Urban Utilities Archives - UNIQ You

Sonja Toft

Stephanie Morris — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 13:30:00 +0000

My heritage is Czech, Russian and Ukrainian. Both my parents were born overseas and came with their parents as refugees to Australia after the 2^nd world war. My Russian grandma was a big influence in my life, particularly as a young adult and I learnt two really important life lessons from her – that family is number one and not to waste anything.

I grew up an “army brat” – ie my dad was in the army so we moved around year to year. I have lived in most places in Australia, went to 7 different schools including a year of schooling in India & Pakistan.

I was fortunate to finish my high schooling in the one school (Mt St Michaels, Ashgrove) and this is where I met my life long girlfriends, found my interest in engineering and got up to lots of fun! While we are very lucky to still be close friends after 35 years, we have all had our ups and downs, our ins and outs and our time away and come back. Keeping this long friendship has take effort, understanding and compromise but they should give and bring you up as well as take.

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Chantal Keane

Stephanie Morris — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 13:05:45 +0000

I am a young water professional working with Urban Utilities. I graduated with a degree in chemistry and worked first as an analytical chemist in the laboratory before moving to my current position as a Circular Economy Strategist.

Never one to shy away from a challenge, I worked for 18 months on the Australian Flushability Standard which lead to presentations at the 2019 Q’Water Conference and the 2020 OzWater Conference. My early successes have opened doors to further opportunities such as the WSAA Young Utility Leaders’ Program in 2021/22.

Outside of work, I am an avid netball fanatic and dedicate my spare time to my local netball club as its president and developing my skills as a state league netball umpire.

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Annabel Hofstee

Stephanie Morris — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 12:32:43 +0000

I am an Environment and Planning Engineer with Urban Utilities, and graduated with a Dual Civil and Environmental Engineering Degree.

Starting with a dream of being a physiotherapist, I changed my University preferences on a whim, seeking a future that would challenge and excite me. I then travelled from my family in Central Queensland and into the big city of Brisbane on my own to pave my future. Initially I started a job in construction, targeting the development of shops, skyscrapers and warehouse galore – until I realised I wanted more…

I then followed my passion for understanding and embracing the environment, and in 2018 I joined Urban Utilities. This is where I am today, helping many more graduates that have come through, and developing strategies for the organisation to lead the charge in fostering the environment now and into the future – the perfect fusion of engineering, problem solving, and people centric design.

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Eva McLoughlin

Stephanie Morris — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 06:43:28 +0000

I have had a life-long passion for the environment and was determined to pursue a career in science, environmental management or policy, to better understand and protect our natural ecosystems into the future. Without a specific job in mind, studying Ecology and Political Science at university reinforced my commitment to the field, also building a key interest in people.

Taking a risk with a graduate job in the water industry, which I knew very little about, opened my eyes to unique opportunities to develop sustainable solutions, drive behavioural change and pursue innovations to improve the way we interact with the environment while delivering essential services.

The water industry provides a launch-pad for a huge number of opportunities, from local government to global water sustainability and everything in between. I work in developing and delivering strategies for Urban Utilities (SEQ water and sewerage service provider) to improve service performance, public health and environmental outcomes, and the customer experience.

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