Highlights of the Program

2 days business program:

Learn from real-world case studies by industry leaders.

SHOWCASING INNOVATION:

Discover the latest technology and techniques from across the industry.

leaders talk:

Hear from top-level experts about how to stay ahead in a fast-changing industry.

MULTIPLE STREAMS:

A business program that is multi-disciplinary, giving you a broad view of the industry.

SMART TECHNOLOGIES:

Explore the latest smart and AI-driven solutions, and see how they can be used in your business.

roundtable discussion:

Join talks with industry peers. Share ideas, make connections, and find new partners.

Program

Day 1 :
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2026
08:00 - 09:00
REGISTRATION AND MORNING REFRESHMENTS
09:00 - 09:10
OPENING ADDRESS
09:10 - 09:35
TRANSFORMING ASSET MANAGEMENT TO ENABLE VALUE CREATION THROUGH TECHNOLOGY AND DATA
Danny Ivanoski
Yarra Valley Water

Danny Ivanoski

Yarra Valley Water

  • Enhancing situational awareness for faster decision-making and reducing operational risk
  • Utilizing advanced insights to drive efficiency, manage risk, and maximize business value
  • Automating processes to optimize asset performance and deliver consistent customer outcomes
09:35 - 09:40
Q&A SESSION ON LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY AND DATA TO DRIVE ASSET MANAGEMENT EXCELLENCE
09:40 - 10:05
PIPELINE INFRASTRUCTURE RISK MODELING TO CHANGE THE STATUS QUO
Jennifer Morales
City of Omaha Public Works

Jennifer Morales

City of Omaha Public Works

  • Leveraging GIS, algorithms, and machine learning to predict pipeline vulnerabilities
  • Analyzing decades of maintenance and failure data to quantify and project infrastructure risk
  • Recasting decision-making with a risk-based approach across wastewater and drainage systems
10:05 - 10:10
Q&A SESSION ON APPLYING DATA ANALYTICS AND GIS TO PIPELINE RISK MANAGEMENT
10:10 - 10:40
SPEED NETWORKING SESSION
  • Exchange business cards and get connected in short one-to-one meetings
  • Start the conversation to arrange a more formal meeting later on in the conference
  • Share your professional background and discuss your biggest business issues – don't forget your business cards!
10:40 - 11:00
MORNING COFFEE BREAK IN THE EXHIBIT AREA
11:00 - 11:30
PANEL DISCUSSION ON TRANSFORMING THE WATER INDUSTRY: THE IMPACT OF AUTOMATION AND DIGITALIZATION
Speaker ImageSpeaker Image
  • Transforming utilities by leveraging digital twins and 3D models to bridge teams and maximize ROI
  • Harnessing AI to improve resilience, boost efficiency, and address risks from climate and infrastructure
  • Empowering utilities with AI, IoT, and digital tools to overcome barriers and enable predictive operations
  • Advancing inclusive smart water utilities through frugal technologies and Global South talent collaboration

| VNTANA

| University of California, Irvine

| Vassar Labs

| St Paul's University Kenya

11:30 - 11:55
INTERCONNECTION AND ALTITUDE VALVE / CONSISTENT SUPPLY AND WATER QUALITY
Eric Wilmarth
City of Ball Ground

Eric Wilmarth

City of Ball Ground

  • Addressing HB 489 compliance by mapping service delivery and defining utility boundaries
  • Demonstrating interconnection and altitude valves for improved redundancy and water quality
  • Leveraging collaboration with larger utilities to enhance supply, fire flow, and monitoring
11:55 - 12:00
Q&A SESSION ON UTILITY INTERCONNECTION, ALTITUDE VALVES, AND SERVICE DELIVERY
12:00 - 12:25
A COMMUNICATIONS PLAN AS EASY AS RPIE
Jenny Tomes
St. Lucie County Utilities

