The first day of Australia’s premier water exhibition and conference is underway, bringing together utility leaders, researchers, technology providers and policymakers from across the country.
Taking place at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Australian Water Association’s (AWA) Ozwater’26 features a packed program of international and national keynote speakers, scientific and technical papers, case studies, workshops, panel sessions and poster presentations.
This year’s theme, ‘Our Water. Our Tomorrow.’, calls on individuals, communities and industries to work together to protect, value and invest in water for future generations.
“Our projects are more than about managing water. They’re about resilience, environment and place. They’re a living journey in conversation,” AWA President Kevin Werksman said.
“As a sector we need to become better storytellers, sharing the story of what water brings alive through environmental, economic and community benefit. Our work is to elevate the voice of water itself.
“And the challenge I give you at Ozwater’26 is to think about the legacy that you want to create. How do we create a water future that embraces the systems changes that are needed, engages in the complexity of our water systems and gives a stronger voice to water?”
Opening the conference, keynote speaker Cameron Costello shared Indigenous perspectives on Country and water stewardship. Drawing on his experience across business, government and community, Costello explored how cultural knowledge systems and place-based decision-making can strengthen resilience, sustainability and long-term planning.
Later in the day, Dr Margaret Cook examined how history continues to shape Australia’s relationship with water. Drawing on insights from her book A River with a City Problem, Cook discussed flood risk, urban planning and climate resilience, highlighting the importance of learning from past decisions to better prepare communities for future challenges.
Day one also featured a series of technical workshops and panel discussions covering catchment management, operational resilience and the future of digital water. Sessions throughout the afternoon explored topics including integrated water planning, climate adaptation, asset management and the role of emerging technologies in utility operations.
One workshop led by Water Research Australia and industry partners examined the development of consistent catchment health metrics to support long-term water security planning, while other panel sessions encouraged debate around collaboration, innovation and the evolving challenges facing the sector.
Across the exhibition floor, utilities and technology providers showcased the latest innovations in digital water management, asset monitoring, treatment technologies, sustainability and operational resilience. Discussions throughout the day reflected growing industry focus on climate adaptation, infrastructure investment, workforce capability and the role of digital transformation in improving water security and service delivery.
Ozwater’26 will continue until 28 May, with further technical sessions, workshops and networking events scheduled across the three-day program.
