BHAKTI DEVI
Sydney
Summary
Strategic-thinking individual experienced in turning low-performing organizations into high performing organizations delivering high impact. An engaging and pleasant personality with expertise in water sustainability and community engagement.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
Director
Jal Smruti Foundation
03.2021 - 03.2024
- Developed high-performing teams by providing mentorship, guidance, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Worked closely with organizational leadership and board of directors to guide operational strategy.
- Established a culture of continuous improvement by fostering open communication channels and empowering employees to voice their ideas.
- Conducted diagnostic study of Existing Atal Bhujal States to understand the improvement opportunities when rolling out to new States
- Developed and facilitated City Water Scorecard as part of Water Positive City Program for Sagar Smart City
- Developed & delivered Mentoring & Capacity Building programs for creating water positive homes, water positive building facilities, water positive education campuses and water positive cities (Several facilities and apartment associations in Bengaluru & Pune)
- Devised partnerships, collaborations & fund-raising for delivering the Water Leadership Program for a University
- Delivered 28 capacity building workshops for 14 water stressed Districts of Haryana under Government of India's Sustainable Groundwater Program.
- Delivered 12 capacity building workshops on Community Participation in planning and implementation of rural drinking water scheme, Water Auditing, Source Sustainability and Institutional Strengthening for Government Engineers & Officers in under Government of India's Rural Drinking Water Program
- Won a Start up Seed Grant to monetize Water Diagnostic & Scorecard for Schools, Hotels, Institutions & Education Campuses.
Consultant
Banwasi Seva Ashram
09.2020 - 03.2021
- Conducted intensive field research of rural water users in the tribal village communities of Sonbhadra region in the UP State while reviewing the delivery of Government of India's water conservation and livelihood program,
- Developed and conducted a training for master trainers to train the village community to learn the basic science of watershed and how to identify the right watershed structure on their land to incorporate in the Government assisted livelihood program.
- Evaluated client needs and expectations, establishing clear goals for each consulting engagement.
- Delivered outstanding service to clients to maintain and extend relationship for future business opportunities.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to successfully deliver comprehensive solutions for clients.
Consultant
Urban Water Doctor
07.2017 - 09.2020
- Developed & delivered 10x Water Audit of Engineering College Campuses integrated with a Water Audit training for fresh Civil Engineering Graduates. ○
- Developed & delivered community based water resources conservation programs at 100+family level , 25 Apartment Communities level for building managers to make their existing buildings water efficient & sustainably self sufficient
- Developed a practical guide that provides a scientific understanding of the urban lake rejuvenation process in plain English and a process to identify & prioritize relevant doable actions, to engage local community and monitor the action plan.
Liveability Strategist
SYDNEY WATER
01.2013 - 06.2018
- Developed a robust framework and transparent process for building capacity of Asset Planners & Managers to undertake scenario planning, systems and strategic analysis of treatment facilities and network assets to identify and assess strategic risks and opportunities and to develop and assess strategic pathways of responses for various triggers
- Led & oversaw the development of System Blueprints (30 year and 5 year Capital Investment Plans) for water & wastewater systems (network & treatment facilities).
- Oversaw the strategic input and process of System Blueprint development
- Provided strategic advice on developing innovative servicing and asset planning & management strategies (for network and treatment facilities) that contribute to liveable city solutions and outcomes
- Provided effective leadership to an integrated multi-disciplinary team developing servicing strategies and asset planning & management
- Built effective business relationships with internal and external stakeholders
- Actively influenced and supported organizational change to achieve agreed business outcomes.
Manager - Water Strategy
CITY OF SYDNEY COUNCIL
01.2009 - 01.2013
- Led the development of a ground-breaking Decentralised Water Master Plan
- Authored the master plan report translating in plain English a comprehensive technical analysis that underpinned the 20 year strategy for City’s integrated water management
- Developed and implemented a performance contract to retrofit water use efficiency in City owned Office Buildings, Depots, Community Facilities and Aquatic Centres;
- Developed and implemented an award winning program involving integration of water sensitive urban design (WSUD) devices such as rain gardens in its major capital works projects on streetscapes and parks for improving stormwater quality;
- Developed and implemented a WSUD policy and technical guidelines in consultation with design, operations and maintenance staff across Council
- Authored a submission to Productivity Commission Inquiry on Urban Water highlighting the barriers to integrated water cycle management
- Facilitated strategic stakeholder engagement, collaborations & partnerships
- Established an award winning water conservation program in collaboration with Sydney Water Corporation (water utility) and received $200K funding for improving water use efficiency of small to medium water using commercial properties in the City of Sydney
- Obtained a competitive grant of $100K from Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority (State owned agency) for integration of water sensitive urban design elements in City's capital works projects
- Won a competitive bid securing $7.6Million of federal government funding towards capital cost of infrastructure in Sydney Park to recycle 850 million litres of stormwater each year
- Played an influential role as Member of Steering Committee in creating council collaboration alliance called Cooks River Alliance to undertake catchment based planning for improvement of ecosystem services of Cooks River
- Influenced and played a leading role in bringing together 23 local government agencies draining to Sydney Harbour to work towards development of the award winning Sydney Harbour Catchment Water Quality Improvement Plan
- Long-term research to inform City’s water policies and programs
- Implementation of a web-based urban irrigation benchmarking tool in collaboration with CRC for Irrigation Futures
- Actively engaged with researchers in CRC for Water Sensitive Cities, as a major industry partner in the Research Steering Committees to steer and inform the research plan to deliver tools and resources for the benefit of industry partners
- Undertook foundational research that led to the development of Sydney Harbour Water Quality Improvement Program – a collaborative research with Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority for improving water quality of Sydney Harbour in partnership with other local councils
- Facilitated Smart Green Business Program targeted at small and medium businesses
- Implemented the Cooks River Sustainability Initiative – a 3 year long action research conducted in partnership with Monash University to formulate a community engagement strategy for implementing sustainable water management programs and policies.
