UKWIR, the organisation which facilitates, manages and delivers a strategic programme of research projects for UK and Ireland water companies, is to hold its first-ever conference in March.
Organised by Aqua Enviro, the event - Transforming the Water Sector Through Collaborative Research and Innovation - will be a platform for showcasing UKWIR’s work.
Steve Kaye, UKWIR’s CEO, said:
“The cutting-edge and influential research we’ve carried out over the last 25 years has played a critical role in advancing the UK water sector and driving up standards and performance.
“That being said, collaboration is fundamental to it now being able to solve some of the challenges it faces and is why it remains a critical, central element of our work.
“Our vision for the future – and which will be a key theme at our conference – is to build on these strong foundations and deliver research that will be a catalyst for change so that we address the industry’s biggest challenges and demonstrate the value it delivers to customers, the environment and wider society.”
An impressive line-up of speakers has been secured for the day including:
- Mike Elliott, Technology Director, Mercedes Formula 1 Team
- Dragan Savic, CEO of KWR (the Dutch equivalent of UKWIR)
- Heidi Mottram, CEO, Northumbrian Water
- Jon Rathjen, Team Leader - Water Industry, Scottish Government
- John Russell, Senior Director - Strategy and Planning, OFWAT
The event will also feature panel discussions to discuss industry priorities, research and innovation opportunities, and how collaboration can be increased in the water sector.
The conference will provide insight into UKWIR’s future direction of travel, including the role the wider water sector can play in helping to answer UKWIR’s 12 Big Questions to tackle the challenges facing the water industry, including:
- How do we halve our abstractions by 2050?
- How will we achieve zero leakage in a sustainable way by 2050?
- How do we achieve zero interruptions to water supplies by 2050?
- How do we achieve zero uncontrolled discharges from sewers by 2050?
- What is the true cost of maintaining assets and how do we get this better reflected in the regulatory decision making process?
- How do we ensure that the regulatory framework incentivises efficient delivery of the right outcomes for customers and the environment?
The conference will take place on 19th March 2020 at the Hilton Hotel, Tower Bridge, London.
Click here for further details of the conference programme
Click here for more information about UKWIR’s 12 Big Questions
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