In response to external challenges including extreme weather, population growth, aging assets, and a global pandemic, Unitywater initiated a maintenance transformation project in 2021. Drawing on insights from previous projects, a team was assembled comprising a Sponsor, Project Manager, Business Analyst, and a Business Lead. The inclusion of a Business Lead marked a strategic shift, enabling Unitywater to manage succession planning, mitigate the impact of external factors, and facilitate process, people, and technology changes effectively. This approach ensured that Unitywater remained resilient in the face of significant external challenges while advancing towards a proactive maintenance environment.

• Background on Unitywater’s dimensions, operating environment, and key challenges which lead to the formation of the Works Management Uplift Project
• Differentiating the role of a Business Lead, from that of a Product Owner, Project Sponsor, Change Manager or Subject Matter Expert
• The rationale for allocating budget to a Business Lead project resource, and the expected advantages, supported by case studies of projects where a Business Lead was and wasn’t used
• Project benefits, including team culture, expertise enhancement strategic succession planning