Event: Institute of Water Annual Conference 2024

Date: September 2024

Location: Lincoln, UK

Role: Invited Speaker (IWA Session)

Type of CPD: Sector leadership / innovation and environmental performance / professional engagement

Duration: Full‑day conference (speaking + participation + networking)

Summary of the Event

I participated as an IWA Speaker at the Institute of Water Annual Conference 2024 in Lincoln, a flagship UK event bringing together utilities, regulators, technology innovators, environmental organisations and supply‑chain partners. The conference explored the sector’s response to increasing expectations around environmental performance, digital transformation, customer trust and PR24 delivery.

The 2024 programme focused on river health, storm overflow reform, climate resilience, innovation adoption, and the role of high‑resolution data in strengthening operational and environmental outcomes. The event provided a platform for sharing best practice, showcasing new technologies and discussing the future direction of the UK water sector.

My session contributed to the IWA’s focus on innovation, digital capability and environmental improvement.

My Contribution: IWA Speaker

Presentation Title: Biological Insight for Better Outcomes: Real‑Time Data Driving Environmental Performance

Key messages delivered:

• Demonstrated how real‑time biological monitoring provides early‑warning capability and supports stable, compliant wastewater treatment.
• Highlighted the role of microbial activity sensing in improving treatment resilience, reducing pollution risk and strengthening environmental transparency.
• Positioned biological data as a critical missing layer in digital optimisation, predictive analytics and automated decision‑making.
• Emphasised the importance of integrated data ecosystems combining biological, chemical and physical parameters.
• Encouraged utilities to adopt evidence‑driven innovation pathways aligned with PR24 and long‑term delivery strategies.
• Reinforced the value of collaboration between utilities, innovators and regulators in scaling technologies that deliver measurable environmental outcomes.

Engagement with delegates:

• Participated in Q&A on digital transformation, environmental monitoring and innovation adoption.
• Held follow‑up discussions with utilities exploring biological monitoring pilots and capability building.
• Supported IWA’s mission to strengthen professional development and knowledge exchange across the sector.

Key Themes Covered

Climate resilience and long‑term planning Managing extreme weather, asset vulnerability and sustainability.

Environmental performance and river health Monitoring transparency, compliance expectations and ecological outcomes.

Storm overflow reform Data requirements, enforcement, investment and targeted interventions.

Digital transformation and predictive operations AI, automation, digital twins and integrated data platforms.

Advanced sensing and real‑time monitoring Biological, chemical and physical sensors for operational and environmental insight.

Innovation adoption and scaling Pilots, procurement, capability building and cross‑sector collaboration.