Water engineers create lasting impact
Across our network of offices, our water specialists work closely together to share expertise and develop informed and creative project solutions.
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One of seven integrated disciplines in the Spiire business, our Water Engineering team works on a rewarding portfolio of projects throughout their full life cycle, from strategy through to design and delivery.
Our skilled team delivers the full range of water engineering services including integrated water management, urban stormwater management, flood management through to construction consultancy services. Our approach considers the whole water cycle and enables us to find sustainable, smart and resilient project outcomes.
The team is motivated by creating a sense of place for communities and the lasting impact of their work on future generations and the environment.
Support to pursue career interests
Kirsten Fearn-Wannan was already working at Spiire when she discovered a passion for water engineering. Having spent five years working in the Civil Engineering team, as a student and graduate engineer, she had worked closely with the Water team, and felt drawn to explore her interest further.
“At the end of my Grad Program, I asked to do a secondment into the Water team, with the intention of staying for three months,” Kirsten says. “Then I just loved it. I love that there’s more connection with the environment and space for creativity. Now when I go for a walk along the river, it’s rewarding to see the impact of my work.”
Fellow water engineer Agnes Ah-Sue echoes the sense of achievement in making a tangible contribution to communities.
“At the end of a project, you can go to the site and see your design in reality. You can bring your family, you can go and visit what you played a part in creating,” Agnes says.
Having also started with Spiire as a Graduate, Agnes enjoys the consistent opportunities to learn and take on new responsibilities outside her comfort zone.
“I think Spiire is really supportive of what you want to do in your career,” she says. “Even if you want to explore something you aren’t experienced in, the team will encourage you.”
Kirsten credits this support for driving her own career progression as a strength in Spiire’s culture.
“I’ve always felt that it’s a really safe place to learn,” she says. “There’s a real willingness to let people explore and try out new things.”
People-centric culture
For Agnes, the environment that promotes flexibility and work-life balance is another reason Spiire has been the right fit.
“Here at Spiire, work is important, but we know that everyone has a life outside of work as well,” she says.
Kirsten has enjoyed building connections with others throughout the business, which was prioritised as part of the Graduate Program, and continues with backing to forge connections with the wider industry.
One initiative close to her heart is promoting STEM careers to high school students. Kirsten has presented to several girls’ schools in Melbourne, including her own alma mater, to share why she finds engineering a rewarding career choice.
“I love to think about the labyrinth of all the things that are in the ground that you just can’t see. When I do my job perfectly, no one should ever notice it – except maybe other engineers,” she says. “When it starts raining, I’m the one staring at the drains and the roads, thinking about where all the water is going.”
