Young Water Leaders Summit

The Young Water Leaders Summit (YWLS) brings together water leaders of the future, and seeks to influence, equip, and transform them to become effective catalysts of continuous change in their home region and in the wider water world.

Designed by young water professionals, for young water professionals, the YWLS aims to:

• PROFILE the global water industry as an exciting and innovative sector;
• INSPIRE young water professionals with leadership potential to develop their careers in the water industry; and
• CONNECT young water professionals with established business leaders, who serve as role models.

Each edition gathers about 80 selected participants from over 30 countries, and facilitates interactive discussions between young professionals and esteemed leaders.

07:45 - 08:15

Registration

Venue: Level 3, Heliconia Room 3505 – 3506, Sands Expo & Convention Centre

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09:30 - 09:45

Opening Address for Singapore International Water Week – World Cities Summit – CleanEnviro Summit Singapore

(Integrated with Water Leaders Summit Programme)

Venue: Level 5 Ballroom L-M, Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands

Guest-of-Honour: Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies, Singapore

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09:45 - 10:15

Introduction by Prof Tommy Koh, Ambassador-at-Large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore, followed by, Keynote Address by HE Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister, Sri Lanka

Venue: Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, Level 5 Ballroom L-M

Jointly organised by the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW), the World Cities Summit (WCS) and the CleanEnviro Summit Singapore (CESS), the keynote address sees a distinguished guest sharing insights, trends and solutions concerning urban development, water management and environment protection; towards a liveable and sustainable future. For 2018, we have HE Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister, Sri Lanka, as our distinguished guest to provide the first keynote address.

Speaker: Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister, Sri Lanka

Session Chairperson: Prof Tommy Koh, Ambassador-at-Large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore, and Chairperson, SIWW Water Leaders Summit

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10:20 - 12:00

Opening Plenary on “Urban Solutions for a Liveable and Sustainable Future”

Venue: Level 5 Ballroom L-M, Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands

Cities have become the world’s dominant demographic and economic clusters, and we are seeing the rise of “megacities”. Increasing urbanisation, rising demand for resources like water, and climate change will challenge many cities’ potential to be engines of progress and prosperity. How should water, environment and transport management evolve to keep pace with urbanisation? Cities must be ready to embrace innovative ideas and solutions for the development of liveable and sustainable cities of the future.

Jointly organised by SIWW, WCS and CESS, the Opening Plenary will see high-level speakers from government, international organisation and industry sectors share insights into cross-disciplinary urban, water and environmental policies, management strategies and solutions; and highlight trends in these focus areas.

Speakers:

• HE Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, United Arab Emirates
• Dr Kristalina Georgieva, Chief Executive Officer, World Bank
• Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, India
• Mr Zhuang Guotai, Vice-Minister, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, China
• Mr Bernard Charlès, Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dassault Systèmes
• Mr Steve Demetriou, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Jacobs

Session Chairperson: Professor Chan Heng Chee, Ambassador-at-Large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore

This session is held jointly by WCS, SIWW and CESS. Top ranking leaders from government, international organisations and industry sectors will discuss and share their insights into cross-disciplinary urban policy issues, highlighting challenges and the roles of stakeholders in co-creating a liveable and sustainable future.

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11:30 - 13:00

Learn from Peers

Venue: Level 3, Heliconia Room 3505 – 3506, Sands Expo & Convention Centre

Synopsis: Young water leaders will share their experiences in the water sector, what inspires them, and what keeps them driven.

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13:00 - 14:00

Lunch

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14:00 - 15:00

Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize Lectures

This session will begin with presentations, followed by questions-and-answers with Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize laureates. Topics would cover the challenges and issues associated with water and the environment.

