REGIONAL UPBRINGING MEETS ENGINEERING PURPOSE
Brendan said his early exposure to mining and agriculture has absolutely helped to shape his career. “Growing up in Singleton, I was surrounded by the mining and power industries and my grandparents owned a dairy farm, which instilled in me a deep understanding of the critical importance of water in our daily lives.”
“You could tell it was during the millennium drought can’t you,” he adds. “They would often mention how much rainfall they had, how quickly the patterns could change and how we had to minimise water usage and be respectful of it.”
This connection to water only grew during Brendan’s education. After gaining an NSW Mining Scholarship and studying chemical engineering, he undertook industry placements at local power stations before finding his niche in water.
“At the end of my third year, I joined an engineering consultancy focused on the water industry – and I haven’t looked back since.”
REAL-WORLD OUTCOMES
Brendan thrives on real impact, particularly in regional and industrial settings – his work has a direct and meaningful impact on the local communities and environments by delivering sustainable water solutions across various sectors.
Key projects include improving sanitation infrastructure in Fiji, leading recycled water initiatives for NCIG, and contributing to the Belmont Desalination Plant with Hunter Water. “I help ensure that essential water resources are used efficiently while protecting the surrounding environment.”
In one standout example, Brendan helped NCIG reduce its potable water use by 50%.
“The project enabled the capacity for 3 ML/d of recycled water (equivalent to the water usage of around 1700 homes) and, within the first 12 months, combined with captured rainfall, has accounted for 90% of NCIG onsite water usage.”
CULTURE, FLEXIBILITY AND GIVING BACK
Brendan is particularly passionate about purified recycled water and brine management. “Water should not be judged by its history, but its quality when we receive it,” he says.
He shares this passion through mentoring university students and advising final-year design projects: “The importance of Purified Recycled Water to managing water resilience in an arid country like Australia should be clear.”
Beca HunterH2O’s supportive team culture is vital to Brendan’s work. “This includes flexible working locations and hours and a supportive culture encouraging work-life balance and family-first values.” It also enables his involvement in CSIRO’s STEM Professionals in Schools Program and university supervision.
His advice to future water professionals? “Don’t overlook the water industry just because water comes out of the tap every day. It’s an essential service which is key to people’s lives and managing the environment through wastewater treatment.”
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