Young leader ready to dive into prestigious program 

Building a career at Melbourne Water is something that excites engineer Lachie Glascodine.  

The future looks bright, with Lachie recently selected for the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) Young Utility Leader Program 2022-2023. He is one of only six successful applicants out of a competitive field of 50 nationwide.  

The 12month WSAA Young Utility Leaders Program provides the opportunity to work alongside senior leaders in the water industry and be provided with tailored leadership coaching as part of a partnership with the Peter Cullen Trust.  

Lachie, who has a keen interest in integrated water management, water policy and planning, is ready to embrace the challenge.  

Congratulations on being named as a WSAA Young Utility Leader. What does this mean to you?  

I feel very lucky to be a part of the program. I’m looking forward to seeing what the next 12 months has in store. I see this as an educational opportunity and look forward to sharing the knowledge I gain with others. Water is essential to life, and there are so many people in Melbourne Water and the water industry that are doing amazing work; from protecting waterways, to recycled water, to bushfire management. The range is huge.  

What is your current role at Melbourne Water? 

I am an engineer and work on stormwater infrastructure delivery for Melbourne’s growing greenfield areas. With masterplans for stormwater drainage and treatment that include wetlands, waterways and retarding basins, we facilitate implementation by considering engineering feasibility, environment and the community. We ensure the successful delivery of assets, which will be enjoyed by the community for generations to come. 

What excites you about working in the water industry and what do you think the greatest challenges are? 

There’s no doubt the effects of climate change, urbanisation and population growth are key challenges facing the water industry. We know we must do things differently, and that ‘business as usual’ won’t cut it. This makes me excited as there are real opportunities to proactively shape our infrastructure, future planning and services to meet these challenges. We can build resilience and adaptability into the system. 

The impact we have on the communities we serve is another reason I love the work we do. Yes, we provide drinking water, but we also enhance community connection to water through waterway and land management practices, Reimagining Your Creek projects, upgrades to river access, the construction of new waterways and wetlands in greenfield areas and more. 

What do you hope to learn from the Young Utility Leader Program and how do you think that will enhance what you can achieve in your current role and beyond? 

I’m looking forward to a lot from the Program! This includes learning from industry experts, gaining leadership skills, understanding how decisions are made and understanding the vision for the future. I’m also excited to meet peers from across Australia. While we all work in the same industry, our understanding and approaches to certain challenges is likely to be different. Understanding different people’s approaches will help me navigate challenges in my work in the future. 

The other people selected for the WSAA Young Utility Leader Program are Elliot Cichero, Sydney Water; Esther Cooper, TasWater; Kate Buckley, Seqwater; Liz Duguid, Water Corporation; and Ricardo Kobas, Barwon Water. At the end of their year on the program, the Young Utility Leaders will pitch to the WSAA Board for the chance to win the Ross Young Memorial Scholarship, which generously supports further personal development.  

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