply amazing. In...

Episode 028 is with Felicity Furey – who is generating a real impact on the careers of many.  She is an award-winning business leader, engineer and entrepreneur, who has made a career out of making the ‘impossible’, possible. Felicity has led multi-million dollar engineering projects across Australia, founded several successful businesses including WeAspire and Power of Engineering and secured par...

In Episode 027, we spoke with Mark Trembath who is a Corporate Partnerships Manager for Water Aid Australia. For those that don’t know much about WaterAid, Well WaterAid is an international Not for Profit Non Government Organisation who provides water, sanitation and hygiene to the world’s most impoverished and marginalised communities. Mark has had a wonderful career, particularly in Business Dev...

In our first episode for 2024, we kick start the year off by interviewing the 2023 Australian Water Association's (QLD) Young Water Professional (YWP) of the Year - Amber Craig. Amber is a Senior Project Officer & Hydro-climate analyst at the Murray Darling Basin Authority. From her interview you will see that she is an extremely passionate and enthusiastic Water Professional, who is deepl...

To finish off the 2023 year, The Good Drop Podcast goes international. In this episode, AD goes solo (due to his partner-in-crime Simon Hawkes being unable to make it due to a last minute personal commitment) in interviewing Rolf Schweizer, who is the Chief Executive Officer for The Hidrostal Group which is a leading global manufacturer of centrifugal pumps. Rolf dialled in from Neunkirch, Switzer...

In Episode 024 - we interview a Man of Steel, no not Superman, but a man who has spent his career moulding steel across a variety of industries. Our guest is Bruce Gawler – Bruce is a mechanical engineer with almost forty years experience.  For the last 30yrs, Bruce has worked in steel pipe manufacturing and has had employment with Tubemakers of Australia, Tyco Water, Pentair and now Steel Mains. ...

We know it’s very much out of left field, and a real change of pace from our normal engineering or water flavoured focus, but with footy grand finals for AFL and NRL coming up, The Good Drop podcast wanted to delve into the world of sport, specifically, Strategy in sport. But before we go further, firstly our apologies that this episode has been issued a little later than usual due to extenuating...

In this episode, we spoke with Process Engineer and the current Australian Water Association’s (AWA) 2022 South Australian Young Water Professional of the Year – Loreline Kerlidou. Loreline was born in France, just outside of Paris, and has been living and working in Adelaide for over 10 years. She is currently working for the environmental, engineering and strategic consulting company - Ricardo p...

Richard Savage currently works for Aurecon as a Director in their Environment and Planning Section (Brisbane). Richard is well admired and a true gentlemen in the water industry. AD first came across Richard during his time sitting on the AWA Qld Branch Committee. Richard served on the branch committee for almost a decade – which is a wonderful feat.  And as a result of all his great industry invo...

In this 20th edition of The Good Drop Podcast, Hawkes & AD had the great pleasure of speaking with the Immediate Past President of the Australian Water Association - Louise Dudley. For 10yrs (between 2012 and 2022), Louise was also the Chief Executive Officer for Urban Utilities, Qld’s largest water utility service provider which services over 1.4 million people in South East Queensland. She i...

In Episode 019 of The Good Drop Podcast, Hawkes & AD sat down with Marlon Pritchard who works for Downer Group in Brisbane. Marlon is also the Commissioning Lead on the Logan Water Partnership. Marlon's skill-set is amazing. He brings so much to the table - he is literally like a Swiss pocket knife, multiple functions in one, i.e. design input skills, construction know-how and the best com...

In Episode 018 of “The Good Drop Podcast”, Hawkes and AD discuss the C word - Confidence.   How do you build it? Can it be learned?  But also importantly how do you avoid that demon of self-doubt that can easily eat away at your confidence level?   The guest on the podcast is Tracey Leslie. Now, Tracey is a former Civil Engineer who has recently pursued a path as a Life Coach. She spent a career s...

Our guest is Civil Engineer, and now retired former Technical Director at Aurecon - Rob Ayre. Rob has worked in flood hydrology for the entirety of his career (almost 40yrs) and has worked in public and private Sectors.  He has been responsible for directing the flood operations (during his tenure with Sunwater) of Ross River Dam, Scrivener Dam, North Pine Dam, Somerset Dam and Wivenhoe Dam all of...