The spark that ignited WatchTowers Networks flickered to life during one of Australia's darkest hours - the black summer of 2019-2020. Watching the fires rage, I felt the same mix of despair and urgency as many others. But for me, the crisis hit close to home. My daughter had just been born, and there we were, trapped in the hospital, the air outside thick with the smoke of those devastating bushfires. With her asthma, the situation wasn't just distressing; it was dangerous.
This experience, while personal, was a mere pixel in the larger tapestry of destruction.
Communities across Australia were not just facing a natural disaster; they were losing their livelihoods, their memories, and tragically, some even lost loved ones. It was this widespread devastation that stirred something within me, a call to action. I realised that as a technologist, I had the networks and tools at my disposal that could potentially help to solve the issues to mitigate such disasters.
At that time, my role was at the helm of innovation at Optus, a major telco. The fires had sparked a challenge from leadership to my team: "We're a telco. Fires are a massive risk, and we can't just sit on the sidelines. What can we do?" This question wasn't just a corporate directive; it was an opportunity presenting itself in the most unexpected of ways. It's a reminder that often, the seeds of innovation are sown in adversity.
I leaned in because I believed, as technologists, we have a duty to leverage our expertise and resources for the greater good, especially for our first responders and the communities in peril. That's where the journey of WatchTowers Networks began - not from personal inconvenience, but from a profound realisation of our potential to serve.
Starting small, thinking big
The inception of WatchTowers Networks was not about creating a business; it was about making an impact. Initially, the focus was on exploring how Optus, as a telecom giant, could contribute to bushfire management. The goal was clear: to assist communities and safeguard critical infrastructure.
I embarked on this mission by engaging with experts – researchers, technologists, and not-for-profits. The collaboration was organic, driven by a shared purpose. This led us to partner with the Minderoo Foundation Fire & Flood Resilience Blueprint to establish the initial state-wide deployment of fire monitoring cameras with ACT Rural Fire Service and The Australian National University, resulting in the establishment of the Bushfire Research Centre of Excellence - a beacon for innovation in fire safety.
Within six months, our efforts bore fruit. We rolled out a network of sophisticated fire detection cameras throughout the Australian Capital Territory. Back in 2020, this was a game-changer for the fire services, as we were now enabled to deliver real-time data, automating detection events and this started the four year journey we have been on to operationalise the technology within the agency and explore new use-cases and integrations. This allowed them to respond with unprecedented speed and precision. When that first camera feed came online, the emotions were palpable - a cocktail of pride, relief and the dawning realisation that we might indeed be onto something transformative.
Taking the leap
After the fires subsided, it became evident that the work we'd begun at Optus needed a new home to truly flourish. The company had served as an ideal incubator for the initial stages, but our vision for WatchTowers Networks required a space where it could grow on its own terms.
This quest for the right environment led me to an invaluable opportunity as an Entrepreneur in Residence at Johnson Controls, the world's leading fire safety systems provider. Here, I found a port in the storm — a place where I could take the time to build WatchTowers Networks in the right way, away from the immediate pressures of the startup ecosystem. Johnson Controls wasn't just a launchpad; it was a learning ground where I could expand my understanding of business strategy within the context of fire safety.
During this period, I learned the importance of finding well-wishers and forming a coalition of the willing. Like-minded and focused individuals from Johnson Controls, emergency services and the wider community became crucial allies. They weren't just customers; they were collaborators in building a more resilient future. However, this openness taught me to tread carefully. I recognised that while everyone operates from their own viewpoint, hidden agendas can muddle our collective path and require careful navigation.
The experience reinforced that there's no room for a famine mentality in innovation, something I base the company on based on our business model, even though experience would probably show others to close-off and work in a bubble. The challenge of wildfires is too massive for any single entity to tackle alone. Collaboration is not just beneficial; it's essential.
Most importantly, I learned to keep the spark alive. Persistence is foundational; you should never give up unless you're truly forced to. This ethos became the driving force behind WatchTowers Networks, pushing forward the belief that with dedication and the right partnerships, we could create something enduringly impactful.
The roadblocks were real
Navigating the entrepreneurial waters with WatchTowers Networks taught me that the journey is seldom smooth. We faced our share of challenges: including legal pursuits to assert our rights to protect the company's future, partnerships that turned sour, and the relentless pressure to demonstrate our worth. There were times it seemed as though the odds were overwhelmingly against us. Yet, in those tough moments, I'd remember our purpose. Real lives, homes, and entire communities were relying on us to overcome these hurdles. The thought of retreat was never an option.
At the end of my tenure with Johnson Controls, we encountered a familiar scenario to what happened with Optus. Despite having developed a robust business strategy, built a partnership ecosystem, and established a capability that won new business, the corporate machinery of priorities, finances, and risk assessment intervened. It became clear that for WatchTowers Networks to truly take flight, we needed to spin out, and with Johnson Controls' blessings, that's exactly what we did.
Concurrently, an invitation came from the Directors and founding team of ALERT Wildfire, a partner we had been collaborating with for years. They were facing their own set of challenges due to internal politics and external pressures and saw in our team the potential to resolve their issues and turn their project around. This was not just a business opportunity; it was a chance to keep our mission alive.
Throughout this chaos, one truth remained unshaken: this work mattered. WatchTowers Networks wasn't just about technology; it was about equipping our first responders and communities with the means to make more informed decisions around bushfires. Our innovation wasn't for show; it was for survival.
I learned to maintain hope, even when adversity loomed large. And I came to understand the value of never burning a bridge, or allowing one to burn, even when you didn't strike the match. This stoic approach to business relations meant that we could move forward, not with bitterness, but with the strength of our mission to guide us.
Looking ahead
Despite all we've achieved with WatchTowers Networks and the expansion of our networks both here in Australia and now expanding over to the United States, it's clear we're just at the beginning of this journey. With fire seasons extending and intensifying globally, the demand for intelligent, flexible solutions is only going to grow. We're not just committed; we're driven to stay at the forefront of this challenge.
In the coming weeks, I will continue to share narratives from the frontlines, the invaluable lessons we've gathered, and the technology that's reshaping our approach to combat bushfires and wildfires. But this isn't a monologue - I want your voice in this dialogue. What aspects of WatchTowers Networks intrigue you? What insights do you seek from a founder's perspective on building something in this space, or any?
Remember, this isn't solely my story; it's a collective narrative. The lesson we've learned is that monumental challenges demand collective effort. So let's engage, let's collaborate. Have a question or an idea? Drop me a message, share your thoughts on LinkedIn, or reach out in any way you prefer. Your engagement could be the spark that leads to our next innovation.
As we emerge from stealth mode with WatchTowers Networks and look forward, I'll be guided by our North Star - our mission to protect communities from bushfires. While many opportunities will cross our path, I've learned that our resources are finite. We must not dilute our vision, yet we'll remain open to opportunities that allow us to expand or pivot in service of that vision. Let's keep this conversation going, for together, we can create a future where our landscapes are safer, and our responses to fire are smarter.
