Carollo Engineers has appointed Jennifer Steffens as digital water technical practice director, strengthening the firm’s capability to deliver data-driven solutions for water infrastructure challenges.
Jennifer Steffens has been appointed digital water technical practice director at Carollo Engineers.
The appointment reflects increasing demand from utilities seeking to translate operational data into actionable intelligence across water, wastewater and stormwater systems. According to Carollo Engineers, the role will focus on supporting utilities in reducing non-revenue water, improving treatment efficiency and extending asset lifespan.
Digital water leadership to support utility modernisation
Steffens brings two decades of experience in digital water strategy and implementation, including operational control systems, asset management, capital planning and regulatory compliance. Her previous roles have included positions at OptiRTC, SUEZ and Xylem, where she worked on deployment strategies and digital adoption programmes across North America.
In her new role, she will guide the technical direction of Carollo’s digital water practice, working with utilities to develop digital roadmaps, apply machine learning for operational optimisation, deploy digital twins for scenario planning and integrate advanced analytics into capital planning processes.
Vinnie Hart, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Technical Practices at Carollo, said the appointment strengthens the firm’s ability to support resilient and efficient water systems.
Steffens said utilities face mounting pressures including ageing infrastructure, regulatory complexity, climate uncertainty and workforce constraints. She noted that digital adoption must align with practical operational needs rather than technology deployment for its own sake.
Growing focus on data-driven water infrastructure
Digital transformation in the water sector increasingly centres on integrating cloud platforms, analytics and artificial intelligence with core engineering practice. Utilities are seeking defensible, transparent data systems to improve operational reliability and long-term investment planning.
The appointment highlights continued investment in digital capability across engineering consultancies as utilities accelerate modernisation programmes.
