Steering committee
The Water Sensitive SA steering committee is charged with setting the strategic direction of South Australia’s WSUD capacity building program. This dedicated group of industry leaders brings a broad cross-section of skills and experience to the program, and are committed advocates of the program’s vision and projects.
Elsinore (Elsie) Mann, Chair
A civil engineer by training, Elsie is a Principal Engineer with more than 20 years’ experience in the water industry. With a technical background in hydraulic modelling, Elsie has worked with water and wastewater utilities around the globe, including in Australia, New Zealand, the United States and United Kingdom, undertaking complex network analysis and optimisation, asset planning and operational analytics. With a Masters of Integrated Water Management, Elsie is passionate about applying her skills and experience to identify innovative and effective solutions to water management challenges.
Alison Collins
Alison brings 20 years of experience working in multi-disciplinary and cross-organisational project teams in a range of State Government, local government and private-sector roles. She has a particular passion and expertise in work that helps to create more liveable, greener and water sensitive neighbourhoods, which has given her valuable experience and skills in a variety of areas including delivery of strategies and guidelines; policy development (environmental and urban planning); project management; research and survey analysis; and community engagement/facilitation.
Alex Czura
Alex has worked in the water industry for 16 years, specialising in environmental impact assessments, liveability, strategy, WSUD and innovation. Alex is a keen collaborator and influencer who actively seeks opportunities to shape policy and infrastructure planning and delivery to improve the quality of green space in urban environments. He is passionate about effective water use, Water & Biodiversity Sensitive Urban Design to drive healthy, thriving communities and increasing the liveability for South Australians.
Andrew King
Andrew is Civil Engineer with experience in all levels of Government and private practice, and considers himself lucky to have been mentored and influenced by some of SA’s most respected and passionate water professional and academics.
As long standing Chair of Stormwater SA, and a member of many of the stormwater reference committees, working groups and networks established over the past decade, Andrew is consistently pushing for better practices, capacity building, guidelines and legislation in relation to stormwater management, WSUD and related fields.
Joe La Spina
Joe has over 30 years Civil and Environmental Engineering experience on a wide range of civil infrastructure and stormwater management projects. He is a leader in his field and is highly regarded in the industry for his WSUD skills and knowledge.
Joe is focussed on environmental management of stormwater and its integration into many forms of development including major infrastructure projects, urban development and urban design projects
such as at the Adelaide Zoo. His vast experience lies in the design of WSUD systems, wetlands, biofiltration/raingardens, watercourse remediation, source control, infiltration systems, erosion and sediment control plans, and conventional stormwater management design.
Rachel Murchland
Rachel is a Civil and Environmental Engineer who aspires to engage with and lead the broader community to implement small changes to enhance the integration between the natural and built environments and work towards a more sustainable future. Rachel has over 17 years of engineering experience across the consulting industry, state government and local government. She is an enthusiastic engineer with an excellent reputation for her quality of work, strong work ethic, and ability to forge mutually beneficial relationships across different sectors.
Rachel has extensive experience in water sensitive urban design, stormwater management planning, watercourse rehabilitation, provision of technical engineering advice to local government, strategic planning, construction superintendence, stormwater master planning and detailed design.
Olivia Oliver
Olivia is a chartered professional engineer with over 20 years’ experience, spanning executive leadership, sustainability and water resources management.
Olivia is a critical thinker with experience in business operations, technical project management and delivery oversight. She has a broad understanding of sustainability, climate change mitigation and adaptation, the circular economy, climate risk assessment, and sustainability frameworks and assessments.
Dr Sheryn Pitman
Sheryn is a creative thinker and skilled communicator, leader, educator, manager and collaborator with a multi-disciplinary background and demonstrated commitment to excellence. She has extensive experience in program development, research and management, and in working collaboratively with environment, science, arts, education, industry and community-based institutions, organisations and groups.
Sheryn has comprehensive knowledge and understanding of environmental science and management, urban living infrastructure and green cities, conservation and sustainability issues, and has a passionate interest in the relationship between human society and natural systems, and in improving the sustainability of our landscapes.
Angus Rex
Angus is a project manager with more than eight years of experience, with a diverse background and extensive experience in sustainability, water and civil infrastructure.
Angus has a strong background in developing and delivering contracts, including running a company constructing and maintaining WSUD. He has a comprehensive understanding of engineering design and delivery through to construction and maintenance..