NSW Water Directorate Annual Forum 2026
Description
The 2026 Water Directorate's Annual Forum focuses on how digital water approaches are and can be applied in real operational settings. Designed for regional Local Water Utilities (LWUs), the program moves from shared understanding to practical action through keynotes, case studies, and facilitated discussion.
During the Forum, participants will explore:
What digital water means in practice
How utilities are using digital tools to improve visibility and decision‑making
The tools, skills and techniques needed to support adoption
Clear, achievable next steps linked to the Directorate’s Digital Roadmap
Why attend?
At the conclusion of the Forum, participants will be able to:
Demonstrate an improved understanding of digital water concepts and their practical application within regional and remote utility contexts
Identify and evaluate digital tools and approaches that support operational visibility, proactive maintenance, and risk‑based decision‑making
Recognise the workforce skills, techniques, and training requirements needed to support sustainable digital adoption
Apply insights from utility case studies to their own operational, asset management, or organisational context
Assess practical next steps for progressing digital capability, aligned with organisational priorities and the Directorate’s Roadmap for using digital tools in LWUs
For the latest Program, click here.
Who should attend?
Current Local Water Utilities members and associates
Water and sewerage managers, engineers, operations staff and government stakeholders
Non-members and invited guests of the NSW Water Directorate
We hope to see representatives from each of our 90+ members there – so if you think yourself or someone in your region should attend, please make sure to secure your seats.
We understand that our members need to get approval for the time out of area and costs of attending the Forum, so we've put together an Annual Forum Approval Letter to help get started with your request.
Are you a Consultant, Supplier or Partner in regional water?
Join peers from across the sector to share experiences, learn what works, and help shape practical pathways toward resilient, future‑ready water services!
FAQs
- What ticket do I need? What is included?
We have changed the ticketing from previous years from a separate Forum and Networking ticket to this year having a packaged and time incentivised Early bird and standard ticket.
The 2026 ticket combines the day program and networking function with food and beverage catering from 9am - 7pm. This includes Arrival Tea & Coffee, Morning Tea, Lunch, Afternoon Tea, Networking Drinks and Canapes. - Is there a program?
For the latest Program, click here.
What to expect
The 2026 Water Directorates Annual Forum is structured to move from shared understanding to practical action, with a strong focus on the realities of regional Local Water Utilities (LWUs).The Forum opens by establishing what digital water means in practice, grounded in sector challenges and regional contexts, with our first keynote speaker and Q&A opportunity.
The program then broadens perspective with a second keynote speaker, followed by a case study to demonstrate how digital water approaches have been applied in real operational settings.
Further case studies maintain the focus to practical implementation after the lunch break, highlighting what has worked, what hasn’t, and what could be done differently.
This will be followed by a session on Tools, Techniques and Training that connects digital capability with workforce skills, systems, and sustainability.
During the breaks, there will be opportunities to engage with exhibitors offering digital solutions to LWUs, and participate in an exhibitor passport activity to win a Digital Maturity Assessment.
The Forum concludes with a Next Steps session, which brings together insights from the day and links to the Water Directorate’s Roadmap for using digital tools in LWUs.
- Will there be an exhibition?
There will be an exhibition area for the benefit of our attendees when considering their needs and digital solutions. Exhibition Spaces are limited to provide both attendees and exhibitors with the best opportunity to network throughout the day.
The Forum and exhibition aim to provide a transparent, trusted, and honest space for sharing information.
For remaining sponsor and exhibitor opportunities, email info@waterdirectorate.asn.au
Returning Principal Sponsor - Beca HunterH2O
Returning Networking Sponsor - Arup
Returning Lunch Sponsor - Atom Consulting
Afternoon Tea Sponsor - NSW Public Works
Coffee Cart Sponsor - Tonkin
Supporting Sponsor - Transient Detect
Exhibitor - Taggle
Exhibitor - TeamSolve
Exhibitor - Adasa
Exhibitor - Vapar
Exhibitor - Transient Detect
Exhibitor - Kallipr
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