Bringing a people-first mindset and civil engineering expertise, Jono Rusterholz has joined IPS as a Project Manager. We caught up with him to hear more about his journey and what inspired the move.
Jono Rusterholz has built a career grounded in technical expertise, calm under pressure and a genuine belief in the power of good teams. Now part of the IPS team as a Civil Engineering Project Manager, he brings deep experience in the water infrastructure sector and a people-first approach to every project he leads.
Jono’s interest in engineering was sparked by a natural strength in maths, science and physics at school, but breaking into the industry wasn’t easy. Graduating from university during the GFC in 2008 meant opportunities were limited, so he spent a few years working in residential construction alongside a friend while continuing to search for a foot in the door. In 2015, he landed his first engineering role and quickly progressed from project engineering into project management.
A standout moment in his career came when he was asked to manage the urgent replacement of a failed trunk main on the Sunshine Coast that supplied the entire Coolum region. The job required replacing 2.5 kilometres of water main across farmland in just four weeks.
“It was a pressure-cooker situation,” Jono said. “I had to trust my gut, rely on what I knew, and run with it.” That project proved to be a turning point, launching him into a more senior role and sparking an interest in leadership and mentoring. “I enjoy helping guide others through tricky situations. I’ve always believed a good leader should really know and remember what it’s like to be on the tools.”
After several years in a large government organisation with more than 600 employees, Jono was ready for a change and was drawn to IPS by our reputation and boutique culture. “I’d previously interacted with Sascha on a project she was consulting on, and I really admired her approach,” he said.
“A former manager of mine had also moved to IPS and spoke highly of it. You can teach skills, but culture and attitude are what make a workplace.”
In his role at IPS, Jono works across business development, tendering and technical project management, and enjoys mentoring younger engineers. He’s currently involved in a reservoir project for a major developer and contributing to the Lockyer Valley and Somerset Region Water Supply Scheme.
After several years in leadership roles, he says getting back into hands-on delivery has been a welcome change. “It reminds me what it’s like to be actually delivering the work as opposed to just overseeing it, and I think that makes you a better leader, too.
“In this industry, resilience and adaptability are just as important as technical knowledge. Leadership, to me, means understanding what it’s like on the ground and helping others navigate challenges with confidence.”
More importantly, he knows the success of a project often comes down to the people involved. “It’s not always about being the most technical person in the room, it’s about bringing the right team together and getting the right people in the room at the right time.”
“Joining IPS has been a refreshing and exciting change. It’s a great group of like-minded people. There are no hidden agendas or office politics…just a supportive culture and great projects.”
With three kids at home, Jono makes the most of family time but still finds the odd moment to chip away at home building projects and a couple of long-running project cars. “I’ve got a couple of project cars in the garage that I’m trying to work on, when I can find the time between everything else!” he said.
Looking ahead, Jono is excited by the opportunity for growth and change. “It’s been a big shift moving from project delivery in a client-side role to engineering in a private consultancy. I’m excited for all the growth to come, both personally and professionally.”
The best career advice he’s ever received?
“Everyone runs their own race. Focus on your own growth and don’t compare yourself to other people’s journeys. And don’t forget the people who helped you along the way. You can’t do it alone – stay humble, maintain relationships and always be open to learning from others. Even people who think differently from you have something valuable to offer. At times it can be challenging to work with people who approach things differently, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing. You can learn from them, too.”
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