Facilitator
Cat lover and advocate for all small fluffy domestic pets.
Panelists
Dr Georgina Davis
Dr Georgina Davis is the Chief Executive Officer of the Queensland Water Directorate (qldwater). Representing all 73 of Queensland’s urban water providers, qldwater is the peak advocacy body for Queensland’s urban water sector.
Georgina has a strong history in advocacy and leading peak bodies including as CEO for the Waste and Recycling Industry Queensland and previously the Queensland Farmers’ Federation.
Georgina is the Deputy Chair of the Ipswich River Improvement Trust, a Statutory Authority established to protect and improve rivers, responsible for improving the flow of water in rivers to correct erosion and reduce the impact of flood waters.
Steven Kenway is a professor of urban water systems at The University of Queensland (UQ). He is Director of the ARC Training Centre for Climate-Resilient Water, and Engagement Director for ACWEB. His experience spans the water industry, government, and consulting since 1990. His interdisciplinary research covers urban water, energy and greenhouse gas emissions management.
Professor Kenway specializes in quantitative, data-driven analysis to enhance water security, climate-resilience, and circular economy solutions at precinct, catchment, and city scales. His research has shaped more than 50 international policies, strategies, and infrastructure projects, solving complex urban water challenges globally rather than merely shifting problems. He has delivered independently funded presentations over 35 times at major international water forums including the World Water Congress, World Water Forum, World Water Week, and Singapore International Water Week, and has contributed multiple projects for the Water Research Foundation and Asian Development Bank including the Asian Water Development Outlook.
Melanie Grills - Arup
Dr Georgina Davis is the Chief Executive Officer of the Queensland Water Directorate (qldwater). Representing all 73 of Queensland’s urban water providers, qldwater is the peak advocacy body for Queensland’s urban water sector.
Richard Savage
Technical Director, DWS Richard has 40 years’ experience in consulting engineering, all in the water resources and water infrastructure planning space. His engineering experience includes hydrology, yield modelling and all elements of water infrastructure planning, system management and operations optimisation. His work has typically included working with multi-disciplinary teams across the technical, environmental and scientific sectors, as well as collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders (from public authorities to non-government organisations) to address their interests on projects.
He has a BSc and Grad Dip in Civil Engineering and a Grad Cert in Regenerative Agriculture. Richard served on the AWA Qld Branch Committee from 2013-2022, was a co-opted Director of the Water Stewardship Asia Pacific Board from 2013-2016 and was re-elected as a Director in 2025. He is now Technical Director at DWS.
His professional interest in water resources and water supply, and keen interest in the role landscapes play in water resources management, led to his realisation that we have much more a ‘land problem’ in Australia than a ‘water problem’. The idea that even he, as a consulting engineer, was a custodian of country, became central to his thinking. This led to his interest in the food-land-energy-water nexus and how to transform land management practices to improve the state and sustainability of our water resources. Raising awareness and understanding in people is pivotal for this transformation and is a key focus area for Richard.
Richard is a passionate collaborator, hoping that the collective energy and foresight of the incredible people in the water industry can change the way society views and values their association with water.
| Date |
22 April 2026 |
| Time - AEST |
5.00pm - Check in |
| Venue |
John Holland |
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