YWP@WWW: Connecting Young Water Professionals

Sunday 17 August
Full Day Seminar

Convenors: Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) and International Water Association (IWA)

Following the success of workshops organised during the IWA World Water Congress 2006 (Beijing, China) and the ASPIRE 2007 conference (Perth, Australia), the International Water Association is cooperating with SIWI to organise a day of activities dedicated to Young Water Professionals (YWP).

This seminar, which will have a special focus on sanitation, will allow YWPs to interact with leading sanitation practitioners on the sector’s challenges and opportunities (Meeting Tomorrow’s Challenges session); to learn about career opportunities from a diverse group of water sector practitioners (Career Compass session) and to gain access to the initiatives and resources that can help orientate young professionals on their career in the water sector (Initiatives for YWPs session).

YWP@WWW has the following objectives:

 • To network young water professionals with their peers; thereby creating professional and personal links;
 • To connect young and established professionals, and to allow mentoring opportunities to develop;
 • To orientate young professionals to the reality of working in different segments of the water sector;
 • To link professionals to initiatives that can provide a step towards longer term career development in water

The session is divided into four main themes:

 • Making Connections: the first, hour long session opens and introduces the seminar, providing a clear orientation to the day, the role of SIWI and IWA and providing opportunities for young professionals to meet each other.

 • Meeting Tomorrow’s Challenges – Sanitation, the Silent Emergency: the main technical session which will outline current challenges, thinking and promising solutions. Presentations will be made by leading practitioners in four main fields of interest on sanitation.

 • Career Compass: relying on input from established professionals working across different parts of the water sector (NGO, government, consultancy, industry, academia, practitioners), this session will outline how professionals’ found their way into their chosen area of work, what a typical day’s activities involve, and what the demands of working in their particular segment involve.

 • Initiatives for YWPs: focusing on selected examples of projects and programmes which have provided a springboard for young water professionals to gain exposure and experience in the water sector.

Seminar Programme           09:00-17:00, Room K11