12 May 2026
This awards night is a chance for those at the start of their career, with five years or less industry experience, working in the water, wastewater or environmental management sector to showcase their work or creative thoughts in this area. Submitted abstracts will be screened and shortlisted by members of the Tyne and Humber branch committee.
The successful short-listed candidates are invited to present their abstract at the New Generations Competition finals on Tuesday 12 May 2026, which will be judged by a panel of industry professionals.
CIWEM members and non-members are welcome to join the branch and celebrate and support the talented finalists at this in-person event.
We are now taking bookings to the finals on Tuesday 12 May 2026 for those who want to support and celebrate the talented early career professionals in the region.
BOOK NOWThe CIWEM Tyne and Humber branch is holding their annual John O’Neill Otter Trophy: New Generations Competition for new student and graduate-level members and those who could become CIWEM members with less than five years of professional experience.
The winner will take home the John O’Neill Otter Trophy and will be offered a complementary one day ticket to Flood and Coast 2026 taking place in Liverpool.
Please note that the call for papers for the CIWEM Tyne and Humber branch John O’Neill Otter Trophy: New Generations Competition 2026 is now closed.
Find out more about the competition17:00 – 17:30 | Arrival and networking (light refreshments served)
17:30 – 17:40
Welcome and Introduction from Chair
17:40 – 19:00
Finalists presentations
Georgia Wade | Graduate Water Quality Consultant | Stantec
Future-Proofing Water Quality: A Multi-Scenario Framework for DWMP Climate Resilience
For a client’s DWMP, I developed a framework to assess future water quality pressures by combining nutrient modelling, thermal risk analysis, and climate-driven hydrological changes.
For phosphorus modelling, I used the EA-approved SAGIS/SIMCAT tools alongside UKCEH flow-change factors, to map future hydrological conditions for 2035, 2045 and 2055. The adjusted flow states were incorporated to represent how climate alters dilution and phosphorus pathways. I mapped each scenario in ArcGIS and wrote Python script to classify the waterbodies’ ecological status, which therefore provided a clear evidence base to set future permit requirements.
Alongside this, I designed a temperature risk methodology using multiyear effluent and river datasets, applying 98th percentile analysis and a climate uplift derived from the EA Chief Scientist’s river temperature projections (~0.6 °C per decade). This highlighted future thermal hotspots, where ecological headroom may narrow, specifically at salmonid sites. These workflows provide a repeatable, climate aware decision platform supporting no deterioration, targeting Good Status, and strengthening AMP8/9 catchment planning.
Rebecca Lee | Flood Risk Analyst | JBA Consulting
Challenging Conventional Practice: Evaluating Innovative Approaches to Modelling Flood Risk and Peatland Restoration in Actively Managed, Lowland Catchments such as Gordano, North Somerset
The water sector is under pressure to extract greater value from limited funding. This growing demand for efficiency, alongside lessons learned from previous projects, sparked a study for North Somerset Council, appraising innovative approaches to modelling actively managed, lowland catchments, with penned water levels. It aims to identify where traditional methods can be tailored to achieve cost, data, and carbon efficiencies while maintaining high quality.
I trialled nine methodologies spanning two EA benchmarked software, evaluating four themes: software and model build/complexity, data inputs such as LiDAR and survey, bridge/culvert structure representation, and flow application. I assessed each methodology against industry good practice, alongside their financial implications including model build and survey costs, and associated carbon impacts. I produced thorough documentation, including a ‘Suitability Table’ designed to guide future funding bids, tender and scope development, and methodology selection.
Outputs are already guiding the client’s review of planning-application models and methods, as well as targeting future spend proportionality. It has been shared with national and local EA teams, supporting more efficient, evidence-based spending.
Jo Schoenberg | Assistant Urban Drainage Modeller | Stantec
Harnessing the power of automation to facilitate catchment-scale solution engineering optimisation
The wastewater industry is facing increasing social, regulatory and operational pressures at a time when skilled resource is finite. Technological advances in automation and optimisation offer a clear opportunity to improve efficiency, increase output, and enable a more integrated catchment scale approach to solution engineering.
