Making Smart Water Mainstream
To receive official CIWEM accreditation, please contact Shayna: shayna@swan-forum.com for more details.
May 9th
May 10th
Conference Introduction
- Nadia Abboud, President (ENAY Group) & Tom Freyberg, Founder & Managing Director (Atlantean Media)
Keynote: Data Data Everywhere, Nor a Drop to Drink
- Rob Mustard, Director of Digital & Transformation (Scottish Water, UK)
Practical Lessons for Organising for Digital Innovation
Moderator: Jennifer Rebeiro, Chair (SWAN Forum)
- Reginal Joseph, Assistant Commissioner for Digital Transformation (New York City Dept. of Environmental Protection, US) “Digital Transformation in Water and Wastewater Treatment: NYCDEP Lessons Learned”
- Louise Meadows, Chief People Officer (Greater Western Water, Australia) “Greater Western Water’s Culture-Led Integration”
- Amanda Bridger, Head of Change and Programmes (Anglian Water Services, UK) “Creating Exploratory Working Climates for the Achievement of Innovation Goals”
Assessing Value: Quantifying Integrated ROI
Moderator: Andrew Burrows, Partner (PA Consulting)
- Nele Philips, Program Manager R&D (De Watergroup, Belgium) “Assessing the Value of R&D Projects: Methodology and Use Case at De Watergroep”
- Janelle Boelter, Director of Infrastructure Management (Las Vegas Valley Water District, US) “What’s the ROI: I don’t know, and I don’t care”
- Ben Stanford, Associate Vice President (Hazen and Sawyer) “Understanding the ROI In Smart Infrastructure Projects Helps Accelerate Adoption”
Easing the Smart Metering Journey
Moderator: Nav Otal, Director of Utilities (City of Bellevue, US)
- Karl Cilia, CEO (Water Services Corporation, Malta) “Implemenetation of Smart Metering Technology in Malta”
- Siya Bashe, Director, Commercial Services Department – Water and Sanitation Directorate (City Cape Town, South Africa) “How the Disciplined Secures Innovative Projects”
- Antonio de Castro, Project Technical Manager (Canal de Isabel II, Spain) “Leveraging the Power of Smart Meters in Large Utilities: The Case of Canal de Isabel II”
Remote Monitoring to Drive Condition Assessment
Moderator: Dave Collins, Associate Director (Atkins)
- Keith Kolkebeck, Director of SCADA (Veolia) “7+ Year Journey to Smart Water at Veolia – Starting with the Foundation”
- Juan David Santamaría Sánchez, Solutions Engineer (Syrinix) “Automatic Transient Source Triangulation in the Netherlands”
- Chloé Meyer, Senior Analyst (Bluefield Research) “Seeing Things: The Coming Wave of Remote Asset Monitoring”
Interactive Roundtables
Empowering Teams by Embedding Digital Solutions in Day to Day Processes – The Challenges and Opportunities Led by Emily Timmins, Director of Water Recycling (Anglian Water) & Brian Moloney, Managing Director (StormHarvester)
Maximising Network Performance: Understanding the True Value of Data and Analytics Led by Phil Tomlinson, Commercial Director – EMEA (Metasphere)
How Would Regulation Change if the Industry Adopted more Digital Solutions? Led by Jamie Huntingdon, UK Account Executive (Kando)
The Wastewater Control Room of the Future: Intelligent Data, Smart Capital, Optimised Networks & Environmental Management Led by Roseline Klein, International Business Development Manager (SUEZ Smart Solutions)
Proof of Concept to Wider Scale Business as Usual – Challenges in Adoption in Disruptive Technology Led by Ruth Clarke, Innovation Manager & Rebecca Willey, Technical Solutions Engineer (Innovyze, an Autodesk company)
How to go from a Data-Driven to Insights-Driven Organisation Led by Jennifer Baldwin, Digital OneWater Director (Jacobs)
Exploring Digitization at Scale: Successes, Failures & Key Takeaways Led by Gerhard Loots, CEO (Kallipr)
Overcoming Infobesity & Human-Driven Resistance Roadblocks Led by Leela Krishna Sriramula, Chief Business Officer (SpaceAge Labs)
Importance of DMA Boundary Valves & other Critical Valves – Using IoT for Asset Management & Valve Verification Led by David Hurley, Director & Rob Edwards – Smart Water Specialist (AVK UK Smart Water)
How Regulations & Sustainability Commitments are Driving Digital Twin Adoption – Executive Perspectives and Experiences Led by Cecilia Correia, Senior Water Solutions Manager (Bentley Systems Inc.)
