"Making Smart Water Mainstream"
The SWAN 13th Annual Conference will be held May 9-11, 2023 at the Crowne Plaza Glasgow in Scotland. How do we move the industry from early adopters to the early majority? Our theme, "Making Smart Water Mainstream" will focus on the practical, "how to" value of taking the smart water journey by navigating through current, global utility challenges. 

Our hybrid format will enable online attendees to live stream select sessions or view them on-demand.

​Scroll down to view the full agenda.
Tuesday, May 9th
Join us on May 9th for three, pre-Conference Workshops focused on Digital Twins, Scaling Innovation, and Data Storytelling (for Young Professionals)
(Click below to learn more)
4:30 – 5:30 pm          Welcome Drinks Sponsored by StormHarverster
Wednesday, May 10th
The Conference will take place in-person with select, live-streaming options. 
*All times below are in Glasgow GMT and content is subject to change.
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8:00 – 9:00 am           Conference Registration & Coffee
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9:00 – 9:10 am           Conference Introduction 
Nadia Abboud, President (ENAY Group) & Tom Freyberg, Founder & Managing Director (Atlantean Media)
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9:10 – 9:30 am            Keynote: Simon Parsons, Director of Strategic Customer Service Planning (Scottish Water) "Data Data Everywhere, But Not a Drop to Drink"

9:30 – 10:30 am          Practical Lessons for Organising for Digital Innovation
Moderator:  Rob Mustard, Director of Transformation & Digital (Scottish Water)
Speakers: ​
  • Reginal Joseph, Assistant Commissioner for Digital Transformation (New York City Dept. of Environmental Protection, US) “Digital Transformation in Water and Wastewater Treatment: NYCDEP Lessons Learned”
  • Louise Meadows, Chief People Officer (Greater Western Water, Australia) “Greater Western Water's Culture-Led Integration”
  • Amanda Bridger, Head of Change and Programmes (Anglian Water Services, UK) “Creating Exploratory Working Climates for the Achievement of Innovation Goals”​

10:30 – 11:00 am         Refreshments and Networking

11:00 – 11:45 am          Assessing Value: Quantifying Integrated ROI
Moderator: Andrew Burrows, Partner (PA Consulting)
Speakers: ​
  • Nele Philips, Program Manager R&D (De Watergroup, Belgium) “Assessing the Value of R&D Projects: Methodology and Use Case at De Watergroep”
  • Janelle Boelter, Director of Infrastructure Management (Las Vegas Valley Water District, US) “What’s the ROI: I don’t know, and I don’t care​”
  • Ben Stanford, Associate Vice President (Hazen and Sawyer) “Understanding the ROI In Smart Infrastructure Projects Helps Accelerate Adoption”​

11:45 – 12:30 pm          Easing the Smart Metering Journey          
Moderator: Nav Otal, Director of Utilities (City of Bellevue, US)
Speakers: ​​
  • Karl Cilia, CEO (Water Services Corporation, Malta) “Implementation of Smart Metering Technology in Malta” 
  • Siya Bashe, Director, Commercial Services Department - Water and Sanitation Directorate (City Cape Town, South Africa) “How the Disciplined Secures Innovative Projects”​
  • Antonio de Castro, Project Technical Manager (Canal de Isabel II, Spain) “Leveraging the Power of Smart Meters in Large Utilities: The Case of Canal de Isabel II”
12:30 – 1:30 pm            Networking Lunch

