Join the Regional Champions as we explore one of the most critical challenges facing the water sector today: Failing Safely - How do we plan for a failure, and how do we react?
As systems grow more complex and external pressures intensify, from climate variability and ageing infrastructure to population growth and operational demands, the question is no longer if things will go wrong, but how prepared we are when they do.
This session takes a practical look at failure in the water industry and asks an important question: how do we minimise its impact? Rather than aiming for perfection, we focus on building systems, strategies, and cultures that absorb shocks, recover quickly, and continue to deliver essential services when conditions are at their most challenging.
We will hear from industry speakers who are actively working in this space, sharing real-world experience on planning for uncertainty, embedding resilience into operations, and designing systems that don’t just withstand failure, but soften its impact when it occurs.
This is a conversation about moving from reaction to preparation, and from vulnerability to resilience.
Join us as we examine how the sector can better anticipate disruption, reduce risk, and ensure that when failure does happen, it is managed, contained, and recovered from with minimal impact to communities and services.
There will be five in-person hubs (with food available) as well as online attendance for those that can’t make it to a hub.
| Date | Thursday, 11 June 2026 |
| Time |
In person: 5:30pm - 7.30pm AEST Online: 6pm - 7.30pm AEST) |
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Locations |
Host Location: Sydney Regional Hub: Taree Regional Hub: Dubbo Online |
Speakers
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MC: Annette Davison She won the Australian Water Association’s Water Professional of the Year Award in 2021. In 2024, Annette was recognised internationally as an Exemplar Global Honoree in the Community-Endorsed Consultant category. Annette has guided many organisations globally in developing and implementing water safety and risk management plans. She has numerous publications and is a sought-after speaker and facilitator. Annette is the founder, joint owner, and co-CEO of Risk Edge and co-founder of LIKWD and Water’s Most Unwanted. |
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Jo Preston Jo Preston is a Principal Risk Specialist, at Beca HunterH2O, supporting complex infrastructure, water, and energy projects across Australia and New Zealand. She delivers pragmatic risk management across the project lifecycle, from planning to delivery. Jo is known for her pioneering work on Hunter Waters Enterprise Risk Management Framework and risk appetite statements, structured approach, strong stakeholder engagement, and ability to embed effective risk frameworks that improve decision‑making and project outcomes. |
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Nick Fisher Nick Fisher is the Managing Director of 360 Engineering, an Australian-based engineering consultancy specialising in automation, telemetry, SCADA, PLC and control systems for the water and wastewater sector. Based in Sydney, Nick leads the strategic direction and growth of the business, with a strong focus on delivering practical, reliable and innovative control systems solutions for utilities and infrastructure clients across Australia. Under his leadership, 360 Engineering has built a reputation for combining technical expertise with a collaborative, client-focused approach to problem solving in the water industry. Nick has extensive experience working across water and wastewater infrastructure projects, supporting utilities in improving operational efficiency, system reliability, and digital integration of assets. He is actively engaged in industry events and discussions focused on innovation, automation and the future of water system management. He is also involved in broader sector engagement through conferences and industry forums, contributing to knowledge sharing and the advancement of engineering practice within the water sector. |
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Kerry Murphy Kerrie Murphy is the Director Infrastructure at Coonamble Shire Council in regional New South Wales. In this role, she leads a diverse portfolio spanning water and sewer services, roads and bridges, stormwater, emergency management, recreation facilities, and other key community infrastructure across the shire.
Kerrie plays a central role in delivering essential infrastructure outcomes for the Coonamble community, with a strong focus on operational resilience, asset management, and service reliability in a regional context. She works closely with Council leadership and stakeholders to ensure infrastructure planning and delivery supports both current community needs and long-term regional sustainability.
Her work reflects a deep commitment to improving essential services in rural and remote communities, particularly in the areas of water, utilities, and essential public infrastructure.
Kerrie brings extensive experience in local government infrastructure leadership and was recently recognised within the sector for her contribution to leadership, engineering excellence and regional service delivery. |