Challenge Judging & Awards

19 June 2024 | 2pm-7pm | WSP, Birmingham

Following the Briefing Event in April, the teams now come together to present their idea to the judging panel and audience at this event. This will be followed by our keynote speaker and the awards presentation.

Keynote Speaker

EMILY BLANEY | Arup

We are very pleased to announce our special guest speaker, Emily Blaney, Senior Water Scientist at Arup.

Emily has a particular interest in integrated water management and is an Arup champion for the Design with Water framework, which puts water at the heart of outcome-led design.

She is the Global Learning Champion for the Arup Water Skills Network, ensuring accessibility and upskilling for all those within the water industry in Arup with a key focus on future readiness. Emily is also a keen advocate for skill development and equity across the sector and is the current Chair of the Women in Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (WiFCERM) Midlands and Anglian committee, working towards a national goal of gender equity in the sector.

Emily Blaney

Senior Water Scientist
ARUP

The Prizes

Prizes will be awarded to the teams that are placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd, with a further prize from our event supporter, WSP, for the team who delivers the most innovative presentation. The winning team will receive Amazon vouchers to the value of £100 per person. 2nd and 3rd placed teams will receive Amazon vouchers to the value of £50 and £30 per person respectively.

In addition, we are also offering a number of other exciting prize opportunities for each member of the winning team to participate in, including:

• Lunch with the Water Industry Forum's Board of Directors
• Spot mentoring session with one of our WIF Board of Directors
• A place on the "winners table" at the WIF Annual Dinner, for you and your guest
• Speaking opportunity at next year's WIF Team Challenge event

Challenge Theme

The theme for this challenge is “The importance of Integrated Water Management (IWM) for the UK’s future water resilience”. Teams have been asked to identify and pitch an idea around the challenge theme.

Benefits of Participating

This challenge will enable the participants to work with other young professionals from different stakeholder organisations across the water sector and to:

• gain an understanding of the perspectives and needs of other sector stakeholders
  
• develop their teamworking skills in a multi-stakeholder environment
  
• develop their personal network of contacts across the sector & utilise this network for their organisation's and their own benefit

We are also pleased to announce an exciting opportunity to join the WIF Board!

Applications for the role of Non-Executive Director (1-year term) will be open to all 2024 WIF Team Challenge participants.

Competition Criteria

Entries are invited from young professionals with a degree or equivalent qualification and with at least 1 year's experience of working within the water sector.

The competition will be open to entrants from British Water member organisations only and will include:

• Water Companies
• Regulators
• Tier 1 Consultants and Contractors
• Academics
• Supply Chain
  

Member organisations were asked to sponsor between 1-4 candidates to participate in this cross-sector team competition.

Teams have been asked to identify and pitch an idea around the challenge theme, following the briefing event where expert speakers presented on the subject to help candidates develop their ideas.