Heather Collins: Leading through collaboration

Heather Collins, the 144th president of the American Water Works Association, has built her career and leadership philosophy around a central theme: collaboration. From her early days as an engineering intern to her current role as a senior executive, Collins has championed the power of working together to solve complex water challenges.

“Collaboration is the thread that runs through everything I’ve done,” said Collins, who oversees operations, maintenance and compliance for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. “Whether we’re regulators, utilities, researchers, or community members, we achieve more when we bring diverse perspectives to the table.”

Collins’ journey into the water sector began unexpectedly. Hailing from a family of engineers, she began college by studying aerospace engineering, but as a woman in the field, opportunities were scant. “I started seeing my friends in civil and environmental engineering were having a lot more integrated opportunities than I was in aerospace,” she said.

She landed an internship at a local water district, which opened her eyes to the impact of water on public health and community well-being. That experience, coupled with her mother’s background in communications and advertising, helped shape Collins into a rare blend of technical expert and effective communicator.

Her career has spanned public health regulation, water quality operations, and crisis response. One of her proudest accomplishments was leading collaborative efforts to address groundwater contamination in Southern California in the 1990s. As a public health regulator for the state at the time, Collins worked with petroleum companies and federal agencies to develop and permit treatment technologies that restored potable water supplies — an effort that spanned more than a decade.

“That experience taught me the value of persistence and partnership,” she said. “We had to align science, policy, and community needs to find solutions.”

Collins, who took the helm as AWWA president in June, has been a member for more than 30 years, starting as a student. She credits mentors and colleagues for encouraging her to get involved in committees, conferences, and leadership roles. Her early participation on the Young Professionals Committee and the editorial board of Opflow helped her understand the breadth of AWWA’s mission and the importance of nurturing the next generation of water leaders.

As president, Collins is focused on three key priorities: expanding strategic collaborations beyond the water sector, creating pathways and leadership opportunities for the next generation of water professionals, and advancing public trust in tap water. Each of these goals, she said, requires a collaborative mindset.

“We need to engage with sectors like big tech, agriculture, and pharmaceutical to build a more resilient water future,” she said. “And we must create clear, accessible pathways for people to enter and grow in the water profession.”

Collins envisions AWWA as a central hub for water-related collaboration, connecting entities across disciplines and geographies. She’s particularly passionate about workforce development and sees potential in creating tools that help individuals discover careers in water based on their interests and skills. “I want people to see water not just as a utility, but as a community,” she said. “When we collaborate, we create solutions that are smarter, stronger, and more sustainable.”

To expand partnerships, Collins is looking beyond traditional water sector boundaries. She envisions deeper engagement in sectors that rely heavily on water but may not be fully integrated into water planning and policy discussions. By fostering these connections, she hopes to build a broader coalition that can advocate for sustainable water management and innovation.

It’s also partly why she has championed initiatives like AWWA’s Young Professional Advisors pilot program and encourages members to create inclusive spaces where emerging leaders can thrive. She believes that experienced professionals have a responsibility to guide the next generation.