YWP Program

12.00pm

Registrations open and lunch served

1.00pm - 1.10pm

Welcome and Welcome to Country

1.10pm – 1.35pm

Opening Keynote

Dr Jessica Bohorquez
Young Water Professional of the Year 2025

1.35pm – 2.00pm 

Keynote – Disaster Management in the Water Sector
Ms Stephenie (Steph) Hogan
Executive Director, Strategic Policy and Partnerships
Water Infrastructure, Policy and Partnerships
Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers

Steph is the Executive Director of Strategic Policy and Partnerships (SPP) and previously held the position of Executive Director of Strategic Water Initiatives. Steph provides strategic policy and sector-wide stakeholder advice to support the department’s reform, water infrastructure and management projects, and volunteering initiatives in Queensland. Steph’s experience includes managing complex engagement for large scale infrastructure projects, water security planning and climate change demand management. She also provides strategic advice to guide the department’s First Nations partnership and engagement program. She is the Executive Champion for Cultural Capability across the department and is focused on fostering respect, understanding, and inclusion across the agency's policies, programs, and practices.

2.00pm - 2.45pm

Interactive Activity: Communication during a disaster

Group discussions with a situation to respond to. Different tables will represent a different stakeholder group.

• Utilities
• Community
• Government

2.45pm - 4.00pm

Session 2: Community-Centred Water Solutions Panel

Delivering sustainable water outcomes requires more than technical excellence — it demands genuine partnership with the communities we serve. This panel explores how meaningful engagement, including respectful collaboration with First Nations communities, can shape stronger, more inclusive water solutions.

Panellists will discuss practical approaches to translating complex technical concepts into clear, accessible language that builds trust and empowers informed participation. Through real-world case studies, the session will highlight examples where collaboration moved beyond consultation to co-designed, implementable strategies with lasting impact.

Join this discussion to learn how community-centred approaches can strengthen project outcomes, enhance social licence, and create water solutions that are both technically sound and socially supported.

4.15pm – 5.15pm

Career Development & Speed Networking with Water Leaders

Fast-paced, focused, and highly interactive, this session connects Young Water Professionals (YWPs) with experienced industry leaders through a series of structured speed networking rounds. Participants will rotate across 15-minute table discussions, gaining direct access to diverse perspectives and practical career insights.

Each leader will host a themed conversation — from career planning and self-advocacy to mentoring pathways and leadership growth — creating space for honest dialogue and targeted advice.

Designed to spark meaningful connections and actionable takeaways, this session offers a unique opportunity to build networks, gain confidence, and explore the many pathways available within the water sector.

5.15pm - 5.30pm

Wrap-Up & Closing

6.00pm

Ozwater’26 Welcome Reception