By Mia Tarrant, Process Scientist, Severn Trent
It’s been another busy quarter for the Rising Stars, starting with a workshop with Water Aid hearing about their strategy for the next year and how we can all be involved in raising awareness and support.
In September, the rising stars played a big role in the Institute of Water’s Annual Conference. The busy 4-day trip to Cardiff started off with the rising stars facilitating discussions in a ‘Meet the Leaders’ event, where we were able to have great conversations with some industry-familiar faces. Day 2 was a jam-packed day at the conference, networking and hearing some thought-provoking discussions around trust in the industry. Day 3 carried on the theme of trust, whereby the rising stars were invited to both facilitate and be panellists on their own session, discussing the topic of trust with someone new to the industry. Some really interesting points were made, including, “have you been told your manager trusts you?” Despite being the last-but-one session to conclude the conference, it was a brilliant session with an engaging question and answer session. This was a great way to conclude the conference as it was many of the rising star’s first time on a panel.
The final day in Cardiff was spent at Arup, hosted by Welsh Area Rising Star, Kathryn Evans. The day began with a leadership and career insights workshop, followed by a discussion around modelling and catchments. This ended with a trip to see Cardiff’s innovative rain gardens.
By Mia Tarrant, Process Scientist, Severn Trent
The busiest quarter for the rising stars, an excellent summer, with some interesting visits.
Late May, our Scottish Area Rising Star, Isla Jones hosted the 2023 Rising Stars cohort in Edinburgh for a jam-packed 2 days at Scottish Water’s Juniper House. It was an incredible visit focused on scientific services and innovation. There were some fascinating tours of the microbiology, organic
and inorganic chemistry labs; great presentations about scientific services, DWQR and Scottish Water’s research and innovation; and engaging discussions with about their careers and CPD.
The trip culminated at The National Robotarium, where all our Rising Stars were left thinking about how the world of robotics could be incorporated into the future of the water industry.
In June, the Rising Stars went to Belfast for a trip of NI Water and WSP hosted by NI Area Rising Star, Sian Walker. The trip started off with a visit to the iconic Silent Valley Reservoir for a presentation about NI Reservoir act and a tour of the reservoir and tunnels underneath, followed by an innovation workshop back at WSP. Day 2, they visited NI Water for presentations on NI regulatory model and asset performance, followed by a CEO masterclass with Sara Venning. The trip finished back at WSP to learn more about water resource planning and CFD modelling.
The next trip for the Rising Stars will be to Exeter hosted by SW Area Rising Star, Gulshen Unveren and then the IWA UK YPN conference in Birmingham.
The Institute of Water Rising Stars are completing a 22,000 step (12 mile) walk around London on Tuesday the 29th October, starting at WaterAid Head Office, Durham St, Vauxhall at 13:00, to raise money for WaterAid, all dressed in water related fancy dress, including a toilet!
Around the world, 1 in 9 people don’t have access to clean water within or close to their home. This distance is to emulate the distance that mothers and young children have to walk every day to collect water.
Those living without this everyday essential do not have an equal chance to be healthy, educated and financially secure.
WaterAid has reached 27 million people with clean water so far, but there is still a long way to go.
The Institute of Water Rising Stars are a group of Water Sector professionals who have been identified as being new industry talent and given the opportunity to develop their skills.
By doing this walk, the Rising Stars will be raising money and awareness to support this cause; they will be walking past Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, London Eye, Horse Guards Parade, The Mall, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Oxford St., Regent St., John Snow Water Pump, Leicester Square, Somerset House, St Pauls Cathedral, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast, Golden Hinde, Shakespeare’s Globe, and Westminster Bridge.
To donate please visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/instituteofwater-risingstars
