Melody Lau is a scientist within the Catchments, Wastewater and Environmental Science Team at SA Water Corporation. Current she has played a lead role in both the research and operational delivery of the COVID-19 surveillance programme at SA Water. Her methods have been proven by multiple independent trials to be industry leading in terms of their quality and reliability. Her work includes hands-on day-to-day delivery of the analysis in Australia as well as training and providing seminars internationally. She has a decade and half experience working across various fields including water and wastewater science, molecular biology, microbiology and virology. Melody has played a critical role within research projects examining the development of methods for the detection of waterborne pathogens and the disinfection of pathogenic and opportunistic pathogens of concern to the water industry.