Olivia Newman
General Manager – Major Projects
Joined CPM May 2020
Olivia is an accomplished, results-driven project and program manager/director in the area of major capital infrastructure delivery and operations. With 25+ years of experience, she is a versatile, highly adaptable, and accomplished project professional with a proven track record in the delivery and operational management of capital infrastructure within the municipal, utility, rail, and bulk water sectors.
Olivia has a strong operational and delivery background with expertise in asset management, program and project management, procurement, and contracting administration. Bringing a broad business perspective, she identifies and delineates discussions that impact decision-making surrounding critical business issues.
With extensive experience within the government sector across Federal, State, and Local levels, Olivia has an in-depth knowledge of the client’s requirements, including the ability to navigate the political landscape associated with project delivery. She is an effective communicator with the ability to establish and maintain strong working relationships with peers, Board members, industry specialists and stakeholders including customers, government representatives and contractors.
What drew you to your career?
I was initially offered a Bachelor of Tourism degree but was lucky enough to gain a traineeship as a Trainee Tracer at a local council, so as a 17 year old thought earning money was a better option. I quickly learned that I loved the engineering side and took the initiative to undertake an engineering degree. Council offered me a cadetship, and I’ve been around building and construction ever since – which is nearly 30 years.
What is your favourite part of your role?
I love having the ability to influence change, to be able to take action, get results and be proud of the achievement. At the end of each week we can reflect and know we actually did something and made a difference – and at the end of the project we have delivered something tangible that has a major social impact and benefit.
I also love that we don’t do it alone – it’s all teamwork, and working and nurturing a great team is one of my favourite aspects of my work.
What does “unlocking hidden value” mean to you?
To me, unlocking hidden value means being able to identify opportunities and bring a different lens to an organisation based on our skills and experience, which helps them achieve their goals. It’s about the value within the business and the value within the team.
What is your proudest achievement, greatest learning?
It’s hard to pinpoint one thing in a career of nearly 30 years. But I’m proud of having the ability and opportunity to build great teams that deliver great outcomes. There are a handful of people that I’ve worked with 3 or 4 times, and I’m proud of the fact that they want to come back and work with me over different organisations and projects. I’m also proud of being able to achieve what I have in my career while raising 3 kids and managing a household and family.
My greatest learning is the value of self-awareness – continually learning and understanding how I work, and adapting that to suit each team I work with to get the best from us all.
What are your passions, hobbies, interests outside of work?
I love going to the gym, being active and social. One of my greatest passions is seeing my kids excel at what they do and supporting them as they do it. I also have half a green thumb and enjoy working in the garden on our property.