Michelle is a water treatment operations specialist with more than 26 years’ experience in treatment plant operations, water quality compliance and operational leadership.

She spent most of her career in local government water utilities on the NSW Central Coast. She began as Water Quality Officer for Gosford City Council’s treatment plants, then led the Central Coast Council water treatment plant team as Team Leader from 2009 to 2026, and also held the role of Water Systems Controller from 2023. Before that she worked as a Laboratory Technician at Amdel Laboratories and trained as a Chemical Engineering Officer at Macquarie Generation’s Liddell Power Station. That early grounding in chemistry and laboratory work still shapes how she approaches treatment processes.

Michelle’s principal expertise is in process troubleshooting and optimisation, commissioning, and supervising and training operators. She has delivered a range of plant treatment projects, including project management and commissioning, and is known for helping operators work through difficult process issues. More recently she has carried out process reviews of remote water treatment plants for IPS, acted as Treatment Coordinator for Mackay Regional Council, and provided backup operations support for Altogether Group. Michelle holds a Diploma of Applied Science (Chemical Technology) and Certificates IV in Water Operations and Frontline Management. She also has Certificate III in Wastewater Operations, a Certificate in Workplace Training and Assessing, and certification in the Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies.