How do engineers work with communities to solve water challenges?

SEASON 03 | EPISODE 42

Listen below:

This special episode of Our Water Connection is part of Podcasthon, a global movement where podcasters spotlight organisations working to make the world better.

To mark the occasion, we’re exploring the work of Engineers Without Borders Australia, an organisation that shows engineering is not just about technical solutions, but about people, partnerships, and long-term impact.

We are joined by Jack Nugent, Senior Manager for International Engineering Programs at EWB, and Meg Cummins, a water engineer at Aurecon who spent a year volunteering in Cambodia.

Together we discuss:

What Engineers Without Borders does
Why community-led engineering matters
Water and sanitation challenges across the Asia–Pacific
What volunteering can teach young engineers
What the water sector can learn from humanitarian engineering

We explored what it really means to engineer with communities rather than for them, and how humanitarian engineering experiences can reshape our thinking about water, development, and the role of engineers in society. This conversation is about listening, collaboration, and designing solutions that truly last.

Get involved

Interested in supporting or learning more about Engineers Without Borders?

Visit: https://www.ewb.org.au

There are many ways to get involved, from volunteering and joining local chapters to supporting their programs.

Guest: Jack Nugent

Jack Nugent is an experienced Humanitarian Engineer and International Development Program Manager with over 10 years of experience, currently serving as the Senior Manager for International Engineering Programs at Engineers Without Borders Australia (EWB). He specializes in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) technologies and infrastructure and is recognized as a strategic thinker and collaborative leader, confident working in complex cross-cultural settings across the Asia/Pacific Region. Throughout his career, Jack has focused on strategic program planning, project management, and capacity building for diverse teams.

Guest: Meg Cummins

Meg Cummins is a water engineer who has worked across Australia and in Cambodia and is currently working at Aurecon. Meg recently took time away from her role to volunteer with Engineers Without Borders in Cambodia for a year, supporting sanitation solutions in challenging environments including communities affected by seasonal flooding, hard ground, and water scarcity. She is also an IWA & Grundfos Youth Action for SDG6 Fellow, researching how immersive humanitarian experiences shape young water professionals and how those skills can be brought back into the Australian water sector. A strong advocate for youth action, Meg has also spoken at the United Nations General Assembly on behalf of young people across the world.