--- title: NSW President’s Update description: NSW Branch President Clarissa Phillips reflects on a busy few months for the NSW Branch Committee. image: https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/Clarissa_Phillips_photo_landscape_format.jpg --- [![Indigo by AWA logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Indigo_colour.png?height=24&name=Indigo_colour.png)](https://indigo.awa.asn.au/) [![Ozwater logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Ozwater.png?height=24&name=Ozwater.png)](https://www.ozwater.org/) [![Careers in Water logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Careers%20in%20Water_colour.png?height=24&name=Careers%20in%20Water_colour.png)](https://www.careersinwater.com.au/) [![NWW logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/NWW.png?height=24&name=NWW.png)](https://www.nationalwaterweek.org/) - [Join ![user icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-nav-user-icon.svg "user icon")](https://www.awa.asn.au/new-registration) - 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I would like to thank all our members for their support. Our regional NSW conference was held in Albury this year with the theme *Water: unlocking a regional sustainable future*. The conference commenced with a picturesque site tour to the Hume Dam, followed by two full days of presentations, workshops and networking.  The conference was the perfect opportunity to expand our reach and discuss some of the issues faced in regional NSW. We had an interactive panel on attracting, training and retaining staff in the water industry, facilitated by Lisa Andersons. The panel highlighted how critical it is for our sector to attract and retain diverse skills into the industry. We now have good insights into the current issues we are facing and meaningful pathways for us to move forward with. I would like to congratulate our best paper winner Melissa Katon, Sydney Water, who presented on the topic “Empowering Neurodiversity and Disability in the Water Industry”. This was a standout presentation and Melissa’s win was well deserved. Thank you everyone who attended and supported our regional conference and a huge thank you to the organising committee for their hard work. [View all the photos from the event here](https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBFkmV). We are proud to announce that the NSW Water Professional of the Year, proud Gomeroi man Professor Leslie (Phil) Duncan, also won the 2024 Water Professional of the Year award at Ozwater’24 in Melbourne. Congratulations to Phil for this outstanding achievement.    We continue our commitment to increase the visibility and impact of the AWA. We had our first roundtable discussion with NSW Water Minister Rose Jackson, where we had key representatives from the AWA and regional water utilities to engage in an open, solutions-focused discussion covering water security and quality in regional NSW, as well as skills and training in the water sector. The roundtable was very successful, and we have some actions and recommendations for the minister to consider.  The Newcastle sub-committee held Projects in the Pub, where five guest speakers shared a highlighted version of their Ozwater’24 presentations and experience for those that were unable to attend the conference this year. And the YWP cocktail event did not disappoint, once again! The night was a huge success with the theme of Retro Disco, I was very impressed with the amount of effort that went into the costumes. Well done to the organising committee, everyone enjoyed the cocktails, games and networking. [View all the photos from the night here](https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBz6QR). We have the following events coming up: - [NSW Industry Breakfast: 16 October](https://www.awa.asn.au/upcoming-events/nsw-mins-breakfast23-0) - [Cyber Security Workshop: 17 October](https://www.awa.asn.au/upcoming-events/nsw-tech-oct-2024) - [Legends of Water: 3 December](https://www.awa.asn.au/upcoming-events/nsw-legends-of-water-2024-0) [ Leadership ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/leadership) [ Membership ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/membership) [ NSW ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/nsw) [ Australian Water Association (AWA) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/awa) [ Workplace ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/workplace) [ NSW Branch Committee ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/nsw-branch-committee) Share [![email icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-email.svg "email icon") ](mailto:?subject=NSW%20President’s%20Update&body=Check%20out%20https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/nsw-presidents-update-september-2024) [![facebook-icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-facebook.svg "facebook icon") ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/nsw-presidents-update-september-2024) [![LinkedIn icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-linkedin.svg "LinkedIn icon") ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/nsw-presidents-update-september-2024) [![Twitter icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-twitter.svg "Twitter icon") ](https://twitter.com/home?status=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/nsw-presidents-update-september-2024) ## RELATED NEWS [![](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Nanda_Altavilla_NSW_Heads_of_Water_2024.jpg?width=352&name=Nanda_Altavilla_NSW_Heads_of_Water_2024.jpg) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/an-update-from-the-nsw-branch-march-2024) ### [ An update from the NSW Branch ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/an-update-from-the-nsw-branch-march-2024) Nanda Altavilla NSW Branch President Nanda Altavilla reflects on the past few months. [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/an-update-from-the-nsw-branch-march-2024) [![](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/sydney-6803993_1280_pixabay.jpg?width=352&name=sydney-6803993_1280_pixabay.jpg) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/an-end-of-year-update-from-the-nsw-branch) ### [ An end of year update from the NSW Branch ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/an-end-of-year-update-from-the-nsw-branch) Nanda Altavilla NSW Branch President Nanda Altavilla reflects on a terrific year in the NSW space. [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/an-end-of-year-update-from-the-nsw-branch) [![](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/sydney-6803993_1280_pixabay.jpg?width=352&name=sydney-6803993_1280_pixabay.jpg) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/an-update-from-the-nsw-branch) ### [ An update from the NSW Branch ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/an-update-from-the-nsw-branch) Nanda Altavilla NSW Branch President Nanda Altavilla reflects on a packed few months in the NSW space. [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/an-update-from-the-nsw-branch) Advertising --- ### Subscribe to our newsletters Sign up to get the latest news and insights from us Advertising --- ![white arrow pointing upwards](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-white-arrow-up.svg) Top [![Footer-logo-02](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/Footer-logo-02.svg) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/) The **Australian Water Association** acknowledges the Traditional Custodians across Australia, where we live, work and play, for their deep connection to our precious waters and land. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and the ancestors who have cared, protected and nurtured Country for many thousands of years.   Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, voices, and names of people who have passed away. 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