At its heart, innovation is a simple concept: to bring to life new ideas that deliver value and benefits. We all live in the realm of ideas, and from small ideas can come big changes.

In my experience, people working on the frontline play a leading role in generating ideas that can transform the way we operate. And transformation is needed to pioneer a sustainable water future. To do this we will leverage the power of innovation to optimise our resources, reduce our carbon footprint, enable growth, and ensure the wellbeing of our community.

The future of water demands a proactive approach, one that harnesses the power of innovation to navigate the complexities of climate change, population growth, and urbanisation. We must be at the forefront of developing sustainable solutions that ensure our water resources are protected, replenished, and accessible for generations to come.

By embracing innovation, we will be prepared to tackle problems that don’t even exist yet. I’m proud that ideas developed within our business have grown into significant, industry-leading innovations.

One such example is our Zero Cost Energy Future project. Conceived by our people in response to the need to shift to sustainable, renewable energy that is independent of the grid, the project installed more than 367,000 solar panels on 33 sites across the state. Generating and storing renewable energy to power our operations is helping to keep prices as low and stable as possible for our customers. In this instance, a small idea has had a significant impact.

Seeing ideas like this come to life is a driving force for me; it propels our business forward with energy and enthusiasm.

To grow and foster different approaches and new ways of working, we need to stay curious about our world, our community, and what’s changing around us. Learning, seeking to understand and sharing are key to finding undiscovered pathways. When we share our ideas across different sectors – government, business, community – our potential grows exponentially, and an exciting world of innovation opens up before us.

At SA Water, we embrace innovation, because through our collective efforts and unwavering passion, we will ensure our community thrives.