Jenny Tomes

St. Lucie County Utilities

  • Applying the RPIE model—Research, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation—to utility outreach
  • Using research to shape goals and objectives that align with mission and organizational vision
  • Measuring results with evaluation tools to refine communications and improve future outcomes
12:25 - 12:30
Q&A SESSION ON BUILDING EFFECTIVE UTILITY COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIES
12:30 - 13:30
NETWORKING LUNCH & VISITING THE SMART WATER UTILITIES EXHIBITION
13:30 - 14:00
RESERVED PRESENTATION
14:00 - 14:25
PUSHING THE LIMITS: HOW CYBER ATTACKS EVOLVED IN 2025 – AND WHAT’S NEXT
Tony Anscombe
ESET

Tony Anscombe

ESET

  • Analyzing 2025’s cyber landscape, from AI deception to targeted utility sector intrusions
  • Tracing the evolution of threat actors blending cyber and physical warfare tactics
  • Challenging defenders to rethink resilience amid faster, smarter, and adaptive attackers
14:25 - 14:30
Q&A SESSION ON ADAPTING CYBER DEFENSES TO EMERGING AI-DRIVEN THREATS AND TACTICS
14:30 - 14:55
REAL-TIME RO ENERGY-OPTIMAL OPERATION AND MEMBRANE CLEANING AND REPLACEMENT SCHEDULING
Yoram Cohen
University of California

Yoram Cohen

University of California

  • Optimizing cleaning and replacement to extend membrane life in distributed RO systems
  • Reducing energy consumption in wellhead water treatment through advanced scheduling
  • Enabling real-time energy-optimal control of two-stage reverse osmosis desalination
14:55 - 15:00
Q&A SESSION ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND MEMBRANE STRATEGIES IN RO SYSTEMS
15:00 - 15:30
AFTERNOON COFFEE BREAK IN THE EXHIBIT AREA
15:30 - 15:55
BEYOND FLOOD RISK: A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO INCREASING RESILIENCE IN MODERN COMMUNITIES
Stephen Bourne
AtkinsRéalis

Stephen Bourne

AtkinsRéalis

  • Using digital twins to model utilities, infrastructure, and human activity in evolving cities
  • Projecting disruptions, growth, and future demands to strengthen resilience at all scales
  • Expanding flood-focused models into holistic resilience planning across urban communities
15:55 - 16:00
Q&A SESSION ON ADVANCING SMART UTILITY RESILIENCE THROUGH DIGITAL MODELS
16:00 - 16:25
CONDITION ASSESSMENT OF CONCRETE PIPES AND TANKS USING NON-DESTRUCTIVE TEST METHODS
Bill Horne
VCS Engineering NDT Division

Bill Horne

VCS Engineering NDT Division

  • Evaluating PCCP and tank durability to guide proactive repair or replacement planning
  • Applying impact echo and pulse velocity testing to detect flaws, loss of strength, and delamination
  • Utilizing ground penetrating radar to assess the service life and structural health of assets
16:25 - 16:30
Q&A SESSION ON EXTENDING THE LIFE OF CONCRETE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
16:30 - 16:55
MANAGING GREYWATER AND INDUSTRIAL WATERS IN THE FUTURE
Alan Burke
International Dioxcide Inc.

Alan Burke

International Dioxcide Inc.

  • Identifying greywater sources and treatment needs for reuse in industrial applications
  • Addressing pathogens and corrosivity through resilient and adaptive disinfection methods
  • Adapting lessons from other sectors to design cost-effective and scalable solutions
16:55 - 17:00
Q&A SESSION ON FUTURE STRATEGIES FOR GREYWATER AND INDUSTRIAL WATER
17:00 - 18:00
NETWORKING DRINKS RECEPTION
Day 2 :
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2026
08:30 - 09:00
MORNING REFRESHMENTS
09:00 - 09:10
OPENING ADDRESS
09:10 - 09:35
HOW NEW SOLUTIONS ARE BRINGING AI AND PREDICTIVE INSIGHTS WITHIN REACH FOR SMALL AND MID-SIZED UTILITIES
Valerie Schneider
Inframark

