EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Water professional with over ten years of experience in water infrastructure planning, hydraulic modelling, asset management, water infrastructure design and innovative technologies.

I’ve spent my career working on projects that make sure communities have safe, reliable, and sustainable access to water. Today, I’m a Senior Civil Engineer at Aurecon, where I help shape solutions for South Australia’s future water security, from planning new water sources to upgrading treatment plants and keeping our infrastructure safe. Before this, I worked as a consultant supporting water utilities, mining companies, and governments, helping them plan, manage, and improve the systems that deliver water every day.

During my PhD at The University of Adelaide, I focused on finding smarter ways to look after our water pipelines. I combined engineering with machine learning to develop new techniques that can detect leaks and bursts before they become major problems. This research not only resulted in several patents and publications but also contributed to more efficient and sustainable ways of managing vital water infrastructure.

Beyond engineering, I’ve also taught and mentored future water professionals as a lecturer and researcher at universities in Australia and Colombia.

I enjoy guiding young engineers and inspiring them to grow their careers, especially those who are new to Australia, like I once was. Alongside my professional work, I founded Our Water Connection, a podcast that brings conversations about water to a wider audience, making the industry’s stories and challenges more visible to everyone.

QUALIFICATIONS

PhD in Civil Engineering (2021). The University of Adelaide. Australia

MSc in Civil Engineering - Water Resources and Hydroinformatics (2015). Universidad de los Andes. Colombia

Bachelor in Civil Engineering (2012). Universidad de los Andes. Colombia

I hold a PhD in Civil Engineering from The University of Adelaide, where my research developed innovative techniques to detect leaks and bursts in water pipelines using machine learning and pressure transient waves. Before moving to Australia, I completed a Master’s degree in Water Resources and Hydroinformatics, at Universidad de los Andes in Colombia, researching optimisation of valve closure to minimise water hammer events in water distribution systems and working on developing precipitation models to predict climate change effects. Between 2009-2012, I completed a Bachelor of Civil Engineering also at Universidad de los Andes in Colombia, graduating Summa Cum Laude. These qualifications have given me a strong foundation in both the technical and practical aspects of managing water systems.