Agenda: WWT Asset Management & Capital Projects Conference 2025

DAY 1 – CAPITAL PROJECT DELIVERY
DAY 2 – MANAGING AGING & EXISTING ASSETS

OPTIMISING CAPITAL PLANNING AND DELIVERY STRATEGIES
9:35 AM																KEYNOTE: AMP9 and beyond - Planning for current and future major projects Aligning high-level decision making with delivery on the ground Facilitating collaboration with local and national government Coordinating with other sectors to increase project efficiency Understanding the guidelines in the Teal Book and impacts on planning reform Representative, NISTA
9:50 AM																Financing future water infrastructure Justifying value in project spend across the UK Optimising the procurement process for economic benefit while maintaining high quality delivery
10:05 AM																Asset investment planning: Driving optimal outcomes in a regulated landscape Making the highest value investment decisions to meet ESG, network resilience, and growth goals Assessing long-term costs and risks of maintaining infrastructure while balancing the need for innovation and new developments in the short-term Exploring innovative scenario modelling to optimise investment planning based on specific targets for reducing water leakage Creating different investment scenarios to adapt to impacts of penalties defined by Ofwat Representative, Copperleaf
10:20 AM																Q&A session with previous speakers
10:35 AM																PANEL DISCUSSION: How can we improve capital project delivery strategies holistically? How can we break away from siloed decision making in project delivery? What can industry do to streamline DCO processes and align them better with DWMPs? What can the sector expect around planning reform? How can we increase investment and investor confidence in the sector? To what extent are consumer impacts prioritised in project delivery? How can we maintain trust? How can we increase infrastructure build to meet demand while protecting the environment? Which frameworks can help industry to accelerate delivery and meet deadlines? Dale Evans, Chair, Project 13 Andy Murray, Executive Director, Major Projects Association Mike Laws, Regional Program Controls Director, AECOM
11:15 AM																Refreshments, networking and exhibition

MANAGING RISK AND RESOURCES FOR MAJOR PROJECTS
11:45 AM																Fireside chat: How can we accelerate innovative project delivery? Progressing tech and digital tools across multiple AMPs Creating bonds for start-ups with contractors and water companies Aligning regulation and frameworks to support new innovation in the sector and drive change Accelerating Reg31 approval for smaller-scale innovation Ian Small, Technical Director – Innovation & Convener, Water Innovator Alliance
12:05 PM																Advancing infrastructure build with people at the heart of operations Prioritising health and safety Facilitating training for workers new to the sector through apprenticeships Ensuring skilled workers don’t become a blocker to water infrastructure build
12:20 PM																Driving forward-thinking community engagement in major infrastructure build Prioritising the local community voice in large-scale projects Communicating with stakeholder and environmental groups in the planning phase Meeting ESG goals from design to delivery Jane Bellard, Water Saving Behaviour Change Specialist, Weir The Agency
12:35 PM																Q&A session with previous speakers
12:40 PM																IDEATION SESSION: How can we ensure we have enough materials and skilled workers to deliver planned projects across the UK? A chance for you to have meaningful discussions with fellow attendees and experts in the room around how to tackle challenges regarding resources and talent in the sector, followed by a group feedback session. Key themes include: • Improving trade with Europe and the wider world to ensure a steady supply of materials • Overcoming an expected lack of resources due to global competition • Streamlining the recruitment process • Ensuring fairness to smaller companies when competing for skills and resources • Attracting youth and international talent to the sector • Maximising equipment and materials currently available to the industry
1:05 PM																Fork buffet lunch, networking and exhibition

MAXIMISING DATA AND DIGITAL TOOLS
2:00 PM																‘True’ Whole-systems Wastewater Planning: Using AI to Accelerate Tactical and Strategic decision making Enabling whole-systems planning across catchments to streamline SODRP & DWMP Cycle 2 Complementing traditional hydraulic modelling approaches for greater adaptability Fuel to the fire: using AI to generate options and start the optioneering process with a broader funnel for greater assurance A single source of data for catchment level planning to enable multi-stakeholder participation Connecting regulatory planning horizons and frameworks (a link to the Cunliffe Review) Dr Craig Mauelshagen, Chief Solutions Officer, BMA Dr Stephanie Pullan, Head of Wastewater Asset Management, Yorkshire Water
2:15 PM																Maximising data use in capital project delivery Collaborating to unlock water data potential Understanding how open and shared data can support efficient end-to-end capital delivery Melissa Tallack, Open Data Lead & Stream Co-Lead, Northumbrian Water
2:30 PM																The Data Explosion is Costing You Industry Challenges and Digital Transformation Driving Value from Data Understanding Risk to Prioritise Investment Roi Otero, Water Industry Strategy Manager, Autodesk Claire Underhill, Head of Water Utilities & Central Government, Autodesk
2:45 PM																Exploring the ongoing evolution of digital assistance tools Using Building Information Modelling to drive productivity and efficiency How the Information Management Initiative and the use of assured interoperable data can transform your business outcomes and much more Fiona Moore, Vice Chair, Nima
3:00 PM																Q&A session with previous speakers
3:20 PM																Refreshments networking and exhibition

