A word from The Boss

When Risk Becomes Everyone’s Responsibility

Welcome to our 2022 Winter newsletter!

In this edition, we are excited to release X-Info Connect V6.5, share Tweed Shire Council’s ongoing client success story, introduce a new Wantok who has joined the Mipela team recently, present another X-InFocus tech tip and update of our team’s activities in connecting people with information.

Internal awareness about safety, risk and compliance with regards to the products and services Mipela GeoSolutions offer has been a significant focus internally across all teams in this last quarter. Our annual review of policies and procedures has seen us focus on the concept of the three lines of defence. This concept considers all employees and their leaders constitute the first line of defense, which ensures policy and procedure are understood. The second line of defense, in regular review is formed by the risk management function, which is the systems, controls and automated reporting by exception to ensure policy and procedure cannot fail (monitored and modified as required through our Kamapim continuous improvement process). The Internal Peer Review and training makes up the third line of defence to assess the effectiveness of controls. By highlighting everyone is a part of it, our teams understand their role in these defences, in the safety, risk compliance, risk prevention, and assurance of what we do for our Clients’ to be Responsive, Reliable and Repeatable in our everyday activities. To learn how X-Info Suite can help you manage your risk program contact our Client Success team to find out more.

To close, I would like to introduce our newest Software Engineer in our growing Products team, Arvind Kumar, who is based in Sydney. I would also like to recognise the dozens of long-term valued Clients who make up the extended Mipela family for the recent renewal of their annual contracts, we greatly appreciate your support and thank you for the trust you put in us.

From all the team at Mipela GeoSolutions, stay safe!

Hayden McDonald
Founder and Managing Director

Tweed Shire Council using technology to deliver value to ratepayers

Whilst Tweed Shire Council has adopted new technologies over the past ten years, the Council’s automated response system of choice has been Mipela’s X-Info DBYD suite.

Since 2013 Mipela has looked after the Shire’s protection of its communications, sewerage, water and stormwater assets. Now, with a new three year agreement through to 2025, we are excited to continue providing Council with peace of mind, making sure that enquiries to BYDA are quickly responded to.

The Council’s requirement for a robust response service is not just to protect their assets, but also to make sure that the people breaking ground in the Shire are getting the right information to support their work processes so they get to go home safely at the end of each day.

The Council is really dedicated to its residents and the ongoing Mobility Project, which Elizabeth has been involved in, is just one of many other initiatives that is already having great results.
The Mobility Project has removed paper based applications, spreadsheets and disparate workflows with a fully automated and integrated process. This means that when a client makes a request, for example when they are building a new fence and need the water meter moved, the work is done quickly and efficiently. There is less chance for vital job or customer details to be misplaced. The online application goes straight to the authorised person for approval, the job is assigned to the relevant field operator and the operator can book the job in immediately. Once the job is completed, Council’s property data is updated on the same day. Not only does this process reduce the job time by days, it also ensures accurate and timely communication with customers, transparency of where the job is up to and timely completion of the request.

Working with Tweed Shire Council, it is easy to see the benefits of the Mobility Project and how it will provide better service its community. Congratulation to all those who have worked on this project!

Women in Pipelines Forum (APGA)

Last year two of our Mipela team, Hine Laban and Alana O’Connor participated in the APGA Women’s Leadership program. Due to COVID, this event was held virtually.

In June this year they were able to meet other members of their cohort for a bonus in person session, facilitated by the talented Gretchen Gagel. It was a great opportunity to meet other women in the pipeline industry, including some clients, and to learn about building trust and credibility as leaders.

The following day, the wider Women in Pipelines Forum (WPF) held their first in person event, inconveniently scheduled for the morning after the APGA dinner. After a session on personal branding and how it can be used to advance their careers, the ladies heard from Dr Vanessa Guthrie, who has been a pioneer for women in leadership roles in mining and holds numerous board positions including with Cricket Australia.

Both Hine and Alana made new and established old connections, learnt new skills and are excited to see where the WPF goes in the future!