We’re delighted to announce our keynotes for WATER MANAGEMENT Smart Class 2025 which takes place at Nexus, Leeds, on Wednesday 2nd April:
“Fostering Innovation: Northumbrian Water’s Approach to Driving Transformational Change” –
“Innovation is at the heart of Northumbrian Water’s strategy, ensuring we deliver value to customers, enhance resilience, and drive sustainable water management. But how do you create an environment where innovation thrives?”
Dr. Angela MacOscar, Head of Innovation at Northumbrian Water, will explore the key principles and enablers that embed a successful innovation culture within an organisation.
Angela will showcase how Northumbrian Water is turning bold ideas into reality, highlighting groundbreaking projects that exemplify the power of collaboration and technological advancement. She will delve into:
- National Underground Asset Register – Transforming infrastructure management through industry-wide data sharing.
- Water Cookbook – An asset design standardisation initiative that will enable AMP8 to be more cost effective and faster at deployment.
- Generative AI for Chemical Dosing – Harnessing cutting-edge AI to optimise treatment processes and reduce environmental impact.
- Smart Skies for Healthier Rivers – Using satellite and drone technology to monitor and improve river water quality.
Angela will also discuss the challenges of scaling innovation, sharing insights on overcoming barriers, securing stakeholder buy-in, and fostering effective partnerships across sectors. She will highlight the role of initiatives like the Ofwat Innovation Fund in accelerating progress, as well as the growing importance of international collaboration in shaping the future of water innovation.
Gain valuable insights from this keynote presentation into Northumbrian Water’s innovation journey and discover how organisations can create the right conditions to drive real change in the water sector.
“West Yorkshire Flood Innovation Programme (WYFLIP): Providing a Collaborative Framework for Innovation” – With the impacts of a changing climate increasingly testing the infrastructure and communities of the UK, innovation and collaboration are key factors in successfully increasing the climate resilience of the Yorkshire region.
The West Yorkshire Flood Innovation Programme is intended to make the region more resilient to flooding and climate change. The project is led by five local authorities, as well as a number of key partners including The Environment Agency and West Yorkshire Combined Authority, local stakeholders, academic partners, community based groups, Third Sector organisations and Yorkshire Water.
This keynote – presented by Jonathan Moxon (Leeds City Council’s Executive Manager – Flood & Climate Resilience, and WYFLIP Programme Manager) – takes a look at how this collaborative programme came to be, how it is funded, the successes and challenges to date and its plans for the future.
Highlighting the importance of clear governance and finding new ways to fund and resource collaborative multi-organisational projects and programmes, Jonathan will talk on behalf of the WYFLIP Board on their first 3 years of partnership working to develop a programme based on key themes, clear and open governance and flexibility.
The programme was born out of an unsuccessful FCRIP bid, but a change in approach and learning from elsewhere has helped it develop from a solid base to now have a growing and sustainable future.
“Ensuring High Quality and Sufficient Drinking Water Through Risk-Based Technical Regulation” – Safe, clean drinking water is vital to public health and the wellbeing of our society. This was first recognised in the Public Health Act of 1848 where water should be “pure and wholesome”, enabling the local Board for Health to construct, or contract waterworks. The technology of water treatment and provision has significantly changed over the last 177 years, but the one thing which remains central is that water must be wholesome with the current legislation for which the duty rests on water companies.
The Drinking Water Inspectorate is the statutory technical regulator delegated by the Secretary of State for the Environment to protect public health and the safety and security of our drinking water. As a highly specialist body, the work is wide ranging, covering the supply from source to tap and addressing quality, sufficiency, operational technology and security using a risk-based data-driven methodology to target regulatory priorities and the outcomes of the water companies.
This keynote from DWI Chief Inspector Marcus Rink will provide a short introduction into the Drinking Water Inspectorate and the work of the scientists, analysts and engineers who oversee our drinking water supply arrangements. Marcus will also explore:
- The successes of water industry regulation since 1990
- How does the UK water supply compare to the world?
