Attention water innovators!

Australian Water Association

Friday, 04 March, 2016

Back for the second year in a row, the national Water Innovation Forum and Expo is a leading platform for water innovators.

Tomorrow’s edge

Coming to Sydney this month, the Australian Water Association (AWA) event will bring hundreds of people from across a huge range of water-using industries to meet, exchange ideas and hear from many of the figures at water’s cutting edge of sustainability.

AWA CEO Jonathan McKeown says the sheer breadth of disciplines and backgrounds among the attendees means the event provides an opportunity to creatively cross-pollinate.

“Given the ageing infrastructure and climatic pressures on water, Australia’s future water security relies on major innovation in technology, design and approach,” he said.

“Now more than ever it is critical to support, promote and cultivate innovation if we are to increase efficiencies, improve practices and withstand any water challenge that comes our way.”

Topics of discussion include urban water management, harvesting energy from wastewater, adapting to climate variability, treating emerging chemicals, digital water management and more.

In addition, dozens of water technology suppliers will be on hand to take part in competitive pitch sessions, giving them valuable exposure while giving attendees rapid-fire introductions to the newest innovations in their fields.

The must-see speakers

Julian Kezelman

As senior associate of The Strategy Group, Kezelman is helping organisations to build innovation capabilities and implement innovation strategies. He will open the forum by illuminating design thinking, a contemporary approach to complex problem solving based on working towards wider goals rather than overcoming specific problems.

Timothy Nelson

There are few people in Australia better placed to comment on the opportunities and challenges of harvesting energy from water and wastewater than the head of economics, policy and sustainability at AGL Energy, who will put the spotlight on innovative renewable energy projects.

Anna Kosovac

The Australian water sector has experienced many barriers to innovation in recent years. Kosovac will explore the role of the media and public sentiment around water-related issues and how these can serve to stifle innovation and collaboration.

Professor Zhiguo Yuan

The director of UQ’s Advanced Water Management Centre and one of the country’s most influential engineers will take his place on a stage with four other highly respected urban water leaders to discuss one of the big issues — how to make the most of integrated urban water management.

Dr Suzanne Hollins

As a senior research scientist at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Hollins is at the cutting edge of efforts to build new tools to understand and plan for Australia’s climate variability, which she will be discussing with BoM’s Ian Prosser.

Gretha Oost

The company founder of the winning entry of the 2015 Innovation Challenge will explain how to apply a systems approach and revisit water-drinking habits in public spaces. Project 0 delivers an attractive design-driven solution to the environmental impact associated with bottled water.