On the job: Chief operations officer Tom Wallace

For chief operations officer Tom Wallace, a lifelong passion for fly fishing has shaped not only his hobbies, but the entire trajectory of his career.

Raised in rural south‑west Scotland, Tom spent his childhood exploring the outdoors. He played golf and football, but his favourite days were those spent knee‑deep in the region’s lochs and rivers, casting for trout. That early connection to waterways would later inspire his commitment to protecting and improving them.

Moving to Glasgow to study environmental chemistry was a major shift.

“I’d probably only been to the city three times in my life at that point, so it was a bit of a shock,” he says.

After graduating, he took a role in an Edinburgh pharmaceutical laboratory. It didn’t take long to realise it wasn’t the right fit. “I was analysing actives and excipients in drugs. But it was like following a cookbook for a chemist – it was boring as. I thought: ‘I didn’t come to uni to do this’. I wanted something that could let me see and help the great outdoors.”

He left after three months and enrolled at Cranfield School of Water Sciences, specialising in water and wastewater treatment.

“I wanted to do something to help the rivers be as good as they could be. And that’s still what drives me.”

A career built on improving water systems

Tom joined Wessex Water as a process scientist and spent nearly 15 years with the organisation, including a decade as water production manager in Somerset.

But the pull of New Zealand – and our world‑renowned fly fishing – eventually proved too strong to ignore. After visiting on holiday, Tom relocated and joined Dunedin City Council as water and wastewater operations manager.

“That was quite eye‑opening. It’s a beautiful part of the world, and it was very laid back. But I feel like I always need to be pushing at something. I don’t really do laid back.”

Leadership through drought and reform

In 2020, Tom moved to Auckland’s water and wastewater provider Watercare, arriving just as Covid‑19 coincided with a record‑breaking drought.

“It was a crazy time. As the southern water production manager, I was responsible for the two biggest water treatment plants in the country – Ardmore and Tuakau.”

Auckland faced water restrictions for the first time in 25 years, and Watercare accelerated major infrastructure projects to boost supply.

“We built a whole new water treatment plant capable of producing 50 million litres a day in 13 months, reinstated Pukekohe Water Treatment Plant, and built a new plant in Papakura. We were designing and building at the same time – and my role was to ensure what was built would ultimately be fit for our team to operate.”

Tom later became operations lead for the establishment phase of the proposed Auckland–Northland three waters entity.

“That was highly exhilarating. I got to meet loads of new people and try new things, while trying to make things better for our communities and the environment.”

But the secondment was cut short when there was a change in government, and Labour’s water reform was replaced with Local Water Done Well.

Joining Waikato Waters

When the chief operations officer role came up at Waikato Waters, the opportunity to help shape a new organisation from the ground up was a major drawcard.

“It’s rare to get the chance to help build something from scratch, where it’s badly needed.”

And yes – fly fishing played a part too. “It’s pretty close to the fly fishing hot spots of Rotorua and Taupō, so that was definitely part of the appeal.”

For Tom, the environmental purpose of the organisation is deeply personal.

“We are an environmental services organisation – we take from the environment and we give back to the environment, without leaving too much of a trace. And being a keen fisherman, that’s incredibly important to me.”

Setting the foundations

In his first month, Tom has focused on visiting sites, meeting teams, and understanding local challenges and opportunities. He says the organisation is well‑placed to deliver strong outcomes for the region.

“There is a genuine sense of excitement, pride, and motivation to deliver the best possible outcomes for our communities.”

Tom and his leadership team are now developing a multi‑year operational plan. The priorities are clear: keeping people safe, keeping communities safe, and protecting the environment.

“We’re identifying areas where we’re doing well, and prioritising areas for improvement. We know we can’t do everything at once, but our plan will ensure health and safety, compliance with drinking water standards and resource consents, people, and the environment are at the very top of the list.

“It’ll be nice to feel we’ve made a difference and made it better.”