UKWIR Annual Conference

September 2020, Hilton London Tower Bridge

Conference postponed

We have been carefully monitoring the developments of the COVID-19 outbreak over the past few weeks. Due to recent disruption and newly imposed travel/event attendance restrictions, we have taken the decision to postpone the conference until September 2020. A new date will be announced asap and booking will soon recommence.

If you have already registered, your booking will automatically be transferred to the new date once it is confirmed – you do not need to take any further action. If you would prefer to be refunded, please contact clare.hunter@aquaenviro.co.uk

Background

Innovation means creating value from new ideas – whether it’s academia, the supply chain, water company employees, stakeholders and experts from other sectors. UKWIR’s goal is to use those ideas to create a common platform for research and innovation in the UK and drive the changes that are needed to meet future challenges, such as population growth, climate change and resilience, through 12 Big Questions.

There are also other emerging opportunities to explore including digital transformation, the social contract and sustainability. The key to achieving these ambitious outcomes will be through the effective collaboration of everyone with a vested interest in water. This event provides a great opportunity for senior representatives from the industry, and beyond, to come together not only to share ideas and experiences, but also to identify the part they can all play in helping answer UKWIR’s Big Questions.

Attending companies

Overview

This event, the first of its kind organised by UKWIR, will bring together senior representatives from water companies, regulators, the supply chain, academia, other utilities and related industries, both from the UK and abroad, to share ideas and ambitions that drive greater innovation – and which ultimately improve outcomes for customers, society and the environment.

The event will include interactive forums that explore UKWIR’s 12 Big Questions, alongside opportunities to create new, collaborative platforms for research and innovation and identify knowledge gaps and areas for improvement.

View the full agenda

Key speaker profiles

Mike Elliott is Technology Director of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. After achieving a Master of Engineering in Aeronautical Engineering followed by a PhD in Aerodynamics from Imperial College London, Mike embarked upon what would quickly become a steep rise through the ranks of Formula One aerodynamicists – achieving significant success along the way.

Professor Dragan Savić FREng is CEO at KWR Water Research Institute in the Netherlands. Before joining KWR he was Director – and co-founder – of the Centre for Water Systems in Exeter, an internationally recognised group for excellence in water and environmental science research. Dragan Savić was the first Professor of Hydro-Informatics in the UK having held this post University of Exeter since 2001.

Heidi Mottram OBE is CEO at Northumbrian Water, a large water and wastewater company. She began her career with British Rail in the mid-1980s and had a number of roles in GNER, before joining Midland Mainline in 1999 as Operations Director. She was also Commercial Director for Arriva Trains Northern before becoming Managing Director of Northern Rail Limited, the UK’s largest rail franchise.

John Russell is the Senior Director, Strategy and Planning at Ofwat. Before that he worked in Shell’s group strategy and business environment teams. Prior to working at Shell, John had a long career in the British Civil Service where he was the Chief Operating Officer for Infrastructure UK in HM Treasury. He has also had roles as Deputy Director for Growth and Productivity in the Treasury and Head of household energy efficiency policy in the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Jon Rathjen leads the Water Industry Team in the Scottish Government with policy responsibility for the Scottish water industry including sponsorship of the public corporation Scottish Water and the new Hydro Nation agenda. Jon has over 25 years’ experience as a Public Servant, with experience in front line service delivery and policy responsibilities.

Please note: This event is being managed by Aqua Enviro on behalf of UKWIR.

Please visit www.ukwir.org.uk to find out more about the 12 Big Questions and the work UKWIR do.