Member Spotlight

Keith Muller, Senior Director of Product Management & Engineering – Autodesk

Autodesk is a global leader in design and engineering software, empowering professionals across architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing and media. Within this ecosystem, Autodesk Water Infrastructure Solutions is focused on transforming how water infrastructure is planned, designed, operated and optimised.

With our water solutions and our integrations with key partners like Esri, we enable utilities, consultants, and asset owners to model, simulate, plan, and operate complex water and wastewater systems. We are pioneering AI and cloud platforms that break down silos, enabling real-time collaboration across organisations and disciplines. By integrating hydraulic modeling, live data, and decision support, Autodesk water solutions help customers improve resilience, efficiency, and sustainability in water management.

Many utilities prioritise investing in new technologies, however your work shows that meaningful progress often comes from cross-functional collaboration. Can you share a moment where strong collaboration, not just a digital tool, led to a breakthrough?

Collaboration has always been the real driver of progress in the water sector. Tools and technology matter, but they’re only effective when they bring people together to tackle shared challenges. When engineers, consultants, and utilities collaborate openly, they unlock new ways of thinking and deliver solutions that wouldn’t emerge in isolation.across teams and organisations. It’s a one-to-many, bidirectional approach that’s changing how projects are delivered.
From my own experience working on large water and wastewater systems in cities like New York, I’ve seen how collaboration consistently sparks creativity and problem solving. It’s not just about the systems or models being used. It’s about uniting the right people to focus on the right problems.

The theme of this year’s SWAN APAC Workshop is “The Digital Utility Tipping Point: Aligning People, Technology and Policy.” From your perspective, what’s the biggest challenge, and greatest opportunity, in bringing those three forces into alignment?

The biggest challenge is that people, technology, and policy often move at different speeds. Technology evolves rapidly; new digital tools, advanced modeling, and real-time data capabilities are available now. However, people and policy take longer to adapt. Utilities need time to build trust in new systems,  upskill their teams, and shift from reactive to data-driven mindsets. Policy makers, meanwhile, must ensure that regulations keep pace with innovation while still prioritising safety, equity, and long-term resilience. That gap in speed can slow progress, even when the technology is ready.

The opportunity is in using digital platforms not just to automate, but to connect. When engineers, operators, planners, and regulators can engage with the same trusted data and models, decision-making improves and alignment becomes possible

We’ve seen this in practice with  SA Water. The dynamic operational models allow teams to simulate “what-if” scenarios for planned outages, treatment plant failures, or emergency response 

By creating a shared environment for operations and planning teams, collaboration strengthens, risks are reduced, and trust in the models grows over time. The tipping point comes when technology is no longer just a tool; it becomes a bridge, helping people and policies work together more effectively.

Autodesk’s collaboration with SA Water highlights how digital decision support systems can drive real-world outcomes. What’s one common misconception utilities have about digital twins or operational models, and how would you challenge it?

Digital twins are better understood as dynamic decision support systems. They don’t just show what is happening; they help explain why it’s happening and what might happen next. By integrating live data, robust hydraulic modeling, and predictive simulation, these systems empower utilities to test “what-if” scenarios, anticipate risks, and make proactive decisions.

That’s exactly what SA Water has demonstrated. Their Network Operational Models, powered by live telemetry and demand forecasts, allow them to plan for treatment plant failures, optimise outage management, and even simulate complex incident responses. These are not abstract exercises, they are operational decisions that ensure safe, efficient, and reliable service delivery for 1.8 million customers in South Australia.

The real shift is moving from “digital twin as visualisation” to “digital twin as an engine for operational intelligence.” Once utilities take that step, they unlock measurable outcomes:better collaboration, reduced operational risks, and stronger customer resilience.

Your career has spanned product development, innovation, and now digital water solutions at scale. What advice would you give to early-career professionals trying to carve out a path that bridges both technical and strategic roles?

My advice is simple.  Get your hands dirty. Spend time with operators, field crews, and people who see the system from a completely different angle. It is easy to get stuck in an ivory tower, focusing only on designs or technology from a distance. Real insight comes from being close to the work.

Some of the most rewarding work I have done was in large cities like New York, where water and wastewater systems are vast and complex with literally hundreds of years of history. Working in those environments teaches you how to listen, adapt and solve problems creatively. It is not just about mastering tools, it is about learning how to work with people, navigate constraints and drive change.

At Autodesk, we encourage our teams to work across disciplines. Engineers collaborate with product managers, researchers with designers, and everyone with customers. That kind of exposure builds empathy and sharpens your ability to translate technical insight into strategic value.

Bridging technical and strategic roles is not about choosing one over the other, it is about learning how to move between them with confidence and humility. If you can build that mindset early, you will be well positioned to lead in the future of digital water.