Less about the plan, more about the planning

With more than two decades of water policy and operational experience in the Murray-Darling Basin, Mike Peat brings some serious clout to his new role at Watertrust.

But rather than arriving with a plan, Mike is approaching the role with deliberate care: “I’m listening first. You can’t build something meaningful without hearing what people want, and need, to say.”

Mike has deep networks and long-standing relationships across governments, communities, and industry which give him a rare ability to convene the right people, at the right time, to explore what’s possible.

“Too often, good ideas are delivered in isolation. What excites me about Watertrust is the chance to coordinate efforts, align programs, and use deliberative processes to unlock better outcomes for communities, for the environment, and governments.”

For Mike, this work is very much about delivering integrated outcomes and making sure different perspectives are part of the conversation from the start.

“The real challenge is pulling it all together – environment, economy, community, culture,” Mike says. “And that’s not something you can do from a desk. It takes shared effort and genuine trust.”

He’s cautious not to overpromise before reconnecting with stakeholders, particularly in the northern Murray-Darling Basin where much of his attention is currently focused.

“The context is changing in terms of climate, policy and expectations. It’s going to take more flexible thinking and more innovative approaches. If we can get the conditions right, I believe people are ready to collaborate to overcome our shared water challenges.”

Call Mike to find out more: 0409 969 936