International Women in Engineering Day
Building Culture, Supporting Growth.
As part of our Built by Women @ Waterline series for International Women in Engineering Day, we have been recognising the women across our business who contribute to the work we do every day.
Across the series, we have highlighted the technical expertise behind our engineering solutions and the project management capability that keeps delivery moving. For the final blog, we are turning our attention to another team that plays an essential role in Waterline’s success: Growth & People.
Engineering outcomes are built on more than technical expertise alone. They rely on the right people, the right culture, strong client relationships, clear communication, and the systems that help teams do their best work.
That is where Growth & People comes in. At Waterline, the Growth & People team supports the business across people and culture, marketing, sales operations and office management. Their work may not always be visible in drawings, schedules or project deliverables, but it plays an important role in creating the environment that allows great work to happen.
For Evelyn Mejias, Waterline’s Manager of Growth & People, the variety of the role is one of the things she enjoys most: “Every day is different, regardless of how much planning I do,” Evelyn says. “That’s what I love most about my role. I get to partner with the business to grow Waterline by attracting and retaining great people, while also driving revenue through our sales and marketing efforts. It’s fast-paced, varied, and there’s always a new challenge to solve.”
Creating The Conditions for People to Thrive
In a growing engineering business, people and culture is not separate from project delivery. It is part of the foundation that makes delivery possible.
Attracting and retaining skilled people helps Waterline continue to build strong project teams. Supporting leaders gives teams clarity, consistency and confidence. Strengthening culture helps people collaborate, solve problems and keep improving.
A member of the Growth & People team described the function as being about more than process or support. It is about helping create the conditions for people to thrive, so the business can continue to deliver strong outcomes for clients: “It’s about partnering with the business to grow Waterline, attracting and retaining top talent, and supporting the people and systems that help us succeed.”
That support can take many forms. Some of it is strategic, such as helping shape the employee experience, strengthening leadership capability, and supporting business growth. Some of it is practical, ensuring teams have the communication, structure and workplace support they need to keep moving. All of it contributes to the way Waterline operates.
A strong workplace culture does not happen by accident. It is built through shared purpose, accountability, trust and the everyday behaviours that shape how people work together.
As Evelyn explains: “A strong culture is one where everyone works together towards a shared purpose. People are committed to achieving the best outcomes for our clients, hold each other accountable, and challenge one another to maintain high standards. That’s what creates a high-performing team.”
Connecting People, Projects and Purpose
Growth at Waterline is not only about recruitment and internal culture. It is also about how the business connects with clients, communicates its capability, and shares the impact of the work being delivered across the organisation.
Through marketing and sales operations, the Growth & People team helps tell the Waterline story: who we are, what we do, and how our people support clients across the resources industry.
For the team, that storytelling is a meaningful part of the work: “What I love about the work is the ability to tell the Waterline story and showcase how our people are helping clients in the resources industry produce the resources that keep local communities thriving.”
That connection between people, projects and purpose is central to the role of Growth & People. The team helps ensure Waterline’s capability is visible, that the business continues to build meaningful client relationships, and that the work delivered by technical and project teams is communicated with clarity and pride.
Marketing also plays an important role in supporting business growth. Through content, campaigns and communications, the team helps create engaging material that showcases Waterline’s people, projects and expertise. That work supports brand awareness, client connection and the broader growth of the business. It also helps bring the human side of engineering to the surface.
Engineering businesses are often known for technical capability, but behind every project are people making decisions, solving problems, managing relationships and working together to deliver the best possible outcome. Sharing those stories helps show the breadth of contribution across the business and the many roles that support successful delivery.
Supporting The Day-To-Day Rhythm of the Business
Alongside people, culture, marketing and sales operations, Growth & People also helps keep the workplace running smoothly.
As Waterline’s Office Manager, Kelly Treacy plays an important role in supporting the day-to-day rhythm of the business. Office management can sometimes sit behind the scenes, but it is often one of the functions people rely on most.
From supporting workplace coordination to helping create an organised, welcoming and well-functioning environment, Kelly’s work contributes to the experience people have at work every day. It is the kind of role that enables others to focus, collaborate and deliver.
In many ways, Growth & People is about removing friction. The team helps people access what they need, supports leaders with the right tools and advice, strengthens communication, and ensures the business has strong foundations for growth.
As one team member reflected: “People may not always realise how much effort is involved in supporting the people and culture, marketing and sales aspects of a dynamic and growing organisation. That’s why no day is the same.”
That variety is part of what makes the function so important. The work can shift quickly between people priorities, business development, marketing activity, operational support, recruitment and internal communication. It requires flexibility, strong relationships and a clear understanding of what the business needs to grow sustainably.
Engineering Through a People Lens
While Growth & People is not a technical engineering function, its connection to engineering outcomes is clear.
Great engineering relies on problem-solving, collaboration and practical thinking. It also relies on people who are supported, engaged and aligned around a shared objective.
For Evelyn, engineering is about solving complex problems and creating lasting value for clients. “Engineering, to me is about solving problems,” she says. “The most rewarding part is working alongside people who take an owner’s mindset, thinking beyond the immediate task to make decisions that deliver the best long-term outcomes for our clients.”
That mindset is reflected across Waterline. Whether someone is designing a technical solution, managing a project, coordinating teams, supporting people leaders, strengthening client relationships, creating content or keeping the office running, each role contributes to the way Waterline delivers. The Growth & People team helps bring those pieces together.
They support the people behind the work. They help shape the culture that influences how the work gets done. They help tell the stories that show Waterline’s capability. And they help position the business for continued growth.
Built by Women @ Waterline
The Built by Women @ Waterline series has highlighted the diversity of roles that contribute to engineering success.
From technical design to project delivery, and from people and culture to marketing, sales operations and office support, each function plays a part in helping Waterline deliver quality outcomes for clients.
This final feature is a reminder that engineering success is not built by one discipline alone. It is built by people, systems, relationships and culture. It is built by teams who work together, hold one another to high standards, and stay focused on a shared purpose. At Waterline, our Growth & People team helps make that possible.
Their work supports the people behind our projects, strengthens the foundations of our business, and helps us continue to grow in a way that reflects who we are and what we value.
To learn more about Waterline, our people and the work we deliver, visit: https://waterlineprojects.com/projects/