Our Current Field Volunteers
EWB's success rests on the efforts of our dedicated management staff and volunteers. Take the next step, volunteer with EWB!
Field volunteers
Katie Selby-Smith - Water Engineer - Practical Action Sri Lanka 
Katie has a degree in Environmental Engineer and will be working with Practical Action on the east coast of Sri Lanka. Since completing her degree Katie left New Zealand and has lived in Mexico, Germany and Peru, picking up Spanish and surviving on her cooking skills.
After a visit to Sri Lanka and time with another EWB volunteer in Cambodia, it felt like serendipity to find the role with Practical Action.
The role involves hydraulic modeling of the dam and lagoon system to better utilise the infrastructure for flood protection, water storage and supply. A keen gardener, a highlight of the role will be working with the Agricultural Department and local farmers towards crop management.
Amanda Binks - Water Safety Planning - Nepal Water for Health, Nepal 
Amanda is working with Nepal Water for Health (NEWAH) to build capacity on issues relating to climate change and its impacts on WASH (among other things!). She has seen enough of centralised approaches for the moment, and is looking forward to getting her hands a bit dirty and to gaining a better appreciation of community management issues for WASH services. She is also very excited to learn Nepali, because Devanagari is just so beautiful (she's already practicing writing the vowels on her meeting minutes at work...)
Amanda is an Environmental Engineer from beautiful Mackay in sunny North Queensland, with 3 years of experience in Integrated Water Management consulting, and some sporadic experience in remote Australian infrastructure services. She has a dual degree in Environmental Engineering and Mandarin Chinese (and suite of impressively failed law subjects). She has been an active EWB member since 2007 and couldn't imagine a bunch of more inspiring people.
Among other things, Amanda loves a good chat, and would happily welcome any help, questions, collaboration or general opinions from anyone with an interest in the project.
Dani Barrington - Water Safety Planning - Nepal Water for Health, Nepal
Dani is an environmental engineer who is in the final stages of completing her PhD dissertation. Her work focuses on risk assessment and wastewater treatment. As well as studying for her PhD, she has been heavily involved in the WA Chapter of EWB for the past 4 years. In Nepal Dani will be working with the NGO Nepal Water for Health (NEWAH) as a Water Safety Planning Engineer. She will be located in Bharatpur, 50km west of Kathmandu, and is looking forward to trying to spot some tigers and rhinos in Chitwan National Park.
Alec Leonello - Solar PV Curriculum Development, Nepal
Alec will be working with the Jyoti vocational training centre in Pokhara, Nepal. Over the next 10 months Alec will be helping young Nepalis from disadvantaged backgrounds to learn new skills in the solar/electrical trade.
After completing a degree in media studies at Deakin University in Melbourne, Alec worked for a variety of media companies, including teaching web site design. In 2008 Alec took a completely different path, moving to Canberra to complete an electrical apprenticeship at the Canberra Institute of Technology. Alec has since been working on solar power installations throughout the ACT and rural NSW.
One of Alec’s passions is travelling. In recent years he has visited Papua New Guinea, India and Guatemala.
Rob Hughes -Sanitation and Project Management Advisor - Live & Learn Environmental Education, Cambodia, Cambodia
Rob is working with Live & Learn Environmental Education in Cambodia, as a sanitation and project management adviser. His role is focused on developing low-cost appropriate sanitation solutions for floating communities, but increasingly involves renewable energy, agriculture, and income generation activities. This is Rob’s second EWB placement, having previously worked with RDI on ceramic water filters, also in Cambodia. Rob has spent a number of years balancing engineering and activism, and is glad to be in Cambodia with EWB to facilitate the positive side of engineering and be a catalyst for serious positive change in the world. He loves nature and is glad to get to work on the great Tonle Sap lake, but wants to spend more time cycling, diving, and visiting remote parts.
Catherine Ganley - Quality Manager - East Meets West Foundation, Vietnam 
Catherine departed Melbourne in mid-January 2010 to be based in Hanoi with the East Meets West Foundation as a Quality Manager. Catherine graduated from the ANU with degrees in mechanical engineering and economics. Most recently she has been employed at Hatch as a project engineer, as well as volunteering for the EWB national office! Catherine is already enjoying regular Wednesday night street food with other volunteers in Hanoi.
