Annual Conference
Water Matters 2024
Water Matters supports non-household water users in working towards a more resilient, sustainable water future.
London, UK
20th June 2024
Chris Hines MBE / Jessica Sansom / Dr. Tony Juniper CBE
Water Matters 2024
Water Matters 2024 was a roaring success!
Over 100 attendees joined us for the day, including over 50 business water users!
Top highlights included learning about cloud rivers, the impact of a humble strawberry, how intelligent activism can stand you apart from the crowd, and how water is connected to everything we do. Attendees found the varied speakers provided fantastic insight and a vast number of actionable takeaways, helping them to develop practical solutions to water-related challenges via expertise from a range of backgrounds.
Thank you for being part of this open conversation, where collaboration, innovation, and peer-to-peer solutions take centre stage.
Speakers at the event
Dr. Tony Juniper CBE
Sustainability Adviser and Environmentalist
Trisha McAuley
Panel Guest, and Head of Strategic Panel
Karma Loveday
Panel Host, and Founder and Editor at The Water Report
Don Maher
Head of Non-Household Services at Anglian Water
Dr Rebecca Heaton
Environmental Advisor
Ben Caspersz
Founder of Claremont
Thomas Walker
Senior Innovation Manager at Spring Innovation
Sarah McMath
Chief Executive at MOSL
Ian Thompson
Associate Director, Economic Insight
Venue
Water Matters 2024 will be held at Convene, 22 Bishopsgate, London.
Further information about the location, as well as nearby parking, bus stations and underground lines, can be found on the venue’s website.
Agenda
09:00-10:00
Welcome breakfast and networking
10:00
Welcome and introduction
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Session 1: Market Matters
Exploring the most significant developments within the non-household water market since last years’ conference, and an opportunity to gain expert insights around future progress.
10:10 – Navigating the Future of Water: Regulatory Insights and Market Changes – Ian Thompson, Economic Insight
Explore the current regulatory perspective within the non-household water market, the most significant developments and likely picture at the end of PR24 determinations. Topics to include pricing impacts, investment in smart metering and infrastructure, and the water efficiency challenge.
10:30 – Response from MOSL – Sarah McMath, MOSL
A short response on behalf of the water market operator.
10:35 – Fostering innovation in the water market – Thomas Walker, Spring
In this session, Thomas Walker from Spring will discuss strategies for fostering innovation within the water market. The session will cover key challenges facing the sector, innovative solutions being developed, and ways to support and accelerate the adoption of new technologies.
10:50 – Panel: Market Matters Dismantled – Hosted by Karma Loveday, The Water Report
Discussion to include price, frictions in the market, innovation, smart metering, environment and pollution, election year and reform of the water industry.
Guests: Ian Thompson (Economic Insight), Thomas Walker (Spring), Sarah McMath (MOSL), Trisha McAuley (The Strategic Panel) and Neil Pendle (Waterscan).
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11:10-11:30
Tea break
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Session 2: Sustainability Matters
Hosted by Chris Hines MBE and featuring Dr. Tony Juniper CBE, join this explorative session to learn from, and share ideas with, top sustainability advocates.
11:30 – A Debatable Introduction – Chris Hines MBE
As a special guest host, Hines will set the scene for this sustainability focussed session, sharing details on his ‘intelligent activism approach,’ and encourage debate around who can make the changes necessary outside of the government, and importantly, who can deliver them in time?
11:50 – Re-Evaluating Our Approach to Water – Dr. Tony Juniper CBE, Environmentalist
We face urgent challenges in relation to carbon, water and Nature. While all these priorities are fundamentally connected to one another, our tendency is to approach them as separate questions. This is one reason why we struggle to make progress, because of our segmented and siloed approach. Juniper will suggest a re-evaluation, including the need to work in more integrated ways at the level of entire catchments, and to do that via multi-sector partnerships.
Q&A – 10mins (with Chris Hines)
12:30 – The Behaviour Change Opportunity – Ben Caspersz, Claremont
Could behavioural change help deliver on environmental goals? Many of the challenges we face are affected by human factors, such as how individuals use water in their daily lives, as well as how bathrooms, kitchens and workplaces are designed and managed day to day. Ben Caspersz will explore how we can move beyond the theory and take practical steps using the tools of behavioural science to achieve lasting change.
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13:00-14:15
Lunch and networking
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Session 3: Leadership Matters
Hear from those demonstrating leadership on sustainability and engage in peer-to-peer discussions that inspire action.
14:15 – Sharing of Peer-to-Peer Leadership Insights – Jessica Sansom
Jessica Sansom, best known for her expertise in sustainability, will share key insights from her career, including her time at McDonald’s, Innocent Drinks, and her current role at Huel.
14:50 – Challenges of Leadership – Don Maher, Anglian Water
Join Don as he explores the challenges of leadership in the water industry. Don will discuss environmental issues from a wholesaler’s perspective, the importance of leading with purpose, and the regional and national ambitions for smart water meters. Discover the opportunities for collaboration in addressing these pressing issues.
15:10 – Embedding climate change into business strategy: are there lessons we can learn for water? – Dr Rebecca Heaton, Environmental Advisor
Becky will discuss how climate change has gone from something barely on a board’s agenda, to being seen as a significant risk, and opportunity space for business. She will describe some of the key milestones that have driven this change, and the challenges in driving action.
15:30 – Panel: The Drive For Change – Hosted by Neil Pendle, Waterscan
The panel will focus on exploring integrated approaches to sustainability, addressing water and environmental challenges, and leveraging leadership and behavioural change to drive impactful action. Engage with top sustainability advocates to share ideas and strategies for a sustainable future.
Guests: Chris Hines MBE, Jessica Sansom, Don Maher, Dr Rebecca Heaton and Rebecca Gale (Waterscan).
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16:00-17:00
Networking and drinks
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