Speaker Information

The call for Abstracts have now closed for the Water New Zealand Conference & Expo 2023.

Key dates:

– Call for abstracts open: Wednesday, 8 March
– Call for abstracts closes: Wednesday, 26 April
– Authors notified of selection: by Friday, 30 June
– Final Papers due: Monday 21 August
– Final Presentations due: Friday, 13 October

Click here to download the Abstract Guidelines

Click here to download the Abstract Template

This is the main event for the water industry in New Zealand and the vastness of our industry calls for a wide and diverse programme of topics to be showcased – we encourage you to get involved!

Thought Leadership

We are also asking for expressions of interest for non-technical/thought leadership papers to be submitted through the same submission process and portal.

Topics covered this year:

1. Drinking water
For example:
• Drinking water quality and microbials
• Innovations in water treatment
• Environmental impact of operations
• Water Safety Plans
• Source water management
• Source Water Risk Management Plans
• Acceptable Solutions
• Nitrates
• Forever chemicals / emerging contaminants
• Safe water for everyone everyday
• Case studies

2. Wastewater
For example:
• Wastewater treatment and networks
• Wastewater Risk Management Plans
• Wastewater environmental performance measures
• Improving environmental performance of wastewater networks
• Environmental impact of operations
• Biosolids treatment and reuse
• Case studies

3. Procurement & asset management
For example:
• Asset management
• Design and construction
• Procurement and project delivery efficiencies
• Investment
• Dynamic or adaptive pathway planning
• Integrated water management
• Case studies
• Standards & Specifications (opportunities for alignment /national consistency)

4. Pipelines
For example:
• Predictive asset management
• Risk management
• Design
• Growth and renewals
• Investment
• Case studies

5. Construction
For example:
• New assets
• Maintenance of existing assets
• Technologies
• Equipment
• Efficiencies
• Project management
• Case studies

6. Policy changes/framework
For example:
• Three waters reform – transitioning to a new governance model
• Regulatory framework
• Economic regulation
• Consumer protection, dispute resolution
• RMA reform – Natural & Built Environment, Spatial Planning and Climate Adaption Bills
• NES-Freshwater
• NPS-Freshwater Management
• NES – Drinking Water Sources

7. Digital
For example:
• Data sensors and the Internet of Things (IoT)
• Digital twin – Using digital to drive asset management decision making
• Connecting with customers
• Risk mitigation
• Future focus – a lens on the future/innovation
• Learning from other sectors – smart cities, transport, energy

8. Science
For example:
• Genomics
• Water microbiology
• Environmental biotechnology
• Chemistry and toxicology
• Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs)
• Source water risk management plans
• Wastewater risk management plans
• Groundwater
• Hydrology
• Geotech
• Social Science
• Biosensors
• Nitrates
• Water cycle

9. Climate change, sustainability & customers
For example:
• Climate change adaptation & mitigation – building long term resilience or thinking further ahead vs short term budgets
• Circular economy – net zero carbon, resource recovery, policy and regulation
• Sustainability
• Customer focus – communication & engagement
• Valuing the services provided
• Level of service / performance measures – obligations and benefits – national, regional, local
• Leaving no footprints and valuing water

10. Te Ao Māori
For example:
• Te mana o te Wai – restoring and preserving the balance between the water, the wider environment, and the community
• Te Oranga o te Taiao
• Valuing water – lakes, rivers, streams
• Partnering with iwi and water management
• Water as the life force

11. Workforce
For example:
• Health, safety and well-being
• Capability, training and qualification
• Growing the workforce – adaptive and resilient
• Cultural transformation: shifting perceptions, behaviours and capabilities in the water sector
• Diversifying leadership – new models and practices
• Change management – building resilient organisations
• Fostering D&I across organisations, supply chains and service delivery
• Making water the career of choice
• People, Culture, Diversity & Inclusion

12. Non-technical or thought leadership
• Let us know if you have some great non-technical or thought leadership ideas to share with the sector