Kelvin Au - Civil Engineering Construction / Housing advisor - Habitat for Humanity Cambodia, Cambodia
I completed my Bachelor in Engineering in University of Auckland several years ago and had been working as a civil engineer for Palmerston North City Council since. My role changed several times since I started at the Council, at the moment my job involves design and contract administration of various roading and drainage projects. I am also the team leader for the Red Cross response team (which is trained to carry out Urban Search and Rescue and welfare tasks in emergency situation), and crew leader for the Palmerston North Rural Fire Authority.
I love being outdoor and getting my hands dirty. In my spare time, you could find me in some back country road on my bike or running in the bush or snowboarding up in the mountain. Otherwise I could be found at the end of a shovel or behind a excavator and playing with dirt.
Wilfred Waters - GIS Mapping and Data Management Advisor - Sahmakum Teang Tnaut, Cambodia
Wil Waters has degrees in psychology and geographic information systems and is in the final throes of publishing his first scientific paper. He has performed disability support pension assessments with his psych quals and made many a map with his GIS skills. Realising there is more to life than helping gas pipeline projects to rule the world, he is now volunteering for Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT) in Phnom Penh. His focus is on fostering better research, analysis and mapping skills amongst the staff of STT as they seek to improve the land rights of those in marginalised communities.
Bradley Abbott - Civil Engineering Curriculum Development Advisor - Dili Institute of Technology, Timor-Leste 
Brad Abbott is a Mechanical Engineer originally from America and graduated from the University of Texas. Brad has a diverse set of professional experiences which includes commercial and industrial energy services, natural gas processing and storage and sustainability oriented development work. Brad's primary area of experience is working in the development and delivery of energy conservation and management services to markets in the US, Japan and Australia. Brad has over 11 years of professional experience and has previously worked as a volunteer with NGOs in Indonesia through the AUSAID sponsored VIDA program. Brad currently lives in Dili Timor-Leste with his wife who works with Oxfam Australia. Brad is a keen cyclist and enjoys the rewards of making connections with people through new projects and interesting challenges.
Lily Yap - District Water Supply Training Advisor - Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Program, Timor-Leste
Lily developed a passion for humanitarian aid during her university studies in Civil Engineering and her travels to Central America. After completing her degree, she went to Bolivia and worked with Quaker Bolivia Link were she assisted local engineers in the design of water systems to deliver water to highly isolated communities in the mountains. After returning to Australia, she went to work at City West Water assisting local councils and developers with the implementation of alternative water use in buildings and open spaces. Lily recently went back to university to study her masters in International Crisis Management. She enjoys spending her time backpacking, learning languages, painting, snowboarding (badly), diving (not great either) and her new hobby photography. Lily is looking forward to working in East Timor (as this will be the first time she has returned back there since migrating to Australia with her family 18 years ago) and working with Engineers Without Borders.
Ajay Chouhan - Ceramic Water Filter Technical Support Officer - Resource Development International, Cambodia
Ajay will be working alongside Resources Development International (RDI) in Cambodia as a Technical Support Officeer to develop and implement ceramic water filter design that has the aim of providing a cost effective and portable means of treating water that is often contaminated and leads to a range of health condition in the community.
I have lived in Australia for about 11 years, prior to which I grew up in Zimbabwe. I came to Australia to study Biomedical Engineering and have been working as a Mechanical Engineer for a consulting firm in the buildings industry ever since.
I am excited at the opportunities to contribute to this worthy cause and cross cultural experience that awaits. I hope to perpetuate knowledge sharing through EWB during my placement and perhaps spread effective practices to other parts of the world like Zimbabwe! My interests and hobbies include travel, film, music, cycling and of course, community development.
