When Pippa Sullivan stepped into the role of Regional Coordinator for the Downs Urban Water Technical Group (DUWTG), she brought with her a fresh perspective, a can-do attitude, and a genuine passion for collaboration.
A professional engineer with GenEng Solutions, Pippa’s background in agricultural engineering and planning is now expanding into the operational side of water management—thanks to her involvement in QWRAP.
“I’ve never done operational water, but the whole point of being an engineer is you always get to do new things. So when someone says, ‘Hey, do you want to do this?’ I generally say, ‘Yes!”
Pippa took the reins at a pivotal time for DUWTG, as the group emerged from a period of inactivity. Her enthusiasm has helped reinvigorate the region, fostering renewed collaboration and momentum—even in the absence of formally funded projects.
One standout example of this collaboration came when Southern Downs Regional Council faced an urgent issue at their activated sludge wastewater treatment plant. Toowoomba Regional Council stepped in, providing sludge from the Wetalla digester within 24 hours to re-seed the system.
This spirit of cooperation is driving DUWTG’s priorities, including joint procurement, emergency response planning, and knowledge sharing. A multi-year sewer relining contract is high on the agenda, along with a practical initiative to catalogue mobile plant and equipment for emergency use.
Pippa’s approach is grounded in persistence and people skills.
“Nothing beats a phone call. Persistence pays off. It’s amazing what happens if you call someone a number of times—they just want to make you go away!”
Despite juggling her QWRAP responsibilities with other engineering work, Pippa is thriving in the role. She credits the support of the QWRAP network and the openness of other regions for helping her find her feet.
“Everyone is very forthcoming with information. It’s not being held as super secret, which is really helpful for someone new coming in.”
While DUWTG doesn’t have a Regional Organisation of Councils (ROC) like some other QWRAP regions, the group has opted to keep things simple, eschewing a steering committee in favour of direct collaboration and escalation through mayors when needed.
Pippa’s passion for engineering and water management is infectious. She encourages others to embrace opportunities and explore the breadth of the profession.
“You just have to say yes. Try it. You won’t know until you have a go.”
Whether she’s coordinating projects, building floodways, or spending time with her family, Pippa brings energy, humour, and heart to everything she does.
“I get paid to talk to people. It’s the best.”
With Pippa at the helm, DUWTG is poised for a new chapter of collaboration, innovation, and shared success.
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