Methodologies & Challenges in Developing a Digital Transformation Strategy & Roadmap Led by Scott Branum, Principle Technologist & Fellow – Digital (Evoqua Water Technologies)
Optimising Water/Wastewater Processes through Digitalisation and Data Utilisation – Dutch Innovative Solutions & Experiences from International Water Utilities Led by Tom Williams, British Water International Forum Chair & Stefan Bergsma, International Business Developer (Water Alliance)
Investing in a Smart Water Future Led by Clayton MacDougald, Investment Manager | Water (Emerald Technology Ventures)
Navigating the Procurement Puzzle in Utilities Led by Tertius Rust, Founder: Innovation Partner (TR Solutions)
What are the next opportunities in digital water? Led by Chloé Meyer, Senior Research Director & John Berryman, Sales Director (Bluefield Research)
The In-House vs. Outsourcing Decision Led by Amir Cahn, CEO (SWAN Forum) & João Cabrita, Head of Contract Management (ERSAR)
IT/OT convergence – Ready or not here it comes! Led by Andy Smith, Head of Smart Water & Darren Coleman, Business Implementation Manager (Anglian Water)
How do we actually close the smart water divide in emerging markets? Led by Fredrick Royan, Global Practice Area Leader – Sustainability and Circular Economy (Frost & Sullivan)
Waterside Chat: AI & Water – Hype or Reality?
Moderator: Tom Freyberg, Founder & Managing Director (Atlantean Media)
- Stephanie Leblanc, Sr. Manager, Information & Technology Technology (Halifax Water, Canada)
- Michael Allen, CTO – Water & Commercial Software & IoT (TeamSolve)
Collaborating to Scale Innovation
Moderator: Scott Branum, Principal Technologist & Fellow – Digital (Evoqua Water Technologies)
- Ian Pemberton, Principal – Water Environment Science and Technology (Oftwat, UK) “Promoting Efficiency, The Role of Price Review and the Innovation Fund”
- Stephane Gervais, EVP Strategic Innovation & Smart Data (LACROIX Group) “Using Artificial Intelligence with IoT for Water Networks: From Co-Innovation to Deployment 1 Year After”
- Emma Milburn, Marketing and Partner Director (Iota, South East Water, Australia) “The Successful Transformation of a Utility at Scale”
May 11th
Technical Tracks
Water
Welcome Remarks: Jim Cooper, Global Director for Water Optimisation (Arcadis)
Leak Optimisation: A UK Perspective
Moderator: Victoria Edwards, CEO & Co-Founder (FIDO)
- Scott Young, Economic Demand Manager for Strategy Innovation (Scottish Water, UK) “Transient Detection with High-Speed Dataloggers Enables Targeted Burst Reduction and Creates Millions in Savings for Scottish Water”
- Tanya Dady, Asset Strategy Manager (SES Water, UK) “DMA Asset Health: A Holistic Approach to Network Asset Management”
- Stuart Mawditt, Managing Director (SME Water) “Paradigm: Delivering Demand Insights for the UK Water Industry”
Leak Optimisation: A Portuguese Perspective
Moderator: João Cabrita, Head of Contract Management (ERSAR)
- Andrew Donnelly, Board Advisor/Head of Water Loss and I&I Control Dept. (EPAL, SA, Portugal) “Maximising Use of Network Monitoring & Leakage Management Systems in Times of Crisis: Through COVID and Drought at EPAL and Águas do Vale do Tejo”
- Ana Rita Santos, Hydraulic Engineer (AGS, Portugal) “AGS’s Journey through the Implementation of a Performance Based Agreement in Romania to Reduce Non-Revenue Water”
- Ricardo Gentil Lopes Ferreira, Civil Engineer (Águas e Energia do Porto, EM, Portugal) “Repair Leaks ASAP: Advanced Tool for Identifying Leaks Nests in the Water Supply System”
H2Know Your Water Quality
Moderator: Jordi Raich, Sr. Manager Analytical Solutions (Badger Meter)
- Leela Krishna Sriramula, Chief Business Officer (SpaceAge Labs) ”IOT based real-time toxicity monitoring to aid effective water reclamation”
- Breda Moore, Technical Director (Aquamonitrix) ”Chloramination Case Study: Utility problem statements”