1:30 – 2:15 pm              Remote Monitoring to Drive Condition Assessment
Moderator: Dave Collins, Associate Director (Atkins) ​
Speakers: ​
  • Keith Kolkebeck, Director of SCADA (Veolia) “7+ Year Journey to Smart Water at Veolia - Starting with the Foundation”
  • Juan David Santamaría Sánchez, Solutions Engineer (Syrinix) “Automatic Transient Source Triangulation in the Netherlands”
  • Chloé Meyer, Senior Analyst (Bluefield Research) “Seeing Things: The Coming Wave of Remote Asset Monitoring”
2:15 – 3:30 pm             Interactive Roundtable Session (More topics coming soon)
  • Empowering Teams by Embedding Digital Solutions in Day to Day Processes - The Challenges and Opportunities Led by Emily Timmins, Director of Water Recycling (Anglian Water) & Brian Moloney, Managing Director (StormHarvester)
  • Maximising Network Performance: Understanding the True Value of Data and Analytics Led by Phil Tomlinson, Commercial Director - EMEA (Metasphere)
  • How Would Regulation Change if the Industry Adopted more Digital Solutions? Led by Jamie Huntingdon, UK Account Executive (Kando)
  • How to go from a Data-Driven to Insights-Driven Organisation Led by Jennifer Baldwin, Digital OneWater Director (Jacobs)
  • How Regulations & Sustainability Commitments are Driving Digital Twin Adoption – Executive Perspectives and Experiences Led by Cecilia Correia, Senior Water Solutions Manager (Bentley Systems Inc.)
  • Proof of Concept to Wider Scale Business as Usual – Challenges in Adoption in Disruptive Technology Led by Ruth Clarke, Innovation Manager & Rebecca Willey, Technical Solutions Engineer (Innovyze, an Autodesk company)
  • Methodologies & Challenges in Developing a Digital Transformation Strategy & Roadmap Led by Scott Branum, Principle Technologist & Fellow - Digital (Evoqua Water Technologies)
  • Overcoming Infobesity & Human-Driven Resistance Roadblocks Led by Leela Krishna Sriramula, Chief Business Officer (SpaceAge Labs)
  • Exploring Digitization at Scale: Successes, Failures & Key Takeaways Led by Gerhard Loots, CEO (Kallipr)​
  • Importance of DMA Boundary Valves & other Critical Valves – Using IoT for Asset Management & Valve Verification Led by David Hurley, Director & Rob Edwards – Smart Water Specialist (AVK UK Smart Water)
  • Optimising Water/Wastewater Processes through Digitalisation and Data Utilisation – Dutch Innovative Solutions & Experiences from International Water Utilities Led by Tom Williams, British Water International Forum Chair & Stefan Bergsma, International Business Developer (Water Alliance)
  • The Wastewater Control Room of the Future: Intelligent Data, Smart Capital, Optimised Networks & Environmental Management Led by Roseline Klein, International Business Development Manager (SUEZ Smart Solutions)
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​3:30 – 4:00 pm             Refreshments and Networking
4:00 – 4:15 pm             SWAN Update & Awards
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​4:15 – 4:40 pm              Waterside Chat: AI & Water - Hype or Reality?
​Moderator: Tom Freyberg, Founder & Managing Director (Atlantean Media)
  • Stephanie Leblanc, Sr. Manager, Information & Technology Technology (Halifax Water, Canada)
  • Michael Allen, CTO - Water & Commercial Software & IoT (TeamSolve)

4:40 – 5:30 pm             Collaborating to Scale Innovation
Moderator: Scott Branum, Principal Technologist & Fellow - Digital (Evoqua Water Technologies) ​
Speakers: ​​
  • Ian Pemberton, Principal - Water Environment Science and Technology (Oftwat, UK) "Promoting Efficiency, The Role of Price Review and the Innovation Fund"​
  • Stephane Gervais, EVP Strategic Innovation & Smart Data (LACROIX Group) “Using Artificial Intelligence with IoT for Water Networks: From Co-Innovation to Deployment 1 Year After”
  • Emma Milburn, Marketing and Partner Director (Iota, South East Water, Australia) “The Successful Transformation of a Utility at Scale”
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5:30 – 5:40 pm             Summary and Conclusion 
Nadia Abboud, President (ENAY Group) & Tom Freyberg, Founder & Managing Director (Atlantean Media)

6:30 – 8:00 pm            Drinks Reception on the Tall Ship Sponsored by ExploreAI
Thursday, May 11th

*Day 2 will begin with two, separate water and wastewater tracks in different Conference rooms until lunch (only the water track will be live-streamed)
Water Track (Argyll Suite)
​Sponsored by Arcadis
 
9:00 – 9:10 am         Welcome Remarks by Jim Cooper, Global Director for Water Optimisation (Arcadis)

