SG Leaders Forum 2024: Uniting IWA SG for Sustainable Progress, Inclusivity, and Innovation in Water Management
On Saturday 10 August 2024, IWA Specialist Groups leaders met for their biennial forum, ahead of the IWA 2024 World Water Congress & Exhibition (WWC&E) in Toronto, Canada.
IWA’s 51 Specialist Groups (SGs) cover a wide range of subjects and is one of the main mechanisms for like-minded IWA members to network and share knowledge. They connect people across disciplines and national boundaries to accelerate science, innovation, and practice exchange that can make a difference in addressing water challenges and further pushing the sustainability agenda. SGs are an effective means of international networking, sharing information and skills, and making professional and business contacts that are spread across IWA’s membership in more than 150 countries.
Each group is self-managed and led by a Management Committee which oversees its activities, events, and communication within the SG. The Leaders (i.e., Chair, Co-chair, Secretary) of each SG meet every two years on the occasion of the IWA WWC&E at the SG Leaders Forum. The Forum is one of the best opportunities for SGs to discuss and work together on facilitating networking and knowledge exchange mechanisms, allowing greater interaction, collaboration and better access to the networks’ knowledge and expertise, as well as strategic planning and implementation.
The theme of the 2024 SG Leaders Forum was ‘Uniting IWA Specialist Groups for Sustainable Progress, Inclusivity, and Innovation in Water Management.’ This theme underscores the importance of collaborative efforts to drive sustainable solutions, promote inclusivity, and encourage innovation.
The Forum’s agenda included presentations from IWA Executive Director, Prof. Kalanithy Vairamoorty, IWA Publishing, representatives from the SC2SG, as well as a workshop on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion led by IWA Senior Officer, Florence Laker.
During World Café roundtables, SG Leaders focused their strategic discussion on four topics:
- Managing SGs and Engaging New Members
- Working Towards an Inclusive IWA
- Collaborative Clustering
- Enhancing IWA Programmes and Initiatives
With the participation of diverse experts from the different IWA Specialist Groups, the Forum provided a platform for engaging in meaningful discussions about the future of water management in today’s world. The event served as a critical platform for sharing insights, forging partnerships, and shaping strategies that will define the next era of water management.
The SG Leaders Forum Report is available for members to download on the IWA Connect Plus, along with a summary of the discussions.
You can access the photos from the Forum here.
For any questions about IWA Specialist Groups, please contact Rachna Sarkari at Rachna.sarkari@iwahq.org
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