PRIORITISING THE ENVIRONMENT
3:50 PM																Case Study: Fens Reservoir development Learnings from Anglian Water’s planned construction of a new reservoir Prioritising projects that provide long-term benefit to the environment Balancing short-term increase in emissions for long-term gain
4:05 PM																Case Study: Havant Thicket Reservoir Understanding lessons learnt from environmental, planning and policy challenges Exploring the engineering design and construction timelines Terry Fuller, Director of Project Engagement and Sustainability - Havant Thicket Reservoir, Mackley
4:20 PM																Closing keynote: Prioritising net zero from design to delivery Embracing nature-based solutions Tackling climate change impacts through policy and frameworks Carolyn Cadman, Director of Net Zero Natural Resources, South West Water
4:35 PM																Q&A session with previous speakers
4:45 PM																Chair’s closing remarks and close of DAY 1 – CAPITAL PROJECTS
4:50 PM																Drinks reception Join us for a relaxed drinks reception following the first day of the conference. This is a great opportunity to unwind, network with fellow attendees, and continue the day's conversations over refreshments.

INVESTING IN ASSET RESILIENCE
9:00 AM																Keynote: Protecting assets for the long- and short-term through strategic plans Securing investment to future-proof water infrastructure across the UK Understanding Schedule 3 of the Flood & Water Management Act to maximise sustainable drainage and nature-based solutions Lisa Gahan, Director of Economics, Pennon Group
9:15 AM																Creating the Conditions for Long-Term Asset Resilience: The Regulator’s Role How economic regulation can incentivise efficient, future-focused investment in resilient infrastructure Aligning incentives to encourage operators to adapt to climate volatility and system shocks Balancing affordability and long-term value for money in a changing risk landscape David Satti, Chief Executive Officer, WICS
9:30 AM																Optimising the customer pumping journey Improving the reliability, efficiency and sustainability of pumping Andrew Welsh, Director, Xylem
9:45 AM																Q&A session with previous speakers
10:00 AM																PANEL DISCUSSION: Preparing the UK’s asset base for a greener, more efficient future To what extent are we using carbon goals to help decision making and budget allocation? How can we improve climate change resilience across above-ground assets? What should the sectors’ next steps be in embracing green and nature-based solutions? What role can an increased level of collaboration play in accelerating asset intelligence? How have the new government enabled asset development, growth and transformation? Laura Burnett, Climate Change Adaptation Technical Lead, Scottish Water Craig Holliday, Associate Director – Asset Management, Aqua Consultants – part of the Adler & Allan Group Daniel Perry, Climate Change and Carbon Manager, Affinity Water
10:35 AM																Refreshments, networking and exhibition

ENHANCING ASSET HEALTH STRATEGIES
11:05 AM																Taking a proactive approach to asset maintenance Exploring predictive technologies Optimising monitors and sensors to better understand asset performance
11:25 AM																Understanding asset health metrics Balancing competing methodologies to ensure the water industry is aligned Taking a comparative approach between companies and their asset health measurements Ed Dalton, Asset Health Specialist, United Utilities
11:45 AM																Utilising Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve asset performance Targeting efficiencies to extend asset lifecycles Maximising AI as a tool to take a proactive and predictive approach to asset health Representative, AtkinsRealis
12:05 PM																Questions and answers
12:15 PM																Fork buffet lunch, networking and exhibition

MAXIMISING ASSET INTELLIGENCE AND DATA USE
1:15 PM																Utilising AI to optimise data analysis Reaping the rewards of IOT data collected in 1-minute intervals Monitoring information management for asset management across the supply chain Jeremy Heath, Innovation Manager, SES Water / Pennon Group
1:35 PM																Improving data collection techniques to drive an improved understanding of asset performance Overview of Scottish Water's Asset Inspection programme How innovation and collaboration have supported improved data collection and asset intelligence Michael Finnie, Senior Project Manager, Tetra Tech
1:50 PM																Ofwat Innovation Fund Case Study: Proactively using Pipebots to tackle blockages Insight into Northumbrian Water’s Pipebot Patrol Project Utilising autonomous sewer robots to find and tackle blockages quickly Sonja Ostojin, Head of Innovation, EMS
2:05 PM																Questions and answers
2:15 PM																INTERACTIVE REFLECTION AND IDEATION SESSION: What are the next steps to improving our asset base? A chance to reflect on today’s learnings and discuss key takeaways with your peers, while planning your asset management strategies for the next year. Collaborate with fellow attendees to form strategies to apply to your companies’ assets and ensure water infrastructure is future-ready.
2:40 PM																Refreshments, networking and exhibition

FUTURE-PROOFING WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
2:15 PM																Managing complex assets and optimising the water cycle Exploring the applicability of the ISO 55001 standard to the water sector Tom Goodyer, Head of Strategic Asset Management, WSP
3:00 PM																Maintaining Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) Justifying value in NBS to secure funding Codelivery of NBS, including Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), with local authorities and other partners Victoria Wilson, Environmental Programme Manager, Dwr Cymru Welsh Water Ellie Lewis, River Quality Liaison Manager, Dwr Cymru Welsh Water
3:30 PM																Closing Keynote: Embracing the principles of asset management Driving change and improvement to assets Applying the IAM’s guidance to water company action Richard Stuart, Director of Asset Delivery, Yorkshire Water
3:40 PM																Q&A session with previous speakers
4:00 PM																Chair’s closing remarks and end of the Asset Management and Capital Projects Conference 2025