The role that water can play in improving human wellbeing round around the world is huge.  Recently all the countries of the globe agreed that Global development will be guided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which have a specific Water goal. They also recognized the role that water will play in the realization of many other goals. Water professionals certainly need to learn how to talk to politicians. They need to understand what politicians want and need and they need to put their recommendations in a frame that is going to be acceptable for the political process.

In his presentation, Professor John Thwaites introduces the SDG’s, why and how they are useful and reflects on how we need to change to respond to the challenges and achieve the SDGs.

John Thwaites was Deputy Premier of Victoria from 1999 until 2007. During this period he was Minister for Health, Minister for Planning, Minister for Environment, Minister for Water, Minister for Victorian Communities and Victoria’s first Minister for Climate Change. Portfolios responsible for major reforms in social policy, health, environment, and water. In 2012, John was named one of the top 100 Global Sustainability Leaders by ABC Carbon and Sustainability Showcase Asia. He chairs a project with the Brotherhood of St Laurence to develop policies to assist low-income Australians to cope with the impact of climate change.