Bring your authentic self to work

When I joined Yarra Valley Water six years ago, I was drawn in by two things: the good culture rumours that reverberated through the water utility community, and the fact that North Warrandyte has been home to me since 2020. It felt like the right place to build my career – and to feel part of the wider Yarra Valley community.

Yunal Kumar, Senior Recycled Water Treatment Plant Engineer

Working at Yarra Valley Water allows me to express myself, my ideas and my creativity authentically. There isn’t anything better than feeling comfortable in being your authentic self at work. I think that just this example demonstrates what the culture is like at Yarra Valley Water.

A role that keeps essential services running

I’m the site-specific process engineer for the Lilydale and Aurora Treatment Plants. My job is to supply safe and reliable recycled water to customers and to natural environments like creeks, wetlands and irrigation areas.

What inspires me is collaboration. I love working with people internally and externally, which improves confidence and trust in working relationships.

Recommissioning the Aurora Class A plant

One of the achievements I’m most proud of is helping recommission the Aurora Class A Recycled Water Treatment Plant, after it had been offline since November 2022. Bringing a dormant treatment plant back online had its challenges, but the rewards were so worth it.

Flexibility that supports performance

Flexible working arrangements are one of the things I value most. They allow me to structure my week across treatment plant sites, head office and working from home. This helps stimulate creativity and momentum for me.

Working at Yarra Valley Water has also helped me grow. In July 2024, I became a chartered professional engineer!  I believe the projects I’ve been involved in here have help me achieve that goal.

We deliver outcomes together

The last few projects I’ve worked on have involved collaboration with multiple teams internally and externally. There’s something really special when you achieve goals together.

To me, strong teamwork means open communication, honesty, drive and being there for each other. I try to bring enthusiasm, energy and passion to that every day.

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