- Dr. John Gaffney, Product Owner – Water Quality (Siemens) “Enabling Water Quality IoT Monitoring with an As-a-Service Business Model”
Wastewater
Welcome Remarks: Anusha Shah, Senior Director (Arcadis)
Sewer Monitoring Optimisation: A UK Perspective
Moderator: Mahesh Lunani, Founder & CEO (Aquasight)
- Dr. Nick Mills, Head of Clean Rivers & Seas Task Force (Southern Water, UK) “Enhancing Wastewater Network Performance through AI at Southern Water”
- Ross McIntosh, Technical Director (ExploreAI) “Understanding Sewer Network Dynamics to Reduce Networks Pollutions”
- Katy Bevan, Programme Delivery Manager (United Utilities, UK) “Optimisation of Sewer Network monitoring: United Utilities Case Study”
Sewer Monitoring Optimisation: Global Perspectives
Moderator: Carmen Snowdon, Director of Commercial Services (WRc Group)
- Marco Westergren, Chief Analytics Officer (InfoTiles) “Locating and Quantifying Inflow & Infiltration in the Wastewater Network through Machine Learning”
- Tom Woolley, VP Global Sales (Optimatics) “Optimisation of Wastewater Networks before Capital Investment”
- Ramesh Mani, Director of Products (Jacobs) “Driving Prescriptive Asset Management for Buried Sewer Infrastructure with Artificial Intelligence”
Operationalising Smart Wastewater Technology
Moderator: Emma Harris, Head of Smart Hub (Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, UK)
- Tom Davies, Deputy Executive Manager – PDCA (Trinity River Authority of Texas, US) “Trinity River Authority Incorporates Generative Design Software into its RFP”
- Paolo Gelli, Responsible for Operations Idrico Area, Bologna (Hera Group, Italy) “Improving Soil Health through High Quality Repurposed Sludge by using Live Wastewater Data”
- Natalie Lamb, National Water Industry Account Manager (QuadraChem Laboratories) “SENTRY: Using Real Time Microbial Performance Monitoring for Energy Optimisation in Wastewater Treatment”
Masterclasses
Embracing Brilliant Failures
Learn how to embrace failures or unexpected outcomes to best prevent repeating mistakes and uncover strategies to build organisational resilience.
Lead facilitators: Amir Cahn, CEO and Shirley Ben-Dak, Senior Advisor (SWAN Forum) with virtual and context setting by Paul Iske, Chief Failure Officer (Institute of Brilliant Failures)
Cities Adapting to New Realities: From Risk to Water Security
Learn how cities can benchmark themselves against risks across infrastructure and governance to help plan for a smarter and resilient future.
Lead facilitators: Cody Pope, Chief Innovation Officer (Vector Center) and Fredrick Royan, VP Sustainability and Circular Economy (Frost & Sullivan)
Adapting to New Energy Realities
Moderator: Johanna Money, Researcher (Scottish Enterprise)
- Yahya Ugrader, Net Zero Carbon Project Manager (Environment Agency, UK) “Implementing Condition Based Maintenance at Pumping Stations that Manage Flood Risk”
- Joukje Keuning, Program Manager Infra2025 (Vitens, Netherlands) “Energy Optimisation of a Pumping Station via Smart Algorithms at Drinking Water Utility Vitens”
- Raisa Kyrönseppä, Development Engineer, Water Distribution (Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority, Finalnd) “Forecasting as a Main Tool to Control Water Distribution”
Closing the Divide in Emerging Markets
Moderator: Helen Hulett, New Business Director (Talbot Group Ltd)
- Ir. Abas Abdullah, Acting CEO (Air Selangor, Malaysia) “Air Selangor’s Digitalisation Journey”
- Kwanele G. Sibanda, Local Project Coordinator (City of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe) “Smart Pressure Management”
- Sourav Daspatnaik, Managing Director (Swach Environment Private Limited, India) “Unique Water Utility Serving across the spectrum Customers”
Keynote: Reality Check – Making Smart Water Mainstream
- Emily Timmins, Director of Water Recycling (Anglian Water Services, UK)
