The recognition came at WaterAble’s annual general meeting, acknowledging Mr Hughan's significant contributions since the network's formation in 2020.
WaterAble partners with corporations across the water industry to support people with disability, providing insights on workplace accessibility and inclusivity. Mr Hughan served as WaterAble's chair in 2021.
Current WaterAble chair Anita McKenzie was thrilled to present Mr Hughan with the recognition, praising his impact.
“It’s been inspiring to see the improvements many of our partners have made to disability inclusivity in their workplace and the water industry more broadly,” she said.
“Donald has been instrumental in driving this change.
“His contributions to WaterAble in the various roles he has held have been invaluable, and a life membership is a fitting recognition of his work.”
Mr Hughan expressed gratitude for his experience with WaterAble and acknowledged the network’s expansion beyond Victoria to a national framework as a significant achievement.
“It’s been an amazing experience working with the other committee members to improve inclusivity in the water industry,” he said.
“One of the highlights has been seeing the network expand beyond Victoria and moving to a national framework, where we now have partners from across Australia.
“I’m very grateful for the dedication and support of my fellow WaterAble committee members. I also appreciate the support of GMW, who have been a partner of WaterAble from the start and have empowered me to be involved in the network.”
