We recently spoke with Andrea van de Water, Learning and Development Partner at the City of Marion, to hear more about her role and interest in the Network.

What is your role and how long have you been in local government?

I’m the Learning and Development Partner at the City of Marion, where I support leadership growth and organisational learning across the council. I’ve worked at the City of Marion for the past eight years, and prior to local government I worked with Zoos SA. I really enjoy the people-focused nature of local government and the opportunity to make a positive impact across the organisation.

What do you love about your role?

What I love most is helping people grow and seeing the impact that learning and development can have on individuals, teams and the organisation as a whole. I enjoy supporting leaders through challenges, building capability and creating opportunities for people to thrive. I love being part of the Local Government Management Challenge; it is a great program offering employees an experience to develop their skills and relationships across council. I especially loved mentoring the City of Marion Challenge Teams and seeing "CoM Watch" and "Marion at First Sight" go on to win the program in 2024 and 2026. This has been a highlight for me, and it was incredibly rewarding to support their development and watch their hard work recognised.

What’s the most beneficial aspect of being a member of the Business Performance and Improvement Network?

The Network provides a fantastic opportunity to connect with others across local government, share ideas and learn from different perspectives and experiences. It’s valuable to hear how other councils are approaching similar challenges and to take away practical ideas and inspiration that can be applied within City of Marion - collaboration and connection leads to continuous improvement.

What’s your favourite performance or improvement work/life hack?

Focus on progress, not perfection. Small, practical improvements over time often create the biggest long-term impact. I’m also a big believer in simplifying processes - if something is consistently difficult or creating frustration, there’s usually an opportunity to improve the system rather than expecting people to work harder around it.

What do you do with yourself in your spare time?

Outside of work, I love taking my dog Poppy to agility classes. It’s fantastic enrichment for her and a great way to keep me active as well! My time at Zoos SA also reflects my lifelong love of animals, which is still a big part of who I am today.