Research Associate
CRC FOR IRRIGATION FUTURES
10.2005 - 01.2009
- Designed a benchmarking tool for development of rational and science-based policies and programs for irrigated urban green spaces
- Facilitated dissemination of the urban irrigation sustainability tool in the local government sector that manage 100s of acres of irrigated parks and playing fields
- Authored a comprehensive review of state of the programs, policies and approaches taken to manage urban irrigation and a peer reviewed dissertation "A Framework for Development & Evaluation of Sustainable Urban Irrigation Policies and Programs".
Senior Research Consultant
INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE FUTURES
01.1999 - 10.2005
- Provided strategic advice on water sustainability to senior executives and managers of both - private and public sector client agencies that included – urban utilities, federal, state and local government agencies
- Undertook, for Sydney Water, business case analysis for investment into a demand management program targeted at business and industry clients which led to the development and implementation of the award-winning a multi million dollar Every Drop Counts Business Program
- Conducted for South East Water a detailed analysis for conducting a strategic assessment of water management options in new developments in green field sites incorporating various water management scenarios involving a combination of on-site and precinct based water harvesting and recycling options
- Developed, for South East Water, guidelines for the optimum option selected by the Client
- Fo Rous Water, conducted a business case analysis that assisted the local council to design a cost-effective investment in a rainwater tank rebate program
- For Sydney Water, audited water supply network with the view to reduce non revenue water (NRW) and developed strategies for reducing NRW.
- Monitored and evaluated a tool that the industries could use to self report to Sydney Water on water reuse by industrial and commercial customers
- For Kogarah Municipal Corporation, developed a total water cycle management framework to evaluate and assess a suite of sustainable water management options. The project assisted the client obtaining state government funding of $300K towards the capital cost of one of the first sewer mining projects in Australia
- For Queensland EPA, developed a strategic business resilience plan identifying rigorous water efficiency and recycling actions that can be implemented in the industrial town of Gladstone where on account of prolonged drought the industries faced the risk of closing down
- Funded by University of Technology Sydney, conducted a study tour of sustainability and demand management programs by urban water utilities in North America
Consultant
PPK Infrastructure Pty Ltd
01.1998 - 01.1999
- Developed process design of various process units in the Water reclamation and management scheme (WRAMS) in the Sydney Olympic Park
- Developed and conducted water quality modelling for the processes in the WRAMS
- Operation and commissioning of industrial wastewater treatment plants
Research Engineer
Centre For Water & Waste, UNSW
01.1996 - 01.1998
- Developed a patent worthy laboratory scale biological treatment process for treatment of odorous emissions from sewage treatment plants. (UNSW Patented the process)
- Developed a protocol for analysing Hydrogen Sulphide concentration in air samples.
- Analyzed and calibrated equipment, established conditions and prepared reports.
- Processed materials to determine increased strength.
- Authored protocols for bulk, finished goods and stability testing.
- Supported quantitative work with data sets.
Process Engineer
Aquatec Maxcon Pty Ltd
01.1995 - 01.1996
- Drafted successful tender proposals for aeration solutions in sewage treatment plants.
- Conducted testing of aerators in an industrial lab-scale testing facilities.
- Coordinated with clients to resolve product enquiries
- Optimized treatment processes by providing the right and relevant aeration solutions
Education
Certrificate -
Alliance For Water Stewardship
2022
Certificate - ACWADAM
Sustainable Groundwater Management
2019
MBA -
Australian Institute of Business
2015
PhD - University of Western Sydney
Policy For Sustainable Water
2009
Master of Environmental Engineering -
VJTI - University of Bombay
1991
Bachelor of Civil Engineering -
VJTI -University of Bombay
1986
Skills
- Water Sustainability
- Strategic Planning
- Creativity and Innovation
- Strategies and goals
- Verbal and written communication
- People Management
- Operations Management
Additional Information
- Sustainability 2020 List of Honour of Asia’s Top Sustainability Superwomen by CSR Works International.
- Woman of the Decade in Sustainability Leadership by Women's Economic Forum (2019).
Affiliations
- International Water Association
- Water Resources Council in Womens Chamber of Commerce & Industry (WICCI)
Timeline
Director
Jal Smruti Foundation
03.2021 - 03.2024
Consultant
Banwasi Seva Ashram
09.2020 - 03.2021
Consultant
Urban Water Doctor
07.2017 - 09.2020
Liveability Strategist
SYDNEY WATER
01.2013 - 06.2018
Manager - Water Strategy
CITY OF SYDNEY COUNCIL
01.2009 - 01.2013
Research Associate
CRC FOR IRRIGATION FUTURES
10.2005 - 01.2009
Senior Research Consultant
INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE FUTURES
01.1999 - 10.2005
Consultant
PPK Infrastructure Pty Ltd
01.1998 - 01.1999
Research Engineer
Centre For Water & Waste, UNSW
01.1996 - 01.1998
Process Engineer
Aquatec Maxcon Pty Ltd
01.1995 - 01.1996
Certrificate -
Alliance For Water Stewardship
Certificate - ACWADAM
Sustainable Groundwater Management
MBA -
Australian Institute of Business
PhD - University of Western Sydney
Policy For Sustainable Water
Master of Environmental Engineering -
VJTI - University of Bombay
Bachelor of Civil Engineering -
VJTI -University of Bombay
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