Smart Water Connect
Australia’s National Water Efficiency Forum
Brought to you by The Water Conservancy
Where - Aerial Function Centre, UTS, Sydney, NSW
When - Tuesday 13 October 2026
Smart Water Connect
(8.30am - 5pm)
Following the success of IWA Efficient 25 held last year in Melbourne, The Water Conservancy is pleased to launch Smart Water Connect - Australia's first national forum dedicated to urban water efficiency, bringing together all sectors — utilities, government, manufacturers, retailers, irrigation and greenlife industries, service providers and community leaders — to drive practical outcomes in how we use, value and save treated tap water.
The program explores how we shift community behaviours, lift efficiency standards across homes and businesses, build drought resilience into how we manage water outdoors, and harness smart technology and data to make better decisions. It examines the role of policy and regulation in accelerating progress, and challenges every part of the supply chain — from product design to point of use — to deliver measurable impact. If water is a key ingredient in your sector, Smart Water Connect is where you need to be.
Evening networking event
(6pm - 9pm)
The event concludes with an evening of networking at the Water Night Launch. Hosted by TWC Ambassador Costa Georgiadis, the launch brings together leaders from across the water industry, government, product manufacturers, corporates and not-for-profits.Guests will hear the latest research findings on Australia's relationship with water, witness the announcement of the Smart Drop Excellence Award winner and preview the national Water Night 2026 campaign. Join us for an evening of networking, celebration and inspiration.
Smart Water Connect Topics
Driving community engagement and behaviour change
Education, outreach, and community-led initiatives that shift water use behaviours and build long-term water literacy.
Increasing uptake of efficient products through information, incentives and innovation
Certification and labelling schemes, product rebates/swaps, and the next wave of water-efficient product and system solution innovations.
Non-residential water efficiency solutions
Programs, partnerships, and performance strategies to reduce water use across commercial, industrial, and institutional sectors.
Strengthening drought resilience and outdoor water management
Best-practice drought preparedness, adaptive response frameworks, and strategies to reduce outdoor water usage.
Enabling impact through standards, policy and regulation
Federal, state, and local policy settings shaping water efficiency outcomes and driving coordinated action.
Harnessing data, smart technologies and insights
The role of smart metering, modelling options analysis, monitoring and data analytics in improving water management, customer engagement, and system performance.
Advisory Panel
Smart Water Connect is brought to you by The Water Conservancy with oversight from an Advisory Panel designed to ensure strong strategic direction, credibility and program quality. The Smart Water Connect Advisory Panel consists of:
- Andrea Turner/Simon Fane Institute for Sustainable Futures, UTS
- Chris Philpot, CEO, The Water Conservancy
- Emma Stewart, Water Efficiency Manager, DEECA
- Lizzie Lewis, Education Lead, Goulburn Valley Water
- Nick Trip, Director, PPI Group
- Peter Durand, Acting General Manager, Irrigation Australia
- Teresa McMaugh, Director, WELS