Challenge Judging & Awards

24 June 2025 | 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

Carolyn leads on the company’s biodiversity strategy and nature recovery programme, working with natural processes and nature-based solutions in tackling water management challenges whilst lowering carbon emissions. In collaboration with local delivery partners, Carolyn’s team supports farmers and landowners through the “Upstream Thinking” programme to manage land and restore peatland in ways which improve water quality and supply, as well as benefitting wildlife and supporting the business.

Carolyn sits on the Boards of the Devon Local Nature Partnership, the Isles of Scilly National Landscape, the Centre for Resilience in Environment, Water and Waste, a partnership between South West Water and the University of Exeter, and is Chair of the Cornwall Catchment Partnership. Prior to joining South West Water, Carolyn was Chief Executive of Cornwall Wildlife Trust, and also worked in national roles for Natural England and the Marine Management Organisation, and in the South West region for Cornwall Council.

Carolyn Cadman

Director of Net Zero & Natural Resources
South West Water

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 vouchers to the value of £100 per person. 2nd and 3rd placed teams will receive 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 topic for this year's challenge is “What are the emerging trends that will impact the water-energy nexus by 2030?”. 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

Apply to join the WIF Board. Applications for the role of Non-Executive Director (1-year term) will be open to all 2025 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.