Phuong Tang - Climate Change Adaptation Advisor - Habitat for Humanity (HFHC), Vietnam
Phuong is based on Hanoi and working with Habitat for Humanity Vietnam. Her role is to integrate climate change adaptation into Habitat's programs, so that vulnerable households are better equipped to cope with the changes in the natural environment around them. Phuong has a Bachelor in Engineering (Mechatronics) and Computer Science, and Masters in Environment. She is interested in bridging cultures, disciplines and sectors to promote sustainable development.
James Oakley - WatSan Advisor - Rain Water Cambodia (RWC), Cambodia
My name is James Oakley and I will be working with Rainwater Cambodia as a water, sanitation and hygiene advisor. After 5 years of travel post high school I had seen enough of the developing world to want to try and make a difference in it somehow, so I went and studied to be an engineer and now EWB is giving me an opportunity to work with Rainwater Cambodia, in Cambodia for twelve months in 2011, doing just this. I have an obsession for surfing, making surfboards, snowboarding, Yoga and watching good movies. I can grow a mean tomato, speak French and love meeting new people.
Alex Ford - Cambodia & Vietnam Field Officer - EWB, Cambodia
Alex is our fantastic SE Asia Field Officer based in Cambodia, who looks after our volunteers and community partners throughout South East Asia. Alex loves travelling, meeting interesting people, learning about different cultures, sampling exotic foods and having new and exciting experiences. Alex worked for Australian Government for four years before working in community development projects in Cambodia over the last few years. She is currently studying her Masters in international education, and has a background in adult education and training, Asian languages and culture, and business management.
Matt Drysdale - WASH Field Support Officer - Plan TL, Timor Leste
Matt will be making the move further north from his home in Darwin and will be spending the next 12 months working for Plan Timor-Leste as a WASH Field Officer. In the role he will be based in the far eastern province of Timor-Leste in the community of Los Palos, around 6 hours drive from Dili. Working with Plan TL, Matt will be supporting local NGO partner field staff to undertake technical surveys, hydraulic analysis and quality construction works on both water supply and sanitation facilities. An Environmental Engineer with over 6 years experience in the civil water and sanitation field, Matt is longing to get away from the corporate engineering style work and thinks the hills of Timor-Leste will be the answer. "The next 12 months will give me ample opportunity to play guitar, ride a bike in the hills and directly work with people... tops!"
Kristian Horvath - East Timor Field Officer - EWB, Timor Leste
My name is Kristian and I will be the new Field Officer for East Timor. My role will be looking after our volunteers and partner organiations in country. I have been a member of EWB for a number years including being the SEQ president for 2 years. After graduating as a chemical engineer from RMIT in Melbourne I lived and worked in Germany and travelled Asia. Since then I have been based in Brisbane working for a chemicals company. I enjoy anything outdoors, AFL (keen Geelong supporter), social sports (mixed netball) and love cooking. I like trying new things, expoloring new cultures, meeting new poeple and learning languages.
Tony Marx - Urban Garden Planning Advisor - Habitat for Humanity Cambodia, Battambang, Cambodia
I came across EWB some months ago while searching for opportunities to volunteer overseas. What a great organisation! The project is a major government initiative, supported by the World Bank, with the aim of improving land rights and living conditions for squatter families.
I have had a varied career as a civil engineer, town planner, manager, land developer, small business owner, builder, farmer, activist, homesteader and father. I migrated from Sydney to Canada in 1967 (to ski!) and from there went with partner Robyn for two years to volunteer in Tanzania. Working on water supplies around Mount Kilimanjaro was very interesting, but the altitude beat me when I tried to climb the mountain! In the 1970s I worked for the NSW Planning Department and the Papua New Guinea Works Department in Port Moresby. In 1980, we “dropped out” to live on a farm near Coonabarabran, adjoining the Warrumbungle National Park in NSW, and we raised our two daughters there. In developing farms, businesses and urban property, I have always tried to follow the principles of sustainability, such as those espoused by permaculture, and the “small is beautiful” philosophy.
With family responsibilities reduced, I am looking forward to this assignment, and hope I will be able to use my broad life experience to help build the capacity of Habitat for Humanity staff in Battambang. Outside work, I enjoy reading, listening to Radio National, a good political discussion, gardening, travelling (particularly on foot), skiing and playing the clarinet.