Ozwater’26 wraps up today with another strong line-up of panels, workshops and networking opportunities, before closing with one of the conference’s most anticipated keynote speakers. Day Three is all about reflection, resilience and looking ahead, with conversations spanning climate adaptation, circular water markets, water quality and community outcomes.
Closing Ozwater’26 is internationally renowned keynote speaker Professor Arnold Dix, widely recognised for his leadership during the 2023 Silkyara-Barkot Tunnel rescue in India, where 41 workers were trapped underground for 17 days.
A barrister, geologist, engineer and globally respected tunnelling expert, Professor Dix is known internationally as “the tunnel guy” – the person called when situations are at their most difficult and complex. Combining extraordinary technical expertise with compassion, calm leadership and humanity, his keynote will explore resilience, teamwork and decision-making under pressure, offering a powerful reminder of what can be achieved even in the face of immense challenge.
Here’s what to keep an eye on throughout the final day of Ozwater’26.
Before delegates head home, there’s still plenty happening across the conference floor and program streams.
Education Hub – Day Three: Pathways into the water industry
Day Three of the Education Hub gives senior secondary school students a deeper, more applied look at careers in water through immersive activities and real-world problem solving.
Students will take part in the Extreme Event disaster simulation, where they’ll respond to infrastructure and flooding scenarios in fast-paced team environments, while workshops and presentations explore how STEM skills connect to diverse water career pathways. The day also includes reconciliation-focused activities examining the relationship between water, culture and community.
Closing Networking Drinks (3.30pm–4.30pm, Mezzanine Foyer)
Before the curtain closes on Ozwater’26, delegates are invited to gather for informal farewell drinks and one last opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, exhibitors and new connections made throughout the week.
The final day’s panel program continues the conversation on resilience, adaptation and long-term sustainability, with sessions exploring water access, climate risk, circular economies and future-focused planning.
Here are a few highlights worth adding to your schedule:
Supporting remote First Nations communities to access clean water and sanitation
This panel explores the Reece Foundation’s clean water and sanitation project supporting the First Nations communities of Mudnunn and Lullumb on the Dampier Peninsula.
The session will examine how the solution was co-designed alongside the Bardi-Jawi Peoples to ensure it is culturally appropriate, sustainable and community-led, while highlighting the role of trade volunteers supporting implementation.
Unlocking circular water markets
Presented in partnership with AWA, Circular Australia, Arup and SUEZ, this session will share findings from the Circular Water Taskforce’s Unlocking Circular Water Markets report.
Discussions will focus on the policy, investment and partnership shifts needed to accelerate circular water use across Australia and create more resilient, sustainable water systems.
Our Water, Our Tomorrow: Safeguarding water quality in a changing climate
Blending technical expertise, Indigenous science perspectives and interactive discussion, this session explores how climate change is reshaping water quality risks and management approaches.
Using case studies, storytelling and live engagement tools, the workshop will examine lessons from past events alongside emerging technologies such as AI, machine learning, IoT and Earth Observation systems that could support future water quality management.
Compelling cases for effective adaptation
Senior executives from across the water sector will come together to discuss how organisations can better communicate the need for climate adaptation and resilience investment.
The panel will explore strategies for engaging regulators, customers, stakeholders and elected officials while navigating the complex challenges associated with climate risk, infrastructure investment and long-term planning.
As Ozwater’26 comes to a close, today offers one final opportunity to reconnect with peers, reflect on the week’s conversations and take fresh ideas back into organisations and communities across the country. Thank you for being part of it – enjoy the final day!