Upcoming Events

NT Water in the Bush Conference, Exhibition and Awards Dinner 2025

Written by Kyllie Whitehead | Aug 19, 2025 6:22:38 AM

Now in its 36th year, our Water in the Bush Conference is the Territory’s premier annual water conference connecting water professionals, the community and industry from across Australia to share information and knowledge about the current and future state of the Territory’s water and inspire positive change. This year's Conference will focus on Water Futures: Reform, Resilience and Respect for Water in the North

Featured Speakers:

 

Ministerial Address
The Honourable Joshua Burgoyne, Minister for Water Resources 

Joshua Burgoyne was appointed as a Northern Territory minister in September 2024 with the portfolios of Water Resources; Lands, Planning and Environment; Corporate and Digital Strategy.  Joshua will provide an update on his portfolio & priorities and discuss the NT Government's strategic aspirations.

Territory born and bred, Joshua is passionate about supporting people, having been raised by his parents who worked in the medical industry and police services for over 3 decades. An electrician by trade, Joshua has worked for a small family run business and is passionate about ensuring business and industry has certainty to operate, innovate and invest. 

 

 

Keynote Speaker
Susie Williams,
Regional Director - North West Region
Department of Water and Environmental Regulation

Susie Williams is the North-West Regional Director for the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation and a Director of the Peter Cullen Water and Environment Trust.  Susie is based in Kununurra and oversees water resource management for the Pilbara and Kimberley.  She has extensive expert knowledge of water management in northern Australia and is committed to its sustainable development. She has contributed to national water policy, indigenous water rights, northern development, water allocation and ecological flow regimes in Northern Australia. Susie has unique insights into the challenges and opportunities facing a remote and regional water sector and is driving national leadership development to tackle those issues.

 

Event Details

Conference

Date Thursday 16 (half day) & Friday 17 October 2025 (full day)
Time Thursday: 1:00pm - 4.45pm, Friday 8:00am - 5:45pm ACST
Venue

Darwin Convention Centre, Waterfront Rooms 1 & 2

Address 10 Stokes Hill Rd, Darwin City NT 0800

NT Water Awards Dinner & NT Water Resources Division 70th Anniversary Celebration

Date Thursday, 16 October 2025
Time 6:30pm - 10:30pm ACST
Venue

Halls Concourse, Darwin Convention Centre

Address 10 Stokes Hill Rd, Darwin City NT 0800

Exhibition

Date Friday 17 October 2025 - 1 day only
Time 8.00am - 3:30pm ACST
Venue

Waterfront Rooms 1 & 2 Foyer, Darwin Convention Centre

 

Registration

Registration Type Member  Concession Member Non-Member
Early Bird Pricing until 30th September:
Early Bird Full Registration (Conference & Dinner)
$600 $450 $865
Early Bird Conference Only $415 $350 $605
Early Bird Thursday Conference Only (Half Day, 1:30pm-5pm) $140 $120 $225
Early Bird Friday Conference Only (Full Day 8.30am-5pm) $280 $250 $405
Early Bird Non-member Full Registration + 1 Year AWA Membership 
    $850
Dinner Only (Thursday 16th Oct) $185 $185 $260

Standard Pricing from 1st October:

Standard Full Registration (Conference & Dinner) $665 $500 $930
Standard Conference Only $480 $400 $670
Standard Thursday Conference Only (Half Day, 1.30pm - 5pm) $205 $180 $290
Standard Friday Conference Only (Full Day 8:30am-5pm) $345 $280 $470
Standard Non-Member Full Registration + 1 Year AWA Membership (for new members only)     $915
Dinner Only (Thursday 16th Oct) $220 $220 $310

*Early bird rates are available until 1st October 2025, Concession Member rates apply to AWA Concession Members (students, retirees and YWPs under the age of 25)

The above pricing includes GST. 

Full Registration:
This registration option includes:
- Access to the full conference and 1 ticket to the dinner on Thursday 16th October.
- Catering during the Conference on Thursday 16th and Friday 17th October
- Conference Dinner on Thursday 16th October, from 6:30pm - 10:30pm ACST
 
Conference Only Registration:
- This registration option includes access to the conference only and does not include the dinner.
- This includes catering during the Conference on Thursday 16th and Friday 17th October
 

Dinner Only Registration:
- This registration option is for the dinner on Thursday 16th October only and does not include access to conference sessions.
- Dinner is at the Darwin Convention Centre in the Halls Concourse from 6:30pm - 10:30pm ACST


        
Registrations are due by Friday 3rd October 2025. 

Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities
Are you looking for some branding opportunities to reach people working in Northern Territory water. We have opportunities available for this event as below. You can view the sponsorship prospectus here

Sponsorship Level  Price (exc GST) 
Platinum Conference  SOLD
Gold Conference (2 available) $4,000
Silver Conference  $2,500
Coffee Cart Conference  SOLD
Platinum Dinner  SOLD
Gold Dinner  SOLD
Silver Dinner  $3,000

To find out about sponsorship opportunities, contact Troy: twaite@awa.asn.au

Travel & Accommodation
Neighbouring hotels are pleased to offer guests a 15% discount off the best available rate accommodation subject to availability:

-        Adina Apartment Hotel Darwin Waterfront – 2 min drive/4 min walk
-        Vibe Darwin Waterfront – 2 min drive/5 min walk

If booking over the phone/email directly with the hotel, please use this PROMO CODE: TH2697031

Online Accommodation Booking Link (with discount code applied): Book Now

Not a member?
Join a community of almost 5,000 individual and 500 corporate members driving a sustainable water future through education, engagement, and connection. If you wish to learn more about AWA's membership benefits or join online, visit our website or contact membership@awa.asn.au.

For more information about Water in the Bush Conference, Exhibition, Dinner and NT Water Awards contact:
EVENT:
Kyllie Whitehead, Member Engagement Manager WA & NT | Ph: 02 9467 8420 | E: kwhitehead@awa.asn.au
Sally Lorraine, Events Manager | Ph: 02 9436 0055 E: slorraine@awa.asn.au

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