9:10 – 10:00 am       Leak Optimisation: A UK Perspective
Moderator: Victoria Edwards, CEO & Co-Founder (FIDO)
Speakers: ​
  • Scott Young, Economic Demand Manager for Strategy Innovation (Scottish Water, UK) & Dr. Gurch Chana, Director of GCR Tech (Mobiltex Data Ltd.) “Transient Detection with High-Speed Dataloggers Enables Targeted Burst Reduction and Creates Millions in Savings for Scottish Water”
  • Tanya Dady, Asset Strategy Manager (SES Water, UK) & David Kenny, International Sales Director (Mueller Water Products) “DMA Asset Health: A Holistic Approach to Network Asset Management”
  • Stuart Mawditt, Managing Director (SME Water) “Paradigm: Delivering Demand Insights for the UK Water Industry”

10:00 – 10:30 am      Refreshments and Networking

10:30 – 11:15 am        Leak Optimisation: A Portuguese Perspective
Moderator: João Cabrita, Head of Contract Management (ERSAR) 
Speakers: ​
  • Andrew Donnelly, Board Advisor/Head of Water Loss and I&I Control Department (EPAL, SA, Portugal) “Maximising Use of Network Monitoring & Leakage Management Systems in Times of Crisis: Through COVID and Drought at EPAL and Águas do Vale do Tejo”
  • Ana Rita Santos, Hydraulic Engineer (AGS, Portugal) “AGS’s Journey through the Implementation of a Performance Based Agreement in Romania to Reduce Non-Revenue Water”
  • Ricardo Gentil Lopes Ferreira, Civil Engineer (Águas e Energia do Porto, EM, Portugal) “Repair Leaks ASAP: Advanced Tool for Identifying Leaks Nests in the Water Supply System”
    ​
11:15 – 12:00 pm         H2Know Your Water Quality
Moderator: Jordi Raich, Sr. Manager Analytical Solutions (Badger Meter)
Speakers: ​​
  • Dr. John Gaffney, Product Owner – Water Quality (Siemens) “Enabling Water Quality IoT Monitoring with an As-a-Service Business Model”
  • Breda Moore, Technical Director (Aquamonitrix)
  • Leela Krishna Sriramula, Chief Business Officer (SpaceAge Labs)
Wastewater Track (Castle Suite)
​Sponsored by Arcadis

9:00 – 9:10 am          Welcome Remarks by Anusha Shah, Senior Director (Arcadis) & Incoming President (Institution of Civil Engineers)
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9:10 – 10:00 am         Sewer Monitoring Optimisation: A UK Perspective
Moderator:  Mahesh Lunani, Founder & CEO (Aquasight)
​Speakers: ​​​
  • Dr. Nick Mills, Head of Clean Rivers & Seas Task Force​ (Southern Water, UK) & Brian Moloney, CEO (Stormharvester) “Enhancing Wastewater Network Performance through AI at Southern Water”
  • Smart Waste (Thames Water, UK) & Ross McIntosh, Technical Director (ExploreAI) “Understanding Sewer Network Dynamics to Reduce Networks Pollutions"
  • Katy Bevan, Programme Delivery Manager (United Utilities, UK) & Nathan Muggeridge, Head of UK Operations (VAPAR)
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10:00 – 10:30 am       Refreshments and Networking
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10:30 – 11:15 am         Sewer Monitoring Optimisation: Global Perspectives
Moderator: Carmen Snowdon, Director of Commercial Services (WRc Group)
 Speakers: ​
  • Marco Westergren, Chief Analytics Officer (InfoTiles) “Locating and Quantifying Inflow & Infiltration in the Wastewater Network through Machine Learning”
  • Tom Woolley, VP Global Sales (Optimatics) “Optimisation of Wastewater Networks before Capital Investment”
  • Ramesh Mani, Director of Products (Jacobs) “Driving Prescriptive Asset Management for Buried Sewer Infrastructure with Artificial Intelligence”

​11:15 – 12:00 pm          Operationalising Smart Wastewater Technology
Moderator: Emma Harris, Head of Smart Hub (Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, UK)
Speakers: ​
  • Tom Davies, Deputy Executive Manager – PDCA (Trinity River Authority of Texas, US) & Sahil Chaini, Senior Manager, Customer Success (Transcend Software) “Trinity River Authority Incorporates Generative Design Software into its RFP”
  • Paolo Gelli, Responsible for Operations Idrico Area, Bologna (Hera Group, Italy) “Improving Soil Health through High Quality Repurposed Sludge by using Live Wastewater Data”​
  • Natalie Lamb, National Water Industry Account Manager (QuadraChem Laboratories) "SENTRY: Using Real Time Microbial Performance Monitoring for Energy Optimisation in Wastewater Treatment”

