1 December
Registration, refreshments and exhibition
SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE THINKING THROUGH THE INNOVATION IN WATER CHALLENGE
Keynote: Ofwat’s Innovation Fund and Innovation in Water Challenge (IWC): reflections on the first year
Speaker
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Harry Armstrong
Director regulatory policy - Ofwat
Panel discussion: executive perspectives on the IWC
- Observations on winning entries in the IWC so far – are there any identifiable trends?
- How is the IWC encouraging more collaboration on innovation between water companies and with the supply chain community?
- How is the IWC delivering for customers?
- IWC’s role in the 2030 net zero carbon commitment
- Ambitions for the future of the Fund
Speakers
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Harry Armstrong
Director regulatory policy - Ofwat -
Lila Thompson
CEO - British Water -
Michelle Davies
Head of strategy - Bristol Water -
Steve Kaye
CEO - UKWIR
Keynote: Centre of Excellence hub for the water sector: where are we and what’s next?
Speaker
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Steve Kaye
CEO - UKWIR
Morning refreshments, networking and exhibition
FOSTERING INNOVATION: KEY CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES IN WATER
Identifying factors that can help or hinder collaborative innovation
- Creating a collaborative innovation assessment checklist
- Findings from the TWENTY65 Water Research Programme
Speaker
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Tony Conway
Director - Conway Strategic Water Consulting
Supporting new entrants into the UK water sector
- Acting as an incubator for early-stage start-ups and creating an innovation lab project
- Methods of collaboration with start-ups: what works, what doesn’t and practical takeaways
Speaker
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Kieran Brocklebank
Head of innovation - United Utilities
Digital water – harnessing digital technology to drive efficiencies and innovation
- Getting to grips with what digital technology, including AI and data analytics can do to improve water operations
- How can you we use data to develop innovative solutions?
- What can we learn from across the globe in the way water companies use digital technology?
- The future: understanding the possibilities of a digital transformation programme
Academic research in water innovation: views from Cranfield on the last year and upcoming focuses
Speaker
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Peter Jarvis
Professor of water science and technology - Cranfield University
Snap poll, questions and answers
Buffet lunch, networking, exhibition and PhD poster session
TECH PITCH COMPETITION
Have your say on the exciting new technologies entering the industry! This session will be filled with innovation from top technical experts who will present their ideas in just 5 minutes. Interactive voting and discussion will follow.
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Choose from one of the following options:
A: LEAKAGE
- Optimising leakage programmes using AI technology and real time data to improve performance
- Harnessing predictive data to proactively tackle repairs and prevent leaks from occurring
- Doing interventions in a non-disruptive way
- Choice of (cost-effective) technologies in the market for holistic maintenance
- Looking to the future: creating a strategic programme for leakage repairs
Led by: Joby Boxall, Professor of water infrastructure engineering, Sheffield University
Jeremy Heath, Innovation manager, SES Water
Helen Wood, Network strategy manager, South East Water
B: POLLUTION
- How can innovation help in replacing sewers and reducing costs?
- Innovations that are proving successful in tackling pollution
- Managing emerging pollutants in the water environment
- Where else do we need to innovate to tackle pollution?
Led by: Oliver Grievson, Chairman, SWIG
Nick Mills, Head of pollution & flooding resilience, Southern Water
James Harrison, Head of wastewater assets, Yorkshire Water
C: WATER EFFICIENCY & DEMAND REDUCTION
- Engaging customers in reducing water consumption: what can we do better? Real-life examples and success stories
- Societal and technological trends in managing water consumption
- Lessons from the international water community: how have other water companies delivered innovative technologies to tackle water demand, on scale?
Led by: Rob Light, Chair, CCW
Andrew Tucker, Water efficiency manager, Thames Water
Jacqueline de Jong, Business development manager, Vitens
Ed Barnes, Interim head of demand management, Affinity Water
D: CREATING AN EFFECTIVE INNOVATION CULTURE POST PANDEMIC
- How have innovation cultures changed within the water sector in the last year?
- How can we stretch our ambition even further?
- Addressing new ways of working as a result of a more urgent global focus on climate and nature
- Overcoming specific cultural and process barriers to innovation
Shaunna Berendsen, Client programme director, The UK Water Innovation Centre of Excellence
Selwyn Rose, Innovation strategy manager, United Utilities
Angela MacOscar, Head of innovation, Northumbrian Water
Oliver Raud, Programme manager – CREWW, South West Water
3:00 pm
Afternoon refreshments, networking and exhibition
SUSTAINABILITY, NET ZERO & CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN WATER
Transitioning water to the circular economy using innovative solutions
- How have the Dutch and Flemish water utilities approached water in the circular economy (“WiCE”)?
- Insights on and examples of innovative solutions in water scarcity
- Choice of novel innovations in the urban water cycle that are driving carbon neutrality
Speaker
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Jos Boere
Deputy CEO - KWR Water Research Institute
Panel discussion: perspectives on creating a circular economy in the UK water sector
- The water sector’s roadmap for the circular economy: what does it mean in practice for water companies? What are the short and long-term market opportunities?
- Adapting processes and whole life costing to achieve your carbon pledge
- Understanding the value of collaborating with tier 1 contractors at the design stage
- De-risking the project and improving ROI
Speakers
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Tony Harrington
Director of environment - Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water -
Dan Green
Head of sustainability and innovation - Wessex Water -
Jos Boere
Deputy CEO - KWR Water Research Institute
Closing keynote: working with other sectors to drive innovative solutions
- How has Northumbrian Water worked with other sectors, outside water, to drive innovation, addressing climate change and net-zero?
- What can the water industry learn and adopt from other sectors?
Speaker
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Heidi Mottram
Chief executive - Northumbrian Water
Chair’s summing up and close of the WWT Water Industry Innovation Conference 2021
Speaker
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Piers Clark
Chairman - Isle Group