Full agenda for A Fresh Water Future Conference 2025 announced

10 October 2025

We're delighted to announce that the full agenda for the A Fresh Water Future Conference 2025 is officially live

This comprehensive agenda outlines the scope of our event, which is structured around the overarching theme: “Turning reform into tangible progress.”

A Fresh Water Future Conference 2025 will build on the successful 2024 event, bringing together senior figures from the water, environment and infrastructure sectors. It aims to build consensus around the best policy and regulatory direction to ensure success in the lead up to, and following, the next water industry price review and general election in 2029.

The government has stated its ambition to clean up Britain’s rivers and to reshape the water sector into an investor-friendly, yet credible and robust utility sector on an upward environmental performance trajectory. This is a far from easy challenge and will require close collaboration by a wide range of stakeholders across the water cycle, allied to far more effective regulation than has existed in the past.

This year's A Fresh Water Future Conference will bring those parties together, scrutinise thinking and recommendations to date and identify areas of consensus for priority action in eager anticipation of a government white paper, consultation and a busy and pivotal 2026. It is the preeminent forum bringing senior water sector experts together to focus on key aspects of strategy, planning, regulation and delivery that will be crucial to achieving cleaner, healthier and more resilient water bodies across the UK. Don't miss out – secure your place now.

We've provided a snapshot of the conference agenda below. There will also be networking opportunities during the lunch break and post-conference drinks. To view the full agenda and book your ticket, visit here.

Welcome and opening address

Welcome

• John Curtin | President | CIWEM

Keynote address

• Alan Lovell | Chair | Environment Agency

Morning sessions

Turning review into tangible progress

• Chair: John Curtin | President | CIWEM

Governance and accountability in water regulation

• Chair: tbc

Afternoon sessions

Developing effective regional and catchment-based approaches – Regional System Planner structure and function

• Chair: Ali Morse | Water Policy Manager | The Wildlife Trusts

Developing effective regional and catchment-based approaches – What does good catchment planning and delivery look like?

• Chair: Rob Collins | Director of Policy and Science | The Rivers Trust

Cross-sector collaboration and investment – Getting the right collaboration around regional planning and delivery

• Chair: Daniel Johns | Managing Director | Water Resources East

Cross-sector funding and finance – Blending, pooling and mobilising funding and finance to maximise delivery

• Chair: Julia Okatz | Director | @SystemIQ / The Conduit

Restoring legitimacy through shared accountability

• Chair: James Wallace | CEO | River Action

Closing remarks

Including all sessions chairs.

• Chair: Alastair Chisholm | Director of Policy | CIWEM

With the agenda now confirmed, places will fill quickly, and space is limited. Don't miss your chance to be part of the critical conversations shaping the future of our water environment. We look forward to seeing you there!

CIWEM’s A Fresh Water Future Conference 2025 takes place on 02 December 2025 at 30 Euston Square, London. Book your ticket now.

Read Alastair's comprehensive overview of the latest policy updates since last year's conference here.

Alastair Chisholm is director of policy at CIWEM