Water professionals from across Australia and the globe gathered in Adelaide last week for Ozwater’25 – the Australian Water Association’s flagship event and a powerful meeting place for the ideas, voices and action shaping our sector’s future.
This year’s theme, Looking back, moving forward, invited us to reflect on the lessons of the past while embracing a future where water is central to sustainable growth. Across three packed days of keynote addresses, technical presentations, workshops and deep conversations, delegates explored how the water sector can lead with purpose, drawing on both historical and contemporary knowledge to navigate complexity and deliver lasting impact.
From First Nations leadership to global research, community innovation to sector-wide reform, Ozwater’25 highlighted the importance of valuing water – not just as a resource, but as the foundation for healthy, resilient communities.
The conference opened with a deeply moving Smoking Ceremony led by Jack Buckskin, a proud Kaurna, Narungga and Wirangu man. As the only fluent speaker of the Kaurna language, Jack shared a Welcome to Country that grounded delegates in place, reminding us of the enduring connection between water, language and Country.
“It is an honour to share our language and Country – as long as we understand the significance of where it comes from… The influence and the impact we’re going to be leaving for the next generation – you might not see it now, but it will have a lasting effect.” – Jack Buckskin
Day One keynote sessions included a powerful address from Professor Juliet Willetts, Research Director at the Institute for Sustainable Futures, who reflected on the sector’s public health legacy and the importance of learning from history to guide courageous change.
“Those who have a sense of the past are going to chart the most courageous paths forward… We can learn from the people who drove transformative change.”
Day Two brought two powerhouse voices to the stage. Professor Stuart Khan, Head of Civil Engineering at the University of Sydney, delivered a compelling analysis of the sector’s progress on recycling, climate adaptation and public engagement, calling for a forward-leaning agenda focused on people and partnerships.
“The water sector needs to focus on workforce, climate adaptation, net zero innovation, engaging communities, and supporting collaborative research – that’s how we’ll be ready for the future.”
Following Khan, Professor Jane Doolan, Director at Southern Rural Water and a member of the Murray–Darling Basin Authority, unpacked three decades of national water reform. Her reflections underlined how vital trust, secure entitlements and integrated policy have been to success – and what’s still needed to keep the momentum going.
“Community engagement and participation is critical. Communities have to support us. We have to be doing what they want.”
Dr Mark Fletcher, Global Water Leader at Arup, took the stage on Day Three of Ozwater’25 to deliver a keynote rich with global insight, water wisdom and opportunity.
With 38 years in the field, Dr Fletcher explored how the UK’s water landscape is shifting – from political reform and privatisation debates, to a bold £50 billion strategic project pipeline focused on building water resilience.
He made the case for decision-making under deep uncertainty, driven not just by climate but also politics and AI. And crucially, he spotlighted opportunities for Australia to collaborate on the UK’s biggest infrastructure transformation in decades.
“Every challenge brings opportunity. We need to work together across borders to restore trust, deliver resilience and drive innovation in water," he said.
“Australia has experience we need. And we have projects you can shape.”
No Ozwater is complete without recognising the outstanding individuals and initiatives shaping our sector’s future. At the 2025 Australian Water Awards, sponsored by ANZ, the room buzzed with celebration as the AWA acknowledged excellence, innovation and leadership across 11 categories.
Water Professional of the Year (sponsored by KSB): Celeste Morgan, Arup – a leader in integrated water management, known for her ambitious vision and collaborative leadership.
Young Water Professional of the Year (sponsored by Xylem): Dr Jessica Bohorquez, Aurecon – whose pioneering research and advocacy is inspiring curiosity and solutions across the sector.
AWA Chief Executive Corinne Cheeseman acknowledged the achievements of all finalists and winners:
“These awards recognise not only excellence, but the commitment our sector has to continually improving how we manage, protect and value water… Their work reminds us that with the right partnerships and purpose, we can rise to any challenge.”
AWA extends its gratitude to all award sponsors – ANZ, Hydroflux, Water Research Australia, Laing O’Rourke, Water Services Association of Australia, Guidera O’Connor, Xylem and KSB Australia – for supporting this celebration of sector achievement.
Want to check out all the award winners? Take a look here.
Ozwater’25 was packed with discussions that dug deep into the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of water.
At the Keep the fire burning panel, Aboriginal leaders and sector professionals shared perspectives on truth-telling, co-design and embedding Indigenous knowledge into governance and practice.
“Listen more, talk less. Country is telling us things – we just have to listen," Yarra Valley Water's Nina Braid said.
Meanwhile, the Challenging Conversations: The Power and Perils of AI panel, proudly sponsored by Aurecon, explored the real-world implications of artificial intelligence across water utilities, governance and service delivery.
“If we bring the same tools and the same thinking to the problems we face now and in future, we’ll get mediocre results," SA Water's Amanda Lewry said.
How can we make climate science more useful for tough water decisions?
That was the core question explored in this compelling Day Two panel, where science met policy head-on. Panellists tackled how to deal with uncertainty, improve science-policy integration, and avoid maladaptation.
“Mega-droughts of 20 years are possible in Australia. The challenge is: how do we translate that uncertainty into something useful for planners?” University of Adelaide 's Georgina Falstersaid.
Ozwater’25 would not have been possible without the incredible support of our sponsors and partners. Huge thanks to our Principal Sponsors – John Holland, SA Water, Osmoflo – and Principal Partners – Adelaide Convention Centre and Business Events Adelaide – for helping bring this event to life.