Venue: Level 5 Ballroom J, Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands

Speaker:

• Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize Winner: Professor Rita Colwell, Distinguished University Professor, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health

Moderator:

• Mr Ng Joo Hee, Chief Executive, PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency

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15:00 - 15:15

Tea Break

Venue: Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, Level 5 Foyer

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15:15 - 17:15

Environment & Water Leaders Forum: Closing the Loop, Catalysing a Resilient and Sustainable Future

Today’s rapid urbanisation and population growth have put our finite natural resources under pressure. In the circular economy, resources such as materials and water can be continually cycled and reused; forming a closed loop system that designs out waste, reduces water and energy usage, and encourages resource efficiency. A circular economy model that makes better use of the finite resources can unlock business opportunities and allow companies to do more with less. Is circular economy gaining traction in both the public and private spheres? How are leaders and experts from the government, academics, business and international organisations taking action to shape the economy, bring circularity into our lives and safeguard a sustainable future?

Organised by SIWW and CESS, this session will see experts and leaders from the government, academics, business and international organisations share their views on the foundations of a circular economy, and how improved resource efficiency and the circular economy model can support global climate goals as outlined in the Paris Agreement on climate change.

Venue: Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, Level 5 Ballroom B-G

Speakers:

• Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Singapore
• HE Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
• Mr Ahmed Aboutaleb, Mayor, Rotterdam, Netherlands
• Mr Masatoshi Akimoto, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan
• Mr David Newman, President, World Biogas Association
• Mr Neil McGregor, Group President and Chief Executive Officer, Sembcorp Industries

Session Chairperson: Professor Tommy Koh, Ambassador-at-Large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore, and Chairperson, SIWW Water Leaders Summit

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18:00 - 20:00

River Cruise

09:00 - 09:45

SIWW Water Dialogue

Venue: Level 5 Ballroom B-G, Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands

This session sees a distinguished thought leader in water sharing insights, trends and solutions concerning water management and sanitation. For 2018, we have HE Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary General, United Nations, as our distinguished guest to provide the keynote address followed by a moderated Q&A.

Speaker: HE Ban Ki-moon, 8^th Secretary-General, United Nations

Session Chairperson: Dr Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Communications and Information and Ministry of Transport, Singapore

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09:50 - 11:30

Water Leaders Insights

(1) Recycling and Reusing Water Endlessly

Co-organised with: Jacobs

This session will be driven by case studies that illustrate key levers in strategic planning, regulations development, solutions integration, financing, operations management, customer engagement and other areas were used within a systems-thinking approach to overcome constraints to sharply advance the growth of water reuse.

Venue: Level 5 Ballroom L, Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands

Speakers:

• Mr Allard Nooy, Chief Executive Officer, InfraCo Asia Development
• Mr Bruce Gordon, Coordinator of Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Health, World Health Organisation
• Ms Diane D’Arras, President, International Water Association
• Ms Jane Nishida, Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for International and Tribal Affairs, United States Environmental Protection Agency
• Mr Miguel Angel Sanz, President, International Desalination Association; and Director of Strategic Development for Treatment Infrastructure Division, SUEZ
• Mr Ng Joo Hee, Chief Executive, PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency
• Dr Sanjay Mukherjee, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects), Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, India

Session Chairperson: Mr Peter Nicol, Global Director of Water, Jacobs

Moderator: Mr Subramanyan Kanakasabapathy, Regional Managing Director, South East Asia, Jacobs

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(2) Getting Ready for a Digital (R)evolution

Co-organised with: Black & Veatch

This session will bring together the perspectives and experiences of stakeholders within the water, automation, and data management and security sectors, and take a deeper look into how far we have come. We will explore how to realise the true benefits of a digital water future.

Venue: Level 5 Ballroom K, Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands

Speakers:

• Mr David Henderson, Managing Partner and Founder, XPV Water Partners Inc.
• Ms Joke Cuperus, Chief Executive Officer, PWN Water Supply
• Mr Seong Han Kim, Vice President & Chief Research Officer, K-Water
• Mr Patrick Decker, President and Chief Executive Officer, Xylem
• Mr Peter Herweck, Executive Vice President Industry Business, Member of the Executive Committee, Schneider Electric
• Ms Sue Murphy, Chief Executive Officer, Water Corporation of Western Australia, Australia

Session Chairperson: Mrs Cindy Wallis-Lage, President, Water Business, Black & Veatch

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11:30 - 11:45

Tea Break

Venue: Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, Level 5 Foyer

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11:45 - 13:00

Water Leaders Summit Closing Session - Towards a Sustainable and Resilient Water Future

Venue: Level 5 Ballroom K, Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands

This closing session invites selected water leaders to share their thoughts about how the discussions over the two days of Water Leaders Summit would affect their countries or whether the solutions discussed would be applicable.