- And, is there more to do?
WATER MANAGEMENT Smart Class 2024 (hosted at Greencoat Place, London) featured keynote speakers from Anglian Water Services, Ofwat, East Sussex County Council and University of Exeter’s Centre for Water Systems
WATER MANAGEMENT Smart Classes show key stakeholders how deploying the latest digital technology-enabled solutions, data-driven strategies, policies and best practices can help manage the distribution and management of water resources across our cities and regions, and also offers utilities and authorities an opportunity to improve efficiency and customer service, whilst reducing water scarcity and supporting the drive towards a net zero future.
Core themes range from smart leakage detection and miniaturisation of sensors, smarter pressure management, asset tracking and connected water operations, modelling and simulation (incl. digital twins), the water company of the future, smart water gully maintenance and utilising smart meters effectively, to digital apps and platforms for demand management, smart telemetry systems for managing flood risk, sustainable drainage systems, smart sewers and wastewater management, innovations in water purification, smart billing and payments, harnessing AI for automation of customer engagement, and using real-time analytics and drones for monitoring water quality and mapping assets.
Qualifying delegates include commissioning, procurement, innovation, trialling and partnering leads, senior influencers, strategic decision makers, environmental managers, policy makers and planners from UK water companies and utilities, wastewater and sewer operators, lead local flood authorities (unitary authorities and county councils), city/borough/metropolitan councils, district councils, combined authorities, internal drainage boards, regional flood & coastal committees, highways authorities, prime contractors, general insurers, large water consumers, national agencies, central governmental and regulatory bodies (e.g. Defra, DCLG, Ofwat, Environment Agency, DWI, SEPA), independent industry and consumer organisations (e.g. Water UK, CCW), river trusts, NGOs etc.
If you meet the qualification criteria described, REGISTER HERE to claim your free delegate place at WATER MANAGEMENT Smart Class 2025 and join us for what promises to be an insightful half day (8.30am-2.00pm) of collaboration and knowledge exchange!
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:
- Inspirational keynotes on behalf of Northumbrian Water, the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), Leeds City Council and the West Yorkshire Flood Innovation Programme (WYFIP).
- Rapid fire innovator presentations from leading technology experts and thought leaders, each representing a priority water management innovation theme and associated areas of “Smart Water” application. Check out our agenda on the event website for speaker profiles and descriptions of the presentations to be delivered obo Brightly Software, Siemens Smart Infrastructure/Siemens Water, Project Centre, and other digital trailblazers.
- Q&A after every keynote and innovator presentation.
- Deeper-dive roundtable consultations with speakers and specialists to help hone delegates’ smart strategies and address some of their specific water management challenges.
- Further networking opportunities with peers and pioneers over breakfast, drinks and cooked lunch, and all at no charge!
Innovators! Like to book an innovation sponsorship slot?
A limited number of solution vendors can participate at a Smart Class in an “Innovation Sponsor” capacity, and this option is also available to innovative consultancies! We’ve room to accommodate another innovation sponsor at WATER MANAGEMENT Smart Class 2025 and similar opportunities are available for our other 2025 events, including: EMISSIONS & AIR QUALITY Smart Class 2025; TRANSPORT Smart Class, North of England 2025; TRANSPORT Smart Class, Scotland 2025; TRANSPORT Smart Class, London & South East England 2025; PUBLIC REALM & URBAN SPACES Smart Class 2025; and WASTE MANAGEMENT Smart Class 2025.
Check out our Event Sponsorship page for full details on “Smart Class Innovation Sponsorship Packages” or contact us by phone or e-mail if you’d like to discuss further with a member of our team.
Peruse our Testimonials page, the Smart Class event pages on our website and “Retrospective Round-ups” published on the Smart Classes Knowledge Base for feedback from previous delegates, sponsors and supporters! Browse individual Smart Classes from our Events Schedule & Archive.
Feature Image Source: Jamie Street on Pixabay
