Stepping into 2020 – a new year, a new decade
by Rachel Evans
So we find ourselves in not only a new year, but a new decade!
The AWA was busy in 2019 with the Strategy'22 launch, Ozwater'19 and both local and international programs.
In Western Australia (WA) we had a broad variety of activities, ranging from our annual awards program to our inaugural two-day site tour to the North-West region, the continuance of our free monthly sundowner series, and many more.
The WA Branch Committee has continued to grow and maintain relationships with key agencies and government representatives, in particular Minister David Kelly and his support staff. These relationships ensure that we continue to offer our members a direct connection to the parties that drive water-related decisions in our state.
We also have branch committee representation for AWA on a number of working groups as key stakeholders, informing and driving positive change to water policy and legislation here in WA. We are very lucky to have a committed group of volunteers (whether that be on our branch or young water professional committees or general members lending a hand) that help to run such an exciting and varied program and content for our members, and I'd like to personally thank them all for their continued energy and enthusiasm, which I know will continue over the year.
In this new decade, we already have clear signs of the challenges that we continue to face with the devastating bushfires across the country dominating the media and big questions around how we could have better prepared or avoided where we find ourselves, specifically in relation to our national response to climate change.
Here in WA we have always shown innovation and leadership in relation to water resource management and securing our supply with a drying climate, and this will continue to be the case.
We are progressing our 2020 event program, with our sundowner series continuing and our annual awards showcase already confirmed, a South-West event, technical tours, annual breakfast and collaboration with other professional associations on new events in the pipeline.
Make sure you get along to as many as you can, and we are always eager to receive any suggestions or feedback. And if you want to jump in and immerse yourself in the water sector by volunteering your time and energy, we would love to have you onboard!
Rachel Evans is the AWA WA Branch President.
