108 | theceomagazine.com

Water

deep

runs

Goldenfields Water County

Council boss Phillip Rudd wants

his utility service to emerge

from the depths and engage

with the community.

WORDS WENDY KAY • IMAGES BRETT NASEBY

M

ost Australians

probably don’t

dwell too deeply

on water or where

it comes from. As

long as it comes

out of the tap, fills a swimming pool and

flushes the toilet, it serves its purpose.

Goldenfields Water County Council’s

General Manager Phillip Rudd admits he

was much the same a decade ago. It wasn’t

until the electrical engineering student

completed two internships at Gosford City

Council – previously one of the largest

council-owned and -operated water utilities

in New South Wales – that the tide turned

and water became more interesting.

“I was monitoring and reporting for all

the water and sewer infrastructure, and it

opened up the water industry to me,”

he says. “Before that, I was just like the

majority of the community: I’d turn

the tap on or flush the toilet, and that

was all I’d associated water with.”

Straight from university, in fact still

with studies to complete, Phillip landed

the role of electrical engineer, managing

25 staff and a A$3.5-million budget, in

control of the council’s electrical assets,

electricity contracts, capital works and

maintenance programs. Over the years, he

moved through the ranks to become the

council’s water and sewer coordinator

(electrical and mechanical), overseeing

60 staff and an A$11-million budget while

somehow squeezing in an MBA, as well

as a Water Leadership Program with the

Brisbane-based International WaterCentre.

INVEST | Interview

»