For the past few years, Programmed has always been a proud supporter and sponsor of OzWater, the peak water industry conference run by the Australian Water Association (AWA). Ozwater was founded to connect passionate water executives, both young and experienced, to drive a sustainable water future.
The 2024 theme Accelerating Action is a rallying cry to our community to address the vital role water must play in the current climate crisis. Together, we will ignite a powerful movement towards a sustainable water future.
This year, the conference was held in Melbourne from 29 April to 3 May at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). It attracted more than 5,000 delegates from water companies, partners, and suppliers across Australia.
Ozwater shares that the time is now to accelerate action and create a sustainable water future for generations to come.
This theme of being able to thrive in a better, safer future strongly resonated with our Programmed delegates and our work in the water sector. Most of our OzWater delegates have shared the key highlights and takeaways below, which they will take home in their day-to-day work as they explore actionable strategies.
Learnings
Kathy Hondros, Programmed Maintenance Engineer, shares, “The sessions helped confirm that however different various organisations are when it comes to the services they provide in the water sector, all of us are quite similar in a way when it comes to our approach which goes to show that we are all on the right path.
“Attending the Asset Management Planning and Delivery – Making Bold Change session hosted by our very own Gary Monaghan was a highlight for me. We heard stories from around the industry who have devised innovative solutions to some asset management challenges”. – Kevin Hazelwood, Service Delivery Manager
“Moreover, attending a discussion on Hydrogen Energy and how its demand for water means it will be heavily tied into water boards. It was interesting to hear some of the innovations in the industry, the new challenges faced, and how the industry was responding to the changing energy climate while still keeping the communities front of mind”.
Gary Monaghan, Programmed Service Manager, shares, “The Australian Water Association opened up OzWater this year with some inspirational speakers and a smoking ceremony, which I have never experienced before since migrating to Australia 15 years ago!”
“I also found the Water Leaders Forum exciting, and it was great that Programmed was called out for its efforts to plug the gender pay gap. It made me feel very proud to be part of an organisation that demonstrates its core values. This conversation continued at the table where I was seated for the gala dinner. I also found the stream I chaired inspiring due to the posters and technical presentations delivered by passionate water professionals who truly focus on better outcomes for their employees and the community they serve.”
Connections
A key highlight for our Programmed attendees was the opportunity to meet and catch up with fellow industry members and discuss ideas and innovation. OzWater was an excellent opportunity to meet new people and catch up with former colleagues from the water industry. This is a time to share ideas and innovations. Many of the presentations helped validate decisions that the team had been making recently, which is also aligned with the most forward-thinking in the industry.
How Programmed will commit to a Brighter, More Sustainable Water Future
So, what’s next for Programmed and our contribution to climate change? Programmed looks forward to continuously improving and innovating in our day-to-day work. We will partner with our water industry partners to champion safety, diversity, and sustainable initiatives. Learning from various water companies and authorities and being able to tie them back to Programmed’s processes to achieve better outcomes is vital.
For more information about our capability in the water sector, check the link below: Water Network Maintenance.
