YWP Program

12.00pm

Registrations open and lunch served

1.00pm - 1.10pm

Welcome and Welcome to Country

1.10pm – 1.40pm

Opening Keynote

Dr Jessica Bohorquez
Young Water Professional of the Year 2025

1.40pm – 2.10pm 

Keynote – Disaster Management in the Water Sector

As climate intensity increases and digital systems become ever more embedded in critical infrastructure, disaster management in the water sector is entering a new era. This keynote session explores how intergovernmental agencies collaborate to plan, prepare, and respond to emergencies that threaten water security and public safety.

Attendees will gain insight into evolving strategies shaped by extreme weather events, cyber risks, and interconnected infrastructure, and how agencies are adapting frameworks to remain resilient under pressure. The session will also examine best practices for clear, coordinated communication — both with communities and across industry departments — ensuring timely, transparent responses when it matters most.

This keynote sets the stage for a deeper understanding of preparedness, resilience, and cross-sector collaboration in a rapidly changing risk landscape.

2.10pm - 3.00pm

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

3.00pm - 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