12:00 – 1:00 pm        Networking Lunch

1:00 – 2:00 pm          SWAN Masterclasses

Masterclass #1: "Embracing Brilliant Failures" 
Learn how to embrace failures or unexpected outcomes to best prevent repeating mistakes and uncover strategies to build organisational resilience. 
Lead facilitators: Amir Cahn, CEO and Shirley Ben-Dak, Senior Advisor (SWAN Forum)
Virtual welcome and setting the context by Paul Iske, Chief Failure Officer (Institute of Brilliant Failures)

Masterclass #2: "Cities Adapting to New Realities: From Risk to Water Security"
Learn how cities can benchmark themselves against risks across infrastructure and governance to help plan for a smarter and more resilient future. 
Lead facilitators: Cody Pope, Chief Innovation Officer (Vector Center) and Fredrick Royan, VP Sustainability and Circular Economy (Frost & Sullivan)

2:05 – 2:50 pm          Adapting to New Climate Realities
Moderator: Johanna Money, Researcher (Scottish Enterprise)
Speakers:
  • Yahya Ugrader, Net Zero Carbon Project Manager (Environment Agency, UK) & Paul Kirkup, Associate Director (Jacobs) “Implementing Condition Based Maintenance at Pumping Stations that Manage Flood Risk”
  • Joukje Keuning, Program Manager Infra2025 (Vitens, Netherlands) & Rogier de Groot, Business Development Manager (Samotics) “Energy Optimisation of a Pumping Station via Smart Algorithms at Drinking Water Utility Vitens”
  • Raisa Kyrönseppä, Development Engineer, Water Distribution (Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority, Finland) “Forecasting as a Main Tool to Control Water Distribution”

2:50 – 3:10 pm           Refreshments and Networking​

3:10 – 4:00  pm          Closing the Divide in Emerging Markets
Moderator: ​Helen Hulett, New Business Director (Talbot Group Ltd)
Speakers:
  • Ir. Abas Abdullah, Acting CEO (Air Selangor, Malaysia) “Air Selangor's Digitalisation Journey”
  • Kwanele G Sibanda, Local Project Coordinator (City of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe) “Smart Pressure Management”
  • Sourav Daspatnaik, Managing Director (Swach Environment Private Limited, India

4:00 – 4:20 pm           Keynote: Emily Timmins, Director of Water Recycling (Anglian Water Services, UK)
"Reality Check: Making Smart Water Mainstream"

4:20 – 4:30 pm          Closing Remarks
Jennifer Rebeiro, Chief Transformation Officer (Greater Western Water) & Council Chair (SWAN Forum)
Friday, May 12th
Scottish Water Study Tour
SWAN is partnering with Scottish Water to host two simultaneous study tours, one to their Intelligent Control Centre and the second to ​Laighpark Waste Water Treatment Works sponsored by Metasphere.
​*Now at full capacity
Tour 1: Intelligent Control Centre
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9:00 am                 Bus leaves from Crowne Plaza Lobby

9:30 – 9:45 am      Arrival at Scottish Water Head Office and Welcome Coffee

9:45 – 10:45 am    Site Tour       
  • Transformation Overview / How Intelligent Control Centre is Critical to its Success​
  • ICC Today / Future Aspirations
  • Tour of the Intelligent Control Centre    

10:45 – 11:15 am      Comfort Break    

11:15 – 11:45 am       Travel back to Crowne Plaza Hotel  
​Tour 2: Laighpark Waste Water Treatment Works

​9:00 am                  Bus leaves from Crowne Plaza Lobby

9:30 – 9:45 am       Arrival at Laighpark Waste Water Treatment Works

9:45 – 11:15 am        Site Tour
  • How the new exemplar WWTW application is utilised, which makes visible end to end performance of the WWTW. 
  • Understand how condition monitoring is being used on the equipment, driving better insights operationally and for investment needs.
  • Look at the final effluent monitoring equipment and how this gives 24/7 visibility of what the WWTW is doing, making visible opportunity and risk.
  • Discussion on the Real-Time control which optimises aeration and reduces energy consumption.
  • Top to bottom tour of the treatment works and general discussion on how wastewater is leading on a range of Transformation projects.     

11:15 – 11:45 am         Travel back to Crowne Plaza Hotel        
Lead Conference Sponsor

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