SA YWP Forum July 2024

2024 SA Young Water Professionals Forum - Harness the Tide: AI Reshaping the Water Industry Landscape. Dive into the future of the water industry as the SA YWP's present "Harness the Tide: AI Reshaping the Water Industry Landscape".

Join us for an enlightening event designed to inspire and empower water professionals to seize control of their professional destinies amidst the transformative influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the water sector. As AI continues to revolutionize various industries, its impact on water management, resource optimization, and infrastructure development cannot be overstated. This event offers a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of AI and water, featuring insights from esteemed speakers hailing from diverse sectors, each sharing their expertise and experiences on how AI is reshaping the water industry.

The agenda is packed with thought-provoking sessions, including a compelling keynote address, a dynamic panel discussion, an invigorating debate session, and an interactive workshop. Attendees will not only gain valuable knowledge and insights but will also have the chance to network with peers and industry leaders, fostering discussions on the future trajectory of the water industry.

This event is open to the whole water community of SA, not only YWPs. Don't miss this chance to be at the forefront of innovation and join us in shaping the future of water management through the lens of Artificial Intelligence.

Keynote 

Daniel Brown - Founder Archon Gnosis

We are thrilled to announce Daniel Brown, from Archon Gnosis, as our keynote speaker. With over two decades of experience in Microsoft technologies and a visionary approach to modern workplace solutions, Daniel brings unparalleled expertise to our event.

Daniel Brown is the visionary founder of Archon Gnosis, a pioneering consultancy dedicated to guiding businesses through the transformative journey to a modern workplace. Daniel is a stalwart in the realm of Microsoft technologies, with a wealth of experience spanning over two decades. In 2023 Daniel founded the Adelaide Microsoft Copilot User Group. A cornerstone of Daniel's influence lies in his leadership within the Microsoft community. His deep understanding of innovative AI-driven platforms has empowered numerous organisations to revolutionize their approach to productivity and collaboration. His engaging presentations and workshops inspire individuals to embrace change, adopt new technologies, and seize opportunities for growth and success. Daniel’s expertise will provide attendees the perfect framework to grasp the benefits of AI in the water industry.

Panel Speakers

Amanda Siqueira - Co-founder and CEO VAPAR

As a civil engineering intern, Amanda used to manually review sewer pipe inspection videos for 8 hours a day for Sydney Water. Almost 10 years later, with fellow engineer Michelle Aguilar, she started VAPAR with a vision to bring emerging technology into the Asset Management space and revolutionise the way infrastructure is tracked, repaired and maintained. Last year alone, VAPAR's AI technology has powered investment decision making on over 2 million metres of pipe in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States and continues to scale globally through partnerships with Autodesk and Microsoft.

Kale Needham - CEO & Founder SpiralData

Kale founded SpiralData in 2016 to create decision advantage. He has qualifications in Science (1st class honours) and Economics. As the current CEO of SpiralData he provides strategic leadership to deliver artificial intelligence and machine learning (AIML) solutions to problems across the water sector. His passion is to achieve water security in a net zero future.

Michael Di Matteo - Water Resources Team Lead, Water, Environment & Infrastructure SA

Dr. Michael Di Matteo is a Principal Water Resources Engineer with experience in research and engineering consulting. He is passionate about delivering multiple liveability benefits to Australian communities through integrated water management. As an Adjunct Lecturer with the University of Adelaide, Michael remains an industry advisor and student mentor for smart water research. Michael has been involved in a number of studies on the benefits of smart stormwater management systems using artificial intelligence design techniques.

Michael is the Winner of the Stormwater South Australia Excellence Awards Young Professional Award 2020. He is a member of Engineers Australia and is Chartered in Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering. He has delivered over 40 stormwater planning, concept, functional and detailed design projects for local and state government, and private developer clients in Australia.

Michael has been Project Manager for a number of catchment scale stormwater management plans addressing flooding mitigation, water quality and social benefits. He has experience in detailed design and construction phase support for stormwater projects.

Nicole Arbon - Reseach & Innovation Specialist, SA Water

Nicole is a Research and Innovation Specialist in SA Water’s Strategic Asset Management division. Nicole works with new and innovative technologies and data analytics to enable outcomes which provide benefits to the industry and customers. Nicole has a background in research and teaching in water engineering, focusing on developing and applying research for the water industry in a diverse range of areas such as pipeline condition assessment, demand analysis and catchment modelling. She continues her association with the University of Adelaide as an adjunct Lecturer.

Event Order

• Welcome to Country
• Sponsor Address
• Keynote
• Panel Discussion
• Debate Session
• Interactive Workshop

Water Tank Workshop: Innovating with Optimatics 

Join Optimatics and AWA for our Water Tank Workshop, where innovators, data wizards, and water enthusiasts collide!

Just like the iconic “Shark Tank,” our panel of industry experts will evaluate your water-related innovations. Whether it’s a neural network for predicting drought trends or a chatbot that speaks to site managers, we want to hear it all!

Why Attend?

Community Impact: Explore how AI can enhance water resilience, cost savings and operational efficiencies.

Future Water: Help our YWPs predict (and solve) industry challenges.  

Sustainability: Explore the intersection of AI and water resilience. From desalination to real-time monitoring, we’re riding the tide toward a greener, more efficient future!

Networking: Connect with local utilities, researchers and industry leaders who share your passion for water networks!

Event Details

Conference 

For more information please contact:

Membership
Mark Jones, Member Engagement Manager | Ph: 02 9467 8413 | E: mjones@awa.asn.au