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AWA/IWA Young Water Professionals Conference and Ball 2026

5 Aug, 2026 - 6 Aug, 2026 |

8:30AM - 5:00PM |

Pullman East Melbourne

Join the Young Water Professionals in Melbourne in August 2026 to explore how to align innovative solutions to real challenges faced by communities, and how to shape policies that respond to genuine needs both now and into the future.

The water sector is full of bold ideas and inspiring visions for a sustainable future. However, visions alone aren’t enough, we need inspiring professionals to turn them into reality. The 2026 Young Water Professionals Conference theme, From Vision to Action, focuses on bridging the gap between ambition and implementation. Young Water Professionals are the future pillars of the water sector and have the responsibility to drive meaningful change today, for an inclusive and resilient water future tomorrow. From climate resilience to digital transformation, community engagement to emerging leaders, this conference is about realising these big dreams through highlighting practical actions that build off the wealth of knowledge and diverse perspectives in the water sector.

This event is supported by the International Water Association.

Keynote Speakers:

Mandhy Senewiratne
Sustainability Champion, Major Capital Delivery, Melbourne Water

Mandhy Senewiratne
Sustainability Champion, Major Capital Delivery, Melbourne Water

Mandhy is a Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv MIWater) and Chartered Water and Environmental Manager (C.WEM CIWEM) and now has more letters after her name, than in her last name, it is quite a feat.

By day she is the Sustainability Champion for Melbourne Waters Capital Delivery Team (that means she works in construction) splitting her time between site and developing new tools and strategies. By night, she is a Trainer and Assessor for the UK water industry, delivering online specialist training in carbon, sustainability, emerging pollutants and plastics.

With a raft of multi-disciplinary qualifications ranging from Scrum Master to CAVA Qualified Assessor, and previous BREEAM and ISC Assessor Status, Mandhy brings over a decade of international, across the sustainability spectrum. However her proudest awards moment are winning best dressed at the AWA YWA Ball in 2023 and 2024.

Declan Headshot
Declan Clausen
Group Manager Strategy & External Affairs, Hunter Water

Declan Clausen
Group Manager Strategy & External Affairs, Hunter Water

Declan Clausen is Group Manager Strategy & External Affairs at Hunter Water, where he leads corporate strategy, community research and government relations. An environmental engineer, he is also the longest serving Councillor for the City of Newcastle and served seven years as Deputy Lord Mayor, championing sustainability, climate action and long-term urban planning. Declan holds a Masters in Sustainable Urban Development from the University of Oxford and serves on several not-for-profit and governance boards. In 2026, he was named both the NSW and Australian Young Water Professional of the Year.

PANEL: Leadership for Lasting Impact: What capabilities do YWPs need to lead beyond today’s challenges?

Meet the Panellists:

Lindsey Brown
Australian Market Leader – Water, GHD

Emma Milburn
Group Manager Operational Planning and Performance, South East Water

Soyun Punyadasa
Business Development and Growth Manager, CMP Consulting Group

Kevin Werksman
Chief Executive Officer, SUEZ

Panel facilitated by Maxime Porcheron, YWP Committee

Event Details

Date	Wednesday, 5 August - Thursday, 6 August 2026
Time	8:00am - 5:00pm AEST
Venue	Pullman East Melbourne (previously known as Pullman Melbourne On The Park)
Address	192 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne VIC 3002

YWP Ball

Date	Wednesday, 5 August 2026
Time	6:30pm - 11:00pm AEST
Venue	Pullman East Melbourne (previously known as Pullman Melbourne On The Park)
Address	192 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne VIC 3002
Theme	Superheroes and Villains

Site Tours

Hosted by: TRILITY

This tour will showcase TRILITY’s advanced recycled water production at the Yarra Park Water Recycling Facility, a Class A scheme serving the Melbourne Cricket Ground precinct. This tour will demonstrate how the underground plant integrates screening, grit removal, biological nitrogen removal, membrane bioreactor treatment, ultrafiltration, and dual UV/chlorine disinfection to reliably supply fit-for-purpose recycled water. Participants will explore how the facility supports non-potable demand management, regulatory compliance, and asset optimisation in a high-profile urban setting, while reducing potable water consumption by more than 180 million litres annually.

This site tour is available at 4 different times:

Group 1: Tuesday, 4 August 2026, 12:45pm	Group 2: Friday, 7 August 2026, 8:45am - SOLD OUT
Date: Tuesday, 4 August 2026 Time: 12:45pm Duration: 1 hour & 5 minutes including travel Schedule: 12:45pm Delegates meet at the Pullman East Melbourne 12:55pm Depart Pullman East Melbourne 1:00pm Arrive at site 1:45pm Depart site 1:50pm Arrive back to Pullman East Melbourne	Date: Friday, 7 August 2026 Time: 8:45am Duration: 1 hour & 5 minutes including travel Schedule: 8:45am Delegates meet at the Pullman East Melbourne 8:55am Depart Pullman East Melbourne 9:00am Arrive at site 9:45am Depart site 9:50am Arrive back to Pullman East Melbourne
Group 3: Tuesday, 4 August 2026, 1:45pm	Group 4: Friday, 7 August 2026, 9:45am
Date: Tuesday, 4 August 2026 Time: 1:45pm Duration: 1 hour & 5 minutes including travel Schedule: 1:45pm Delegates meet at the Pullman East Melbourne 1:55pm Depart Pullman East Melbourne 2:00pm Arrive at site 2:45pm Depart site 2:50pm Arrive back to Pullman East Melbourne	Date: Friday, 7 August 2026 Time: 9:45am Duration: 1 hour & 5 minutes including travel Schedule: 9:45am Delegates meet at the Pullman East Melbourne 9:55am Depart Pullman East Melbourne 10:00am Arrive at site 10:45am Depart site 10:50am Arrive back to Pullman East Melbourne

PPE Requirements:

• Long Sleeves
• Long Pants
• Closed-toe Shoes
• Host will provide temporary hi-vis vests upon arrival

Catering
Not included

Cost
Member: $20.00
Non-Member: $28.00

Registration

Registration Type	Member	Non-Member
Early Bird* Full Registration (inc Ball)	$576.00	$806.40
Early Bird* Ball Only Registration	$195.30	$273.42
Early Bird* Full Registration + 1 Year AWA Membership		$819.00
Full Registration (inc Ball)	$640.00	$896.50
YWP Ball Only Registration	$217.00	$303.80
Full Registration + 1 Year AWA Membership		$910.00

*Early Bird rate available until 3 July 2026

If you need assistance justifying your registration for this event to your employer, please use the Justification Letter guide below.

If you wish to find out more about AWA's membership benefits, contact membership@awa.asn.au.

Accommodation

You can access discounted accommodation thanks to Accommodation Link below.

Sponsorship Opportunities

For more information please contact:

EVENT:
Carlie Sargent, Manager Membership and Programs | P: 02 9467 8451 | E: CSargent@awa.asn.au
Natasha Sharrock, VIC Member Engagement Manager | P: 02 9467 8423 | E: NSharrock@awa.asn.au
Madeleine Vumbaca, Event Co-ordinator | P: 02 9467 8427| E: MVumbaca@awa.asn.au

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:
Troy Waite, Partnerships and Sponsorships Manager | P: 02 9467 8426 | E: TWaite@awa.asn.au

Thank you to our AWA/IWA YWP Conference and Ball 2026 Sponsors

Gold Sponsor