Women of Water: Building momentum, driving meaningful change
26 February 2026
Service Stream recently held its second Women of Water (WoW) workshop, building on the strong momentum established during the inaugural session in September 2025. What began as an open and honest conversation about what’s working well and where we need to improve, is continuing to evolve into a recognised platform for shared learning and meaningful action across the business.
Growing participation and diverse voices
This latest workshop saw increased participation and a broader range of voices at the table, including women from across multiple states, apprentices, male allies and leaders. The expansion in representation reflects the growing impact and credibility of Women of Water across Service Stream.
Importantly, the conversation has shifted from listening and identifying challenges to progressing solutions. Discussions focused on practical actions to strengthen support for women across our water operations, including:
Increasing visibility and support in the field
Expanding mentoring opportunities
Creating clearer career pathways
Addressing and removing barriers that limit participation
This evolution signals a strong commitment to tangible outcomes, not just dialogue.
Introducing the Women of Water Advisory Council
A key milestone from the session was the official introduction of the Women of Water Advisory Council. State representatives shared updates on actions already underway locally, demonstrating that change is happening across multiple levels of the organisation.
The establishment of the Advisory Council provides structure and accountability, ensuring that insights from workshops translate into sustained, coordinated progress.
Inspiring Career journeys
A highlight of the workshop was hearing from Kelly Callanan, one of Service Stream’s Operations Managers, who generously shared her personal career journey - from starting as an electrical apprentice at just 16 years of age to stepping into leadership. Her story resonated strongly with attendees, offering practical insight into the lessons, challenges and persistence that have shaped her path. Experiences like Kelly’s reinforce the importance of visibility, representation and mentorship in encouraging more women to pursue and progress in operational roles.
Aligning with our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Strategy
Women of Water continues to grow as a credible, action-oriented initiative aligned to Service Stream’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Strategy. It reinforces an important principle: sustainable change requires shared ownership across all levels of the business.
As momentum builds, the focus remains on continuous reflection, refinement and practical action, including shaping a more meaningful and purposeful approach to International Women’s Day.
The work does not stop here. Together, we will continue taking deliberate steps forward to create a more inclusive and supportive environment across our water operations.
