LIFE ADVICE FOR YOUNG WATER PROFESSIONALS

How did your career in water and sanitation begin?

AM In 2015, after my retrenchment as a process engineer in the mines, I worked as a research assistant on a project funded by the Water Research Commission (WRC). It focused on water and wastewater management in the tanning and leather finishing industry.

What have been some of the highlights of your career so far?

There are a few notable career highlights in the last eight years:

- authored four market intelligence reports and promoted investment in the South African water sector

- serving as a non-executive director (board member) at WISA

- chairing Young Water Professionals

South Africa (YWP-ZA) and IWA YWP steering committee

- completing my PhD in chemical engineering

- completing three research projects focusing on the beneficiation of industrial wastewater and sludge for resource recovery

- published two book chapters, three technical reports and 10 research articles.

What do you find challenging about your career?

Knowing the availability of viable solutions that can solve our water woes but not seeing them being adopted and implemented. Worst of all, living with this reality.

What advice would you give to someone beginning their career?

There are a few things that I always share with young professionals:

• Have a game plan, show up and keep moving forward: It is important to have a career game plan on how you will accomplish your career goals, and when you will attain them. This will help a lot in terms of building a successful career in the sector, as it will inform your decisions, keep you focused on the goal and determined. However, you shouldn’t give up when things fall apart and when expectations do not align with reality. Downfalls and setbacks are a part of our lives. What is important is to show up and keep moving.

• Stay humble and learn: You need to develop an appetite for learning and getting feedback from peers. Keeping a balanced perspective and welcoming the viewpoints of others, especially seasoned professionals and those you trust, is vital. Learning leads to growth and development.

• Build professional relations and grow your network: Be intentional about getting to know fellow peers in the sector and focus on forming solid professional relationships. Take a few minutes out of your day to grab lunch, coffee or virtually have conversations with your peers and seasoned professionals. Often, the strongest relations are grown at the beginning of your career. This includes finding mentors who will guide and help you with your career growth. Hard work and brilliance alone may not be enough.

If you could grant one wish for the water and sanitation sector, what would it be?

That would be Sustainable

Development Goal 6 – universal access to potable water and safe sanitation.

Why should water and sanitation professionals join WISA?

There is an adage that says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

WISA provides a platform for multiple stakeholders from a wide range of disciplines to meet, discuss and come up with innovate solutions for a sustainable water future in the region. Water

If there were one wish Ashton could grant, it would be for the world to achieve SDG 6 insecurity and a lack of universal access to water services cannot be solved while working in silos. WISA promotes a cross-disciplinary approach and inclusivity in solving our water woes. Additionally, WISA provides training to capacitate water professionals and ensure their continuous professional development to better serve the sector.

What are you currently reading?

I am currently reading From Third World to First: The Singapore Story: 1965-2000 by Lee Kuan Yew.

Favourite podcast?

Diary of a CEO

What life lessons you have learnt along the way?

• You cannot please everyone: You do not need to be liked by everyone or for everyone to agree with you – it is impossible. The desire to be liked, valued and respected is natural, but that cannot be at the expense of your integrity, values and happiness. Do not look to other people to give you the validation you seek.

• We are stronger than we think: No matter what life throws at you, you are stronger than you can ever imagine. It only takes determination, faith and bravery to stand up for yourself and tackle everything that life throws at you. Nothing is impossible, you will always figure things out eventually.

• Seize the opportunity regardless of the outcome: No matter how meticulous and detailed your plan is, sometimes things do not work out, even if you work hard. That is okay; what matters is that you took your chance and that you gave your best. Often, this comes with learnings and you eventually land somewhere. It is better than not taking your chances and remaining stagnant. We have all of these expectations –predetermined visions of what our ‘ideal’ life will look like – but, all too often, that’s not the reality of the life we end up with. Sometimes, our dreams fail and sometimes we just change our minds mid-course. And sometimes, we have to fail to find the right course or try a few things before we find the right direction.

• Discern and set healthy boundaries: No matter how difficult, it is key to set healthy boundaries especially if you are around toxic people. Mental health is vital and you must be selfish in ensuring that your environment keeps them sane. Sometimes, our comfort zones created by friends and family are toxic to our biggest goals in life. Setting healthy boundaries and sticking to them will pay off in the long run.

What keeps you motivated and going each day?

As terrifying as it may sound, it is the fact that I live once and that death is inevitable. I have to keep pressing towards my goals.