In collaboration with a technical partner, I co-developed a bespoke HEEDS workflow to deliver catchment-scale opportunity identification studies, finding the optimal balance between spill frequency reduction and adequate Level of Service.
The workflow utilises HEEDS’ capabilities to generate and evaluate thousands of design options. By learning from successive iterations, the optimiser converges towards the Pareto front. Results demonstrate significant potential for catchment wide spill reduction with maintaining Level of Service standards.
In one catchment, looking at seven CSOs, a thousand design iterations were simulated, a task estimated to require over two years of fulltime manual modelling to the same level of detail. This automation approach was completed in approximately three weeks, with the optimisation itself running over a single weekend. This work provides a clear proof of concept for how optimiser-led, automated workflows can transform how we undertake solution engineering at scale.
Q&A of finalists
19:00
Winner announced
19:15 | Close
Chair
Alex Fraser | Chair | CIWEM Tyne and Humber branch
Judges
Emily Blaney | Early Careers President | CIWEM
Geoff Roberts | Previous Chair | CIWEM Tyne and Humber branch and Trustee | Aire Rivers Trust
Emma Bird | Assistant Dredging Asset Manager | Canal and River Trust
Georgia Wade | Graduate Water Quality Consultant | Stantec
Rebecca Lee | Flood Risk Analyst | JBA Consulting
Jo Schoenberg | Assistant Urban Drainage Modeller | Stantec
This event is open to members and non-members of CIWEM.
Please note there is limited capacity at this event. Bookings must be made through 'My CIWEM' using the above booking link. Non-members who have not registered for the MyCIWEM system can create an account on the booking page in order to reserve their place.
If you have any questions about your booking or would like to cancel your attendance, please contact branches@ciwem.org.
Please note that registrations close two working days before the event is to take place. If you have not registered by then, unfortunately we cannot add you to the event.
If you have any queries about this talk, please contact Rob Berry at rob.berry@jbaconsulting.com.
Becoming a CIWEM member gives you a globally-recognised demonstration of your professionalism and technical abilities. Whether you have just started your career or are extensively experienced, we will have a membership grade that's right for you. Click below to find out more.
Become a memberThe event will take place at the Jacobs Offices at 3 South Brook Street, Aire Park, Leeds, LS10 1FT. The venue is in easy walking distance from Leeds railway station and Leeds City bus station with several buses running near the venue.
Travelling to the venue
As part of CIWEM’s commitment to tackling the climate and ecological emergency we would encourage delegates to use the most environmentally sustainable means of transport possible.
By Train
Leeds railway station is the nearest mainline railway stations to the Jacobs offices and is located in New Station Street LS1 4DY. The station is a regional and national hub with several intercity and regional train services running into the city for those travelling in from outside Leeds. These include: LNER East Coast main line (London King’s Cross, Newcastle and Edinburgh), Cross Country (Birmingham, Derby and Nottingham), East Midlands Railway (Sheffield, Nottingham and London St Pancras) TransPennine Express (Manchester, Liverpool, Hull and York) and Northern (Yorkshire and the North East of England).
By Bus
There are several bus routes that run into Leeds City bus station, which is located in New York Street, LS2 7HU. Buses running from or near the bus station to the venue, include the no’s. 2, 3, and 3A from the Corn Exchange taking about fourteen minutes and the no’s 116, 200, 201, 202 and 203 which run from Leeds City bus station and are sixteen minutes away from the venue.
By foot | cycle
The Jacobs office is a nine-minute and 22-minute walk from Leeds railway station and Leeds City bus station respectively. It is a four-minute and seven-minute cycle from Leeds railway station and Leeds City bus station respectively to the venue.
By car
If you are coming by car or taxi, please consider sharing the journey with others to reduce your environmental footprint.
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