Valerie Schneider

Inframark

  • Bridging the digital gap for small utilities with affordable AI and predictive technologies
  • Demonstrating WaterMinds as a cloud-based platform enabling optimization and resilience
  • Delivering SCADA-compatible tools that reduce costs, energy use, and chemical consumption
09:35 - 09:40
Q&A SESSION ON MAKING AI-DRIVEN OPERATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ACCESSIBLE FOR SMALL UTILITIES
09:40 - 10:05
CAFÉ ACTUATORS – INNOVATION THROUGH CHANGE
Blanca Castro
Plast-O-Matic Valves, Inc.

Blanca Castro

Plast-O-Matic Valves, Inc.

  • Tracing U.S. manufacturing resilience while adapting to shifting global and economic demands
  • Catalyzing ROI through smart innovation, exclusive designs, and evolving industrial ecosystems
  • Highlighting industry collaboration that enables shared solutions across critical sectors
  • Presenting a case study on Café actuators enhancing municipal and industrial applications
10:05 - 10:10
Q&A SESSION ON DRIVING INNOVATION WITH SMART ACTUATOR TECHNOLOGIES
10:10 - 10:35
PUMP STATION ALERTING: A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO PUMP PERFORMANCE MONITORING
James Ogden
StormHarvester

James Ogden

StormHarvester

  • Monitoring pump behavior with AI-driven alerts to detect early signs of decline or failure
  • Supporting proactive operations through real-time insights on starts, stops, and wet well levels
  • Showcasing Southern Water results, including early fault detection and an 88% alert accuracy rate
10:35 - 10:40
Q&A SESSION ON USING AI ALERTING TO IMPROVE PUMP PERFORMANCE AND OPERATIONAL RELIABILITY
10:40 - 11:00
MORNING COFFEE BREAK IN THE EXHIBIT AREA
11:00 - 11:25
REIMAGINING AUTOMATION IN WATER SYSTEMS: THE POWER OF SOFTWARE-DEFINED AUTOMATION
Kyle Sanders
Schneider Electric

Kyle Sanders

Schneider Electric

  • Modernizing legacy automation by shifting control from hardware to scalable, software-driven modules
  • Preparing utility teams for SDA adoption through workforce readiness, system evaluation, and technology transition
  • Introducing open, vendor-agnostic automation frameworks that enhance flexibility and long-term sustainability
11:25 - 11:30
Q&A SESSION ON ADVANCING WATER UTILITY AUTOMATION THROUGH SOFTWARE-DEFINED TECHNOLOGIES
11:30 - 11:55
CLIMATE TECH EMPOWERED DIGITAL SOLUTIONS FOR A BETTER TOMORROW
Nikhilesh Kumar
Vassar Labs

Nikhilesh Kumar

Vassar Labs

  • Integrating AI, IoT, GIS, and digital twins to manage water resources across cities and basins
  • Optimizing floods, irrigation, and reservoir operations with predictive analytics and modeling
  • Strengthening utility performance through unified platforms for NRW, billing, and asset health
11:55 - 12:00
Q&A SESSION ON ADVANCING WATER SECURITY THROUGH CLIMATE TECH AND DIGITAL PLATFORMS
12:00 - 12:30
RESERVED PRESENTATION
12:30 - 12:55
BUILDING CYBER RESILIENCE: LESSONS FROM REAL-WORLD DETECTION & RESPONSE
Amanda Berlin
Blumira

Amanda Berlin

Blumira

  • Examining key incident response takeaways and their direct relevance to utility operations
  • Integrating layered detection and automation to cut MTTR and minimize service disruption
  • Designing actionable playbooks to enhance resilience before, during, and after incidents
12:55 - 13:00
Q&A SESSION ON STRENGTHENING INCIDENT RESPONSE AND CYBER RESILIENCE IN UTILITIES
13:00 - 13:15
FEEDBACK AND RAFFLE DRAW
13:15 - 14:30
NETWORKING LUNCH

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