End of Year Review 2025 - By Claire Johnston, General Manager
If 2024 was the year an overconfident ChatGPT wrote the script, then 2025 was the year AI decided to become a project manager, deploying digital transformations, restructuring teams, and launching new products with the unwavering confidence of someone who's never actually had to manage stakeholder expectations or submit a tender at 4:59pm on a Friday.
The result? A year of profound change that occasionally felt like trying to upgrade your treatment system whilst it's still online and treating peak flows. Ambitious? Absolutely. Slightly chaotic? Perhaps. But ultimately successful? Without question.
Key Highlights from 2025:
- Digital Transformation: We embraced the future, bringing data driven decision making to our operations. Because if there's one thing better than treating stormwater, it's being able to prove we're treating it brilliantly with dashboards and analytics.
- Engineering Excellence Evolved: Our engineering restructure separated Technical/R&D from Design functions, creating dedicated leadership and expertise in both areas. This strategic shift positions us perfectly for the innovation and delivery excellence that 2026 demands.
- Filterra® Bioscape® Momentum Building: While Filterra Bioscape installations continued their steady growth throughout 2025, we're positioned for an exciting acceleration in 2026. Green Infrastructure isn't just our focus, it's rapidly becoming the industry standard, and we're leading that charge.
- People and Growth: From welcoming new team members to celebrating promotions and navigating the inevitable changes that growth brings, our people remained our greatest asset. Their resilience, expertise, and commitment kept us moving forward even when the path wasn't always clear.
- Community Collaboration: Projects saw a focus on community engagement highlighting our commitment to resilient communities and local presence, bringing green infrastructure solutions to projects that truly matter to New Zealanders.
- Project Pipeline Expansion: Despite economic headwinds and industry challenges, our project pipeline grew. From community focused alliance projects to technical innovations, we're entering 2026 with momentum and opportunity.
Looking to 2026:
As we turn the page to a new year, Filterra® Bioscape® technology takes centre stage. The foundations we've laid in digital transformation, team capability, and green infrastructure expertise position us perfectly for growth and impact.
To our team, thank you for navigating change with professionalism, for your expertise, and for your unwavering commitment to excellence.
To our clients and partners, thank you for your trust, your collaboration, and for joining us in the vital work of protecting and enhancing our water resources. Together, we're building more resilient, sustainable communities.
As we close 2025, we wish you those gifts that transcend budgets and business plans:
May your holidays be filled with rest and restoration, your summer sparkle with joy, and may the warmth of family, friends, and genuine connection surround you over the festive season.
Here's to a 2026 where green infrastructure flourishes, innovation thrives, and stormwater receives the recognition and investment it truly deserves.
Happy Holidays and a wonderful New Year!
Claire Johnston
Group General Manager
Stormwater360