Speakers:

• Prof Tommy Koh, Ambassador-at-Large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore, and Chairperson, SIWW Water Leaders Summit
• HE Eng Ali Al-Hazmi, Governor, Saline Water Conversion Corporation
• HE Henk Ovink, Special Envoy for International Water Affairs, Netherlands
• Dr Bambang Susantono, Vice-President (Knowledge Management and sustainable Development), Asian Development Bank

• Mr Ramoncito S. Fernandez, President and Chief Executive Officer, Maynilad Water Services
• Mr Jean-Louis Chaussade, Chief Executive Officer, SUEZ
• Ms Maryam Farhanah, Process Engineer, Mott MacDonald; and Representative from the Young Water Leaders Summit

Moderator: Prof Greg Clark, Chief Advisor and Chairman, OECD-LEED

Forum on Development Agencies and Investment Strategies, UK

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13:00 - 14:00

Lunch

Venue: Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, Level 3 Jasmine and Jasmine Jr Ballrooms

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14:00 - 15:00

Accelerating towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Importance of young professionals

Accelerating towards the SDGs: Importance of young professionals

Venue: Level 3, Heliconia Room 3505 – 3506, Sands Expo & Convention Centre

Synopsis: A group of YWPs and Fellows under IWA formed a Taskforce to better understand the ongoing work within IWA to the SDGs. This session will reflect on the outcome so far from the work conducted by the Taskforce and to invite the participants to contribute. Specifically, the outcome of the workshop will feed into the “outlook” document providing reflections by young professionals and on the importance on young professionals in accelerating the attainment of the SDGs.

In collaboration with IWA YWP

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15:00 - 16:00

Water Leaders Panel

Venue: Level 3, Heliconia Room 3505 – 3506, Sands Expo & Convention Centre

Synopsis: The session will provide participants with a deep insight into the professional life in various segments in the water sector through dynamic interaction with the senior leaders on the panel.

Speakers:

- Geodino Carpio (Chief Operating Officer, Manila Water)

- Jay Iyengar (Chief Innovation and Technology Officer, Xylem)

- Wu Changhua (Vice Chair, Governing Council, Asia Pacific Water Forum)

In collaboration with IWA YWP

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16:00 - 18:00

Young Water Leaders Open Exchange & Closing Session

Venue: Level 3, Heliconia Room 3505 – 3506, Sands Expo & Convention Centre

Synopsis: Young water leaders will share on key learnings from the YWLS, an action idea, success stories or calls for collaboration.

In collaboration with Water Youth Network

18:00 - 20:00

Industry Night at City Solutions Singapore (Highly Encouraged)

Venue: Basement 2, Level 1 and 5, Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands

Synopsis: Celebrate 10 years of co-creating water solutions with us at the Industry Night. Experience the buzz and excitement of City Solutions Singapore expo hall across three levels. Enjoy live performances and a complimentary drink from us.

09:30 - 17:30

Venue: Basement 2, Level 1 and 5, Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands

Synopsis: Young water leaders are encouraged to attend the Water Expo @ City Solutions Singapore (CSS), which is the largest and most extensive global water trade event showcasing a comprehensive range of products and services and the latest state-of-the-art technologies of the entire water value chain.

It is also a platform where top government officials, industry leaders, water experts, practitioners and enterprise converge to establish business and networking opportunities.

All information accurate as of 5 July 2018.

 VIEW LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

*Information accurate as of 30 June 2018

Hear from our past delegates

Testimonials

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Who can participate in Young Water Leaders Summit (YWLS)?

If you are:

• Passionate about water and aspire to be a change agent,
• Actively contributing to global water discussion, and
• 35 years of age or under,

we look forward to having you with us at the YWLS!

YWLS Application

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