Great People at GWA

History + Innovation + People

GWA Group has a long history of dedication to innovation which goes all the way back to 1886. We are proud of our Australian and New Zealand heritage, innovative spirit, iconic market-leading brands such as Caroma, Methven, Dorf, and Clark, and importantly - our inclusive culture. We're committed to creating an environment where our people can bring their true selves to work and have the opportunity to thrive and grow. We embrace diversity, nurture inclusivity and prioritise wellbeing for a truly caring culture which is embodied by our cultural pillars: We are One Team, We are Customer Focused, and We Care for Each Other. We live these values daily, to us they are more than just words, they are our way of life.

Water Sustainability

Our commitment to water sustainability, customer first values, and community engagement creates a ripple effect of positive impact - we design our products with the goal of protecting essential water resources for future generations. 

With a focus on water conservation, our team of experts is committed to creating innovative, high-quality solutions for varied markets including residential and commercial spaces that support and promote sustainability.

Some of our best-known innovations include:

• The first one-piece plastic cistern which Caroma produced in 1956.
• The world-first dual-flush toilet developed by Caroma in 1980 (which saved approx. 32,000 litres of water per household due to change in full flush/ half flush technology).
• FastFlow®, a unique technology patented by Methven in 1995 to solve unequal water pressure in homes.
• Satinjet®, a luxurious showering experience developed by Methven in 2004 using colliding twin jets of water which creates optimum water droplet size and pressure, with over 300,000 droplets per second. The result is an immersive, full-body shower sensation that transforms your regular shower into an experience like no other.
• Smartflush® technology by Caroma, which in 2005 won the Australian International Design Award and Home Beautiful Product of the Year and reduces water usage to 4.5 litres per full flush.
• AuraJet® launched by Methven in 2015 which delivered our most advanced, invigorating shower experience ever.
• Smart Command®, a comprehensive intelligent solution for commercial bathrooms which Caroma launched in 2018. These intuitive products incorporate the latest in touch-free technology enabling building managers to monitor water use in real time and make smarter decisions that reduce maintenance costs and improve hygiene and up time.
• VJet® launched by Methven in 2018 allowing you to activate a seamless spray transition from a firm, invigorating shower spray to a gentle enveloping warmth.

Our People

We recently caught up with Simone Pappas , our Head of Application and End User Computing, who is also the recipient of the 2024 CEO Award! Simone has had an incredible experience at GWA, so we asked her about her time with the company, what keeps her motivated, and her reaction when she learnt she had won the award.

Looking back on your time at GWA, what has been the most rewarding part of your journey with the company? 

My journey at GWA has been incredibly rewarding, thanks to our innovative and passionate teams!

Transitioning from a career in Finance and Operations to joining our GWA Tech team has been an amazing opportunity. As Head of Applications and End User Computing, I am proud to work with a team of smart problem solvers dedicated to delivering the best solutions for our customers and teams. Technology is the foundation of GWA, and I am honoured to be part of a team that helps develop our industry-leading products, digital solutions, and superior customer services. 

Witnessing our wider teams' success with continuous improvement programs and our Customer First priorities has been equally rewarding. Our Scaled Agile framework has transformed how we prioritise, plan, and visualise our work at GWA. Watching our Agile teams showcase their customer improvements at our demo events has been an absolute joy! Our talented and hilariously competitive teams at GWA always strive for the best customer improvements every month!

What is it about working at GWA that you enjoy the most and keeps you motivated?

When I reflect on what I enjoy the most about working at GWA, a few key elements stand out that truly keep me motivated every single day.

First and foremost, I am constantly motivated by our strong ambition and fast pace. At GWA, we are never standing still. Our leaders are always looking for ways to lift their teams, and we are continuously challenged with strategic programs and new projects. This dynamic environment pushes us all to get out of our comfort zones and embrace a growth mindset.  

One of the best things about working at GWA is the multiple development opportunities available to us. We have excellent learning and development programs that really push us to achieve excellence.

Our dedication to innovation and high-quality solutions is incredibly motivating. I feel a strong sense of pride when our teams are recognised on the world stage for our innovative products and services. Our recent Good Design Award for our Caroma Contura Collection of premium bathroom products is a great example of this! 

But what truly drives me is the positive results we achieve for our customers and teams. Whether it be positive feedback on a new product or service, or continuous improvement in our operational metrics, seeing our teams proud of the work they are doing fills me with immense pride. This culture of continuous improvement is inspiring and drives me every day. 

How did you feel when you first found out you had won the CEO award?

When our CEO, Urs Meyerhans, called to tell me I had won the CEO award, I was very surprised! There were many emotions – nervous, anxious, and happy all at once! But most of all, I felt incredibly proud. So many amazing people in our business deserved this award, and I can only imagine how tough the decision must have been! 

But honestly, this award belongs to my fantastic team. They're the real brains behind all our achievements, and I continue to learn from them every single day.

I'm also super grateful to work for an organisation like GWA that truly values team recognition. Whether it's for living our cultural values, disciplined execution of our objectives, or just giving a shoutout to colleagues for their help, there's always a forum to recognize our people involved.

For those considering a career at GWA, what advice would you give them about joining the company and succeeding here? 

At GWA, we are all about building great teams and continuously innovating our products and services.

To succeed at GWA my advice would be to embrace new learning opportunities and don't be afraid to take on new challenges. We have many exciting programs centered around operational excellence, our products, technology and our Customer First priorities that will keep you highly engaged. We are a disciplined organisation but we also know how to inject fun into our ways of working!  You can expect teams that seek customer feedback, love to collaborate and share ideas and celebrate their success together!

And when you join GWA, you will also notice that our people are obsessed with our products and innovations. It won’t be long before you start noticing our market leading bathroom products everywhere you go, and you'll be excited to point them out to your friends and family! Most importantly, we care deeply about our impact on the environment and sustainable water solutions for bathrooms. There are many passionate people here ready to help you learn more about our sustainable bathroom products – all you need to do is ask!

Interested in joining us?

We can’t wait to meet you! All our roles are advertised on our Careers Page, and you can also find them here on LinkedIn and on Seek.

See a role but not sure you ‘tick all the boxes’? Don’t let that put you off applying - we’re always keen to hear from enthusiastic, talented people and we truly value passion, potential, and a willingness to learn.