The Australian & New Zealand Biosolids Partnership, or ANZBP has been created to promote and support the sustainable management of biosolids in Australia and New Zealand.
The ANZBP operates as a program within the Australian Water Association (AWA), collecting separate partner contributions to specifically support the mission of the ANZBP. Key stakeholders include water utilities in Australia and New Zealand which produce and manage biosolids, consultants and contractors involved in biosolids management, agencies responsible for regulating the management and use of biosolids, research organisations and universities, and end-users of biosolids and their representative groups.
The ANZBP has a corporate model whereby organisations from around Australia and New Zealand contribute partnership funds and all their employees are able to take advantage of member benefits.
The ANZBP is guided by an Advisory Committee comprising of a cross-section of stakeholders, which reports to the AWA Board. Current members of the Advisory Committee are:
Rob Tinholt (Chair)
Watercare, Auckland, New Zealand
Rob is Watercare’s Resource Recovery Manager with a primary focus on creating beneficial reuse pathways for Auckland’s biosolids. He is developing products through his understanding of technology and the soil needs of end markets. He has over 20 years experience as a wastewater engineer and has been responsible for the planning, construction and operation of many wastewater assets. Rob also has delivered successful outcomes in complex resource consent applications for significant discharges to the environment, requiring an understanding of statutory planning frameworks and consultation with stakeholders and Iwi. His approach is to create a collaborative environment to achieve sustainable and economic outcomes.
Lauren Randall (Vice Chair)
Hunter Water
As Hunter Water’s Program Lead Biosolids and Resources, Lauren is leading the development of Hunter Water’s long-term biosolids strategy. To ensure sustainable and resilient biosolids management, she recognises the need for an innovative and adaptive approach that can address future challenges and has the flexibility to embrace opportunities for improved environmental, social and economic outcomes for communities. With nearly two decades of experience in the water industry, Lauren has managed a diverse range of engineering and environmental studies, led stakeholder engagement programs and developed decision-making frameworks to incorporate a variety of financial, technical, environmental and social factors.
Kelly Hopewell
Gold Coast Water and Waste
Kelly Hopewell is the Coordinator of Process Engineering at the Gold Coast Water and Waste and has been in the water industry for over 15 years. Starting out in drinking water quality while working as a research assistant at Griffith University, she had a steep learning curve in the field of wastewater treatment once moving the Gold Coast Water in 2005. Kelly and her team are responsible for working with the operators to optimise the Gold Coast’s four sewage treatment plants, endeavouring to reduce chemical, electricity and biosolids haulage costs, while maintaining a high quality effluent. Kelly has a passion for biosolids and finding innovative ways to manage this potential resource.
Sonja Toft
Urban Utilities
Dr Sonja Toft is the Manager of the Process Engineering team in Resource Recovery (RR) at Urban Utilities. Applying over 20 years of expertise in wastewater treatment process and operation, this role involves providing specialist technical leadership and playing a critical role in the business transformation of Resource Recovery, including biosolids resilience as a key strategic focus. The Resource Recovery group covers the operation and optimisation of 27 wastewater treatment plants, 22 recycled water schemes, biosolids and energy recovery systems
Matthew Wood
Sydney Water
Matt is a Senior Process Engineer at Sydney Water and is working with their operational and project teams to deliver significant water resource recovery facility upgrades through the network, including the Malabar, St Marys, Quakers Hill and Penrith upgrades. As the chair of the Resource Recovery Steering Group, Matt is working closely with regulatory, operational and strategy teams to guide Sydney Water’s resource recovery strategies, of which biosolids is their greatest resource, to develop and deliver their ambitious circular economy and carbon zero objectives. Matt has an operational background in the beneficial use of biosolids in land application, previously contract managing Sydney Water’s largest land application and beneficial reuse biosolids contract. Matt also has a strong background in safety and is currently co-chair of Sydney Water’s Production HSR Committee. Matt holds a Masters of Engineering Science in Water and Wastewater Engineering, has been working in the water industry for seven years and is passionate about designing and achieving circular economy strategies and best benefit reuses for recovered resources.
Ellen Tao
Melbourne Water
Ellen Tao is a senior process engineer within the Integrated Planning team in Melbourne Water. Ellen has over 15 years of experience working in the water industry. She has a strong wastewater engineering background and is now working as the biosolids beneficial reuse program project manager at Melbourne Water, with a focus on developing various biosolids reuse options to create a resilience reuse program.
She has a BE in Water and Wastewater Engineering and a MEngSc in Project Management.
Glenn Dale
Verterra
Glenn is the founder and Managing Director of Verterra Ecological Engineering, Adjunct Associate Professor with the University of Southern Queensland, and a founding member of Foresters without Borders management committee. Glenn holds degrees in forestry and biochemistry, an MBA and PhD in Molecular & Quantitative Genetics. Glenn has over 32 years’ experience in natural resource management and ecological engineering, with broad international experience including New Zealand, China, USA, England, Spain, Portugal, Malaysia, Colombia, Brazil, Tanzania and Rwanda. Glenn has particular expertise in plant water use, plant nutrition, degraded land and mine site rehabilitation, soil conservation, carbon sequestration and erosion management relevant to beneficial use of biosolids as a valuable nutrition and soil conditioning product.
Alex Keegan
SA Water
With a 26 year research career, Manager Catchments, Wastewater and Environmental Sciences, Dr Alex Keegan has a wealth of expertise and has been involved in managing the lifecycle of a range of nationally and internationally funded projects. Significant work includes developing methods to validate pathogen (virus and protozoa) removal and inactivation in wastewater treatment processes and biosolids, leading to significant outcomes for SA Water and other Australian utilities. She has also managed a portfolio of Research Programs investigating Emerging Contaminants (PFAS, microplastics, AMR), Biosolids Strategy. Recycled Water Quality and Wastewater Process Optimisation and is leading COVID-19 surveillance in wastewater. Alex holds a Bachelor of Science with Honours and a Doctor of Philosophy (Applied and Molecular Ecology). Her background includes 12 years with SA Water’s world leading laboratory arm, Australian Water Quality Centre, three as Manager Wastewater Research and three years as Senior Research Program Manager.
Kyleigh Victory
Icon Water
As Senior Process Engineer at Icon Water and initiator of the Biosolids management renewal project at their primary wastewater treatment facility, Kyleigh is the driver behind Icon Water’s future in sustainable, energy-efficient treatment and management of biosolids. Kyleigh has also established an internal stakeholder committee to share all things biosolids. She has been involved across a range of activities within the water industry, including infrastructure delivery, asset planning and management, quality and compliance, and technical engagement with regulators. Kyleigh has a strong interest in R&D with a view to identifying innovations in treatment technology, energy generation and resource recovery opportunities from biosolids.
Beatrice Yong
Water Corporation
Beatrice Yong is a dynamic and dedicated professional with a wealth of experience in the water industry. Her leadership skills are evident in her management of wastewater labs for metro south in Water Corporation, where she worked with lab techs and operations for two years. Beatrice’s strategic planning skills have been instrumental in her involvement with R&D projects to improve and understand wastewater treatment processes for both water and solids streams. She has worked closely with planning, environmental, and commercial teams to seek biosolids reuse opportunities and has collaborated with operational teams in regional areas to ensure continuous quality supply for water recycling schemes. A strong advocate for social, environmental, and financial balance, Beatrice works towards the corporate policy of 100% beneficial biosolids reuse in metro and 75% reuse in regional areas to reduce landfill disposal. She is committed to ongoing education with emerging contaminants of concern to assess the risk of water recycling and biosolids reuse opportunities for WA.