Sally-Jayne Lilo has been on an upward trajectory since she joined Watercare five years ago.

She started as a faults coordinator at the age of 20 and is now the first female supervisor at Maintenance Services Network (MSN), and the youngest supervisor at 25.

“I learn something new every day as the planned drainage supervisor. I’m lucky to work with so many experienced people who are happy to share their knowledge with me.”

The faults coordinator role may have been her first official job at Watercare, but her introduction to the company was much earlier.

Her mother Nisi managed the faults team and her father Danny worked as an engineer.

Sally-Jayne as a toddler with her mum Nisi.

Now she heads to sites to fix issues and manage crews.

Based at the MSN depot, her role involves an early start.

“I come in every morning and run the crew through the work that’s planned for the day and what’s planned for the subcontractors in terms of planned dig-up and repair work.

“We look after anything and everything in drainage – flushing to CCTV work to dig-up and repairs.”

She successfully juggles work, playing rugby and indoor netball and parenting her six-year-old daughter.

“Being a working mum is no joke. My parents and grandparents are really supportive, especially around childcare.”

Sally-Jayne with her six-year-old daughter.

Being at Watercare has given her a taste of different roles, including working in the faults team and dispatch, but MSN is her favourite place to be.  

“I had an awesome experience at Newmarket and was sad to leave, but this is something I genuinely enjoy. I can be myself here. I’m so passionate about this business as a whole.”

Sally-Jayne spends an average of three days a week in the field and two days in the office.

“I love being on the ground where the action happens and being part of the solution in the field.”

Being a supervisor involves wearing many different hats.

“Sometimes you’re a field crew member, a customer liaison officer, or reporting to head office in corporate meetings. But for me, in a nutshell, my job is to serve the field crew day to day.”

A recent situation saw her on site in Otahuhu where a cavity, or tomo, had formed in a busy road.

“Since it was in a high-traffic area and required emergency response, I was on site in 10 minutes and had already alerted our crew to bring the necessary equipment, like plates etc. to cover up the hole temporarily.”

The issue was a sewer line running across the road underneath a daycare facility that connects to the main sewer – the connection between the sewer line and the sewer chamber wall was not sealed.

Over time, seepage from the unsealed connection may have eroded the soil under the road, forming the tomo.

Sally-Jayne says they had an opportunity to fix it then and there. "I was able to sort out the permits for confined space entry by 5pm and by 6pm, our crew had begun the repairs."

Thanks to the team effort, the problem was fixed and the road temporarily reinstated within hours.

She says the crews she works with are always keen to help, even on weekends.

“I have so much respect for the guys and appreciate the work they do. They are the core of our operations and provide exceptional service to our communities.”