Danielle Francis of the Water Services Association of Australia has been named the 2026 Water Professional of the Year at the Australian Water Awards, recognised for her leadership in advancing purified recycled water for drinking and shaping national water policy discussions.
Sponsored by KSB Australia, the award acknowledged Francis’ role in leading the All Options on the Table initiative, which sought to broaden industry and community conversations around future water supply options.
Speaking after accepting the award, Francis reflected on her two decades in the water sector and encouraged greater confidence and innovation across the industry.
“About 20 years ago, I started having these moments where I realised I really loved water. It’s so exciting. I had all these ideas and I would just try things. And I failed a million times,” Francis said.
“But when we keep giving things our all, we end up kicking amazing goals.”
The 2026 Young Water Professional of the Year award, sponsored by Xylem, was awarded to Declan Clausen of Hunter Water.
Clausen was recognised for his work integrating environmental strategy, community engagement and sustainability outcomes across the Hunter region, alongside his role as a Newcastle councillor.
“Our sector has so many important shared values: we’re working to support our communities, work towards reconciliation and respond to elements of the climate crisis,” Clausen said.
“That only comes through collaboration.”
Corinne Cheeseman, Chief Executive of the Australian Water Association, said the awards highlighted the breadth of innovation and leadership across the sector.
“This year’s winners and finalists demonstrate the depth of talent across Australia’s water sector and the incredible impact that can be achieved when industry, government, researchers and communities work together,” Cheeseman said.
The awards recognised contributions spanning infrastructure delivery, policy reform, research and community-led water initiatives, with finalists showcasing projects aimed at improving long-term water security and sustainability outcomes across Australia.
