Senior Project Manager Dunya Al-Sammak has been a vital part of Southern Cross Water for over seven years, bringing her engineering expertise, problem-solving skills, and dedication to every project she undertakes.
Originally a civil engineer, she moved from Iraq to New Zealand and Fiji, before finally settling in Australia where she worked in drafting roles while raising her young family. Dunya took on the Project Manager role at Southern Cross Water in 2017, with her responsibilities centred around managing water storage projects from start to finish – including everything from client communication and engineering reviews to fabrication, installation, and final handover.
“I enjoy communicating with clients, councils, and engineers throughout the whole process—no two projects are ever the same, and there is never a dull moment,” she said. Dunya thrives in all aspects of her role, particularly in customising solutions for clients. “Some people find custom projects frustrating, but I love the challenge – it makes it more satisfying to see clients appreciate the end result.”
Dunya’s proudest achievements are working on projects which provide safe drinking water to remote communities. Notably, she managed a project delivering three 5ML potable water tanks for Roxby Downs, as well as similar projects across Australia and internationally in countries like Fiji and Papua New Guinea. “When we get a remote project like this, it’s satisfying to know we’re helping out communities and having a positive impact on people’s livelihoods,” she said.
Southern Cross Water General Manager, Alistair Johnson, describes Dunya as someone who goes above and beyond, tackling every task with unwavering dedication. “She won’t end the day until she has completed everything she needs to do, and she is always ready to help others,” he said. “Her attention to detail is excellent, and she’s grown as she has taken on more complex projects, particularly in tenders and infrastructure.”
Despite stepping into the role without formal project management training, Dunya quickly excelled, prompting the company to support her in recently completing an 18-month Diploma of Project Management. “The course reinforced a lot of what I was already doing, but it gave me new perspectives, particularly around project initiation, planning, and execution, particularly on larger scale projects,” she explains. “I found the troubleshooting and people management aspects really valuable, especially in high-pressure situations on-site.”
Dunya is eager to continue growing, particularly in enhancing Southern Cross Water’s position in the marketplace. “There’s always room for improvement. For instance, transparency in project execution by maintaining clear communication with all stakeholders and for me, good communication at the very early stages of the project is fundamental to ensuring a project’s success,” she said.
When she isn’t at work, Dunya unwinds by painting landscapes, baking traditional Middle Eastern pastries and cakes, and spending time with her husband and two children.
Her high-level communication skills matched with her passion for creativity and precision are part of what makes Dunya such a well-rounded and valued member of the Southern Cross Water team. With a drive for continuous improvement and ability to manage both people and projects, Dunya is set to make an even greater impact in the water storage industry in the years to come.
