Event: International Water Association (IWA) – Young Water Professionals (YWP) UK Event 2026

Date: March 2026

Location: Birmingham, UK

Role: Attendee & Senior Mentor / Sector Leader

Type of CPD: Mentoring / capability development / innovation and professional growth

Duration: Full‑day event (keynotes + workshops + mentoring sessions + networking)

Summary of the Event

I attended the IWA Young Water Professionals (YWP) Event 2026 in Birmingham, a national gathering designed to support early‑career professionals across the water sector. The event brought together young engineers, scientists, digital specialists, researchers, utility representatives and industry mentors to explore the future of water, innovation pathways and professional development.

The programme included keynote presentations, technical sessions, interactive workshops and structured mentoring activities. Discussions focused on environmental performance, digital transformation, climate resilience, leadership development, and the skills needed to deliver the sector’s long‑term goals.

As a senior sector mentor, I engaged with YWPs throughout the day, offering guidance on innovation adoption, career development and the importance of cross‑disciplinary collaboration.

My Contribution – Mentor & Sector Leader

• Provided mentoring to early‑career professionals on career pathways, leadership skills and navigating the water‑sector landscape.
• Shared insights on innovation adoption, digital capability and the role of real‑time monitoring in improving environmental performance.
• Supported workshop discussions on climate resilience, data‑driven decision‑making and future skills needs.
• Encouraged YWPs to engage with IWA specialist groups, international programmes and cross‑sector collaboration opportunities.
• Offered feedback on technical ideas and project concepts presented by YWP teams.
• Helped build connections between young professionals and senior leaders across utilities, academia and industry.

Key Themes Covered

International collaboration Opportunities through IWA networks, specialist groups and global events.

Professional development and leadership Skills for future leaders, mentoring, communication and sector engagement.

Digital transformation and real‑time monitoring Sensors, biological and chemical data, digital twins and predictive analytics.

Environmental performance and river health Pollution reduction, transparency, compliance and ecological outcomes.

Climate resilience and adaptation Extreme weather, drought, flooding and long‑term planning.

Innovation and capability building Adoption pathways, cross‑sector learning, regulatory alignment and pilot programmes.