2026 Mark Pascoe Water Sandpit
Description
How do we mobilise the collective power of communities, landowners and industries to work with us on improving our water and environmental management?
This year marks the 4th annual Mark Pascoe Water Sandpit and will explore the theme of Collective Action, recognising that the scale and complexity of today's water challenges cannot be addressed by any one organisation, sector, or discipline alone. Whether working with residential water consumers, catchment landowners, community-based water management groups, industry, government, or international partners, meaningful progress depends on our ability to mobilise, collaborate, and create impact together.
Established in honour of the International WaterCentre's founding CEO, Mark Pascoe, the Water Sandpit is an annual event that brings together professionals from across industries, sectors, and disciplines to explore complex water challenges in a collaborative and creative environment. Inspired by Mark's belief in shared learning and systems thinking, the Sandpit creates space for diverse perspectives, open discussion, and new ways of thinking about water.
Through interactive workshops, facilitated discussions, and networking opportunities, participants will engage with peers from across the water sector to share experiences, challenge assumptions, and explore practical approaches for working alongside communities to achieve lasting water outcomes.
Join us for an afternoon of conversation, collaboration, and fresh thinking as we examine how collective action can help drive the transformative change needed to secure a resilient water future.
See information about the panellists below!
Agenda
- 1:00 pm
Registration (coffee and tea on arrival)
- 1:30 pm
Water Sandpit Workshop
We will break for afternoon tea at 3 pm.
- 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Networking
Drinks and canapes will be provided.
FAQs
- Is there parking onsite?
Yes, there is limited parking underground at the hotel for $35.
Lineup
Dr Simon Costanzo (Facilitator)
Dr Simon Costanzo is a water and environmental scientist with more than 25 years of experience bringing people, science and policy together to address complex water and environmental challenges. As Principal of Darwinian Consulting, Simon works across Australia and the Asia-Pacific on water resource management, waterway health reporting and climate risk. He is particularly interested in how people with different perspectives can agree on common goals. Simon has been associated with the International WaterCentre since its establishment and previously worked there. He and Mark were good friends and worked closely together on a range of projects including the Darwin Harbour Integrated Report Card.
Chris Norman - CEO, NRM Regions Queensland (Panellist)
Since starting in 2020, Chris has driven a range of initiatives to build the profile and impact of the NRM sector in Queensland, including new investment through the NRM Expansion Program, emerging natural capital markets, and impact monitoring through the Statewide Indicators Framework. Previously, Chris was CEO of the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority in northern Victoria, where he oversaw one of the largest on-farm irrigation upgrade projects in Australia’s history. In 2014, he was acknowledged as one of 10 Luminaries selected to recognise 20 years of Integrated Catchment Management in Victoria.
Lisa Welsh - General Manager Growth and Commercial, Customer and Innovation, Urban Utilities (Panellist)
Lisa has been a passionate advocate for the water sector since the start of the Millennium drought over 20 years ago. She has worked for both public and privately owned water utilities across the full water cycle, from bulk to treated and manufactured water, and most recently wastewater. Her experience spans economic regulation, customer experience, commercial, research and development, innovation and water security.
Tony McAlister - Director, Water Technology (Panellist)
Tony has deep water engineering expertise, both in Australia and internationally, in the areas of flood and water quality modelling, field data collection and assessment, non-point source pollution assessment and mitigation, water quality management, catchment land-use considerations and sewerage and water supply investigations. Tony has worked with governments and large developers to realise new ways of managing water problems.
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