NAWO’s 100 Women in Operations campaign celebrates women excelling in operational roles and the organisations creating inclusive opportunities across the sector.
Today, we celebrate Sally Rewell, Water Resource Recovery Lead at Sydney Water. With over 15 years’ experience in the water industry, Sally has progressed from graduate engineer to senior leader, now managing eight water resource recovery facilities across Sydney’s north.
Holding a Master of Engineering Management from the University of Technology Sydney and an Honours Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Sydney, Sally combines strong technical expertise with a commitment to leadership and mentoring. She currently serves as Vice President of the Australian Water Association (AWA) NSW Branch Committee and Co-Chair of the National Operations Specialist Network, while also mentoring emerging engineers across Sydney Water and the AWA.
Recently recognised with the Kamal Fernando Mentoring Award at the AWA NSW Water Awards, Sally continues to inspire the next generation of women building careers in operations.
Nominated for:
- Her strong leadership in guiding multiple Sydney Water teams through complex operational challenges while driving positive cultural and safety improvements across the business.
- Actively championing early career development, sponsoring entry-level programs (including the First Nations Career Trackers initiative) and graduate pathways.
- Being an industry contributor and mentor, presenting at Ozwater 2025, delivering the keynote at the NSW Water Industry Operations Conference, and recipient of the 2025 Kamal Fernando Mentoring Award.
👏 Congratulations, Sally, on being recognised as one of NAWO’s 100 Women in Operations. Your leadership and passion for developing others are helping shape a more inclusive future for the water industry.