Smart Tech, Bold Thinking: SiW25’s Conference Line-Up Revealed

Sensing in Water 2025 is set to deliver a bold, forward-thinking conference programme packed with real-world innovation, cross-sector collaboration, and inspiring ideas from across the water sector. Across two days, our main sessions will bring together experts tackling the biggest challenges and opportunities in monitoring, sustainability, and smart water management.

Here’s what’s in store:

Keynotes:

Dr Piers Clark (Isle Group) will bring his unique perspective on the future of water sector collaboration, with a particular focus on how sensor-driven insights can help address global water management challenges.

Emily Timmins (Anglian Water) will share reflections on the practical role of smart sensing in AMP8 planning and delivery, including its value in tackling pollution, improving efficiency, and delivering more responsive asset management.

Both speakers will open conversations around the sector’s strategic direction, setting the tone for two days of applied discussion and technical insight.

Session 1: Leveraging Instrumentation and Data to Foster Sustainable and Resilient Water Resources

Chaired by Mike Sparrey (ABB)

The UK is facing growing pressures on water resources — climate change, population growth, and rising demand all call for smarter, more sustainable solutions. This opening session focuses on the technologies, strategies, and cultural insights that can help us futureproof supply and improve decision-making.

Confirmed speakers:

• Luke Palmer (YZ Systems) & South West Water – sharing a compelling case study from a remote site using LoRaWAN and remote monitoring to enable sustainable water supply.

• Mark Andrews (Sustainable Water Solutions) & Tom Stone (In-Situ) – introducing Managed Aquifer Recharge (a first for the UK) through the ground-breaking Felixstowe Hydrocycle project.

• Abi Croutear-Foy (Aquawatch) – exploring the human and cultural dimensions of water monitoring in Water Is Us, using cross-cultural examples to show how instrumentation and data can reconnect us with the meaning behind each datapoint.

• Dr Helen Willcock & Dr Sarah Woods (Loughborough University) – presenting cutting-edge research on Luminescent Sensing Materials for Real-Time Monitoring.

  
  

Session 2: Harnessing IT/OT Convergence – How We Revolutionise Water Management with Smart Instrumentation & AI

Chaired by Rich Bragg (United Utilities)

As we face an era of water scarcity, climate instability, and ageing infrastructure, IT/OT convergence is unlocking a new era of visibility and responsiveness in our networks. This session looks at how instrumentation and data integration can support smarter operations and real-time decision making.

Confirmed speakers:

• Simon Harrison (Harrison OT Services) – offering a high-level view on the role of instrumentation in digital transformation and regulatory readiness.

• Matt Theakston (Schneider Electric) – exploring how sensor data and systems can be brought together to support water operations.

• John Gaffney (Siemens), Killian Gleeson (University of Sheffield), Alan Brown (Northumbrian Water) – sharing insights from the OFWAT-funded Water Quality as a Service project, including deployment challenges, automated analytics, and CRI compliance.

• Lynne Bouchy (Createch360) – delivering hard-won lessons from real-world IT/OT implementation in the field.

• Abi Croutear-Foy (Aquawatch) – exploring the importance of data discipline in AI, and why artificial intelligence is only as good as the information it’s built on.

  
  

Session 3: Comprehensive Situational Awareness – A Single Pane of Glass for Data-Driven Decisions

Chaired by Sarah Brooks (Klarian) and Darren Coleman (Anglian Water)

What does a truly integrated control room look like? This session explores how real-time visibility and data convergence can empower operators to make faster, smarter decisions. Bringing together perspectives from utilities, tech developers, and solution providers, we ask: where do we start, what matters most, and how can we embed this into 'business as usual'?

Confirmed speakers:

• James Ballard (Severn Trent) – utility perspective

• Kacper Konstanczak (Northumbrian Water) – utility perspective

• Matt Westgate (VEGA) – sensor manufacturing perspective

• Anna Andersson (Klarian) – enabling tech perspective

  
  

Session 4: Environmental Impact and Compliance – Monitoring for a Sustainable Future

Chaired by Oliver Grievson (AtkinsRéalis) and Rich Bragg (United Utilities)

As environmental standards tighten, monitoring has become both essential and at times overwhelming. This session dives into the tools, trials and lessons that are helping water companies and suppliers balance performance, regulation, and innovation.

Confirmed speakers:

• Tom Lendrem (Badger Meter),Anna Karpinska-Portela & Mamatha Veesam (Southern Water) – presenting a detailed approach to pollution monitoring and prevention

• Andy Thornton (Jacobs) – real time control systems

• Ben Thompson (United Utilities) – sharing insights on final effluent monitoring

• Cobus Compion (Wessex Water) – revealing findings from Section 82 CWQM trials

• Rob Stevens (Proteus Instruments) – on how organisations are using data to drive real-world impact

  
  

With such a powerful and diverse programme, SiW25 is set to spark ideas, challenge assumptions, and fuel new approaches across the sector. Don’t miss out on the conversation.

With huge thanks to our conference sponsors: