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7th IWA Emerging Water Leaders Forum

The IWA Emerging Water Leaders Forum is an event which sets an open platform for young water professionals to connect with their peers from around the world. The Forum is a place to share professional experiences and highlight the critical responsibility of Young Water Professionals (YWPs) working on solutions for the future of water.

Programme Detail

Dates
11 Dec 2025 - 11 Dec 2025

Thailand

Bangkok
Description
Topics
Themes
Organising Committee
Important Dates / Key Deadlines

Description

The focus of the 2025 editions of the EWL Forum is on equipping the next generation to lead in the face of climate, governance, and capacity challenges, ensuring water systems are resilient, equitable, and future-ready. This theme is leadership-forward and strongly aligned with the Congress’s resilience focus. It emphasises personal and institutional growth, and is ideal for showcasing future-ready skills, inclusive leadership, and big-picture strategic thinking.

The forum is open to all YWPs registered and attending the IWA Water and Development Congress & Exhibition in Bangkok, Thailand, from 8-12 December 2025. Register here: https://waterdevelopmentcongress.org/

More information will be added soon regarding the programme, activities and opportunities to engage in the Forum.

To request more information about the Forum and its technical content, don’t hesitate to contact Isabela Espindola, IWA’s Membership Engagement Senior Officer, responsible for IWA’s Young Water Professionals community at isabela.espindola@iwahq.org.

Topics

  • Youth leadership in climate and water resilience
  • Scenario planning, foresight, and governance
  • Capacity-building and intergenerational collaboration
  • Equity in access, participation, and design
  • Long-term transformation of water institutions

Themes

  • Basins and Water Resources
  • Urban Water Management
  • Water and Health
  • Water Governance
  • Regulation and Utility Management

Organising Committee

Chelsea Hayward   IWA YWP Steering Committee/IWA YWP Australia ChapterAustralia        
Hayat RazaIWA YWP Canada ChapterCanada        
Chotiwat JantarakasemIWA LeaPThailand        
Dania Al KhafajiBlue Peace Middle East Iraq        
Dylan Clarke-HerbertIHE Delft Institute for Water EducationBarbados        
Evelyn MukajusiIWA YWP Uganda ChapterUganda        
Iftita RahmatikaProgram Studi Teknik Lingkungan Universitas Indonesia    Indonesia        
Merceline Olala IWA YWP Kenya Chapter Kenya        
Omi Kumari  IWA YWP India ChapterIndia        
Yumeng ZhaoIWA YWP China Chapter/IWA LeaPChina        
Nicole NawrotIWA YWP Poland Chapter Poland        
Isabela EspindolaIWA HQ Brazil
Previous editions of this event

1st IWA Emerging Water Leaders Forum - Tokyo, Japan (2018)
2nd IWA Emerging Water Leaders Forum - Colombo, Sri Lanka (2019)
3rd IWA Emerging Water Leaders Forum - Online (2021)
4th IWA Emerging Water Leaders Forum - Copenhagen, Denmark (2022)
5th IWA Emerging Water Leaders Forum - Kigali, Rwanda (2023)
6th IWA Emerging Water Leaders Forum - Toronto, Canada (2024)

Important Dates / Key Deadlines

  • 09/06/2025 Registration opens