DETAILS

Date: September 24, 2026 • 9:00 – 18:00 BST

Location: AECOM Office, Aldgate Tower, 2 Leman Street, London

Theme: “Navigating the Messy Middle of AI”

Host Partners: AECOM and Atos

Access: Open only to SWAN Members (limited to 3 people per organisation)

^{Please register by Sept. 16th to secure your spot!}

OVERVIEW

True digital transformation is not a clean, linear journey – it’s unpredictable and relies heavily on how an organisation adapts its engineering processes, people, and culture. The water sector is currently standing squarely in the “messy middle” of AI – the uncomfortable, ambiguous phase where the old world hasn’t fully let go, and the fully autonomous world hasn’t yet arrived.

In partnership with AECOM and Atos, the highly participatory 3rd SWAN London UnConference will bring together water professionals, solution providers, and operational leaders to tackle the raw engineering and deployment realities of AI. Rather than listening to passive technology pitches, you will actively shape the agenda. Expect a collaborative, peer-led environment structured to co-create practical frameworks and strategies to move water utilities forward.

PROGRAMME

^{Limited to 100 participants}

9:00–10:00 Registration and Coffee

10:00–10:10 Workshop Welcome

10:10–10:20 UnConference Overview: Participatory, Purposeful & Productive

10:20–10:40 Keynote – “From AI and Automation to Transformation: Why tech is the easy part”

Nisarg leads digital strategy, technology, and a national research and innovation portfolio spanning environmental digital twins, open ecological observatories, and space-enabled Earth observation. With 25 years in regulated infrastructure, he brings a practitioner’s perspective on what it takes to move AI and digital innovation from pilot to operational scale in complex, asset-intensive systems. He holds board and governance roles in UKWIR and Heriot-Watt University.

10:40–11:20 Big Brain’ Attendee Contributions + Voting

Attendees are encouraged to propose and vote on theme-based discussion topics on the “Big Brain” (a big board with all of your great ideas).

11:20–11:50 Networking and Coffee Break

11:50–12:30 Session 1: Unpacking Challenges & Opportunities

Narrow down the different challenges to one challenge statement that you would like explore further. Helpful guidelines/handouts will be available to support this creative ideation process.

12:30–13:30 Lunch Sponsored by AECOM and Atos

13:30–13:50 Keynote: “The tension of navigating a new regulator, AI growth, water efficiency and protecting our water resources”

Louise leads Ofwat’s data and AI strategy, capability and governance, supporting effective, evidence-based regulation of the water sector in England and Wales. She is responsible for setting the vision for how data is collected, managed, shared and used across Ofwat, ensuring it is high quality, trusted and accessible. A core part of her role involves working with cross-government agencies and partners to help shape the future of water regulation.

13:50–14:45 Session 2: The Power of Brainstorming

Determine solutions to address your proposed challenge, encouraging as many ideas as possible.

14:45–15:15 Networking and Coffee Break

15:15–16:00 Session 3: Let’s Tie it Together

Collaborate to produce a tangible solution output (e.g. diagram, guidelines, roadmap) to showcase to the collective group.

16:00–16:50 Session 4: Rapid-Fire Recap

Each group will briefly share their key takeaways.

16:50–17:00 Summary & Conclusion

17:00–18:00 Networking Reception Sponsored by Atos

Enjoy light food and drinks with a city-wide view.