Water Skills Forum 2026

Water Skills Forum 2026

19-Mar-2026

About this event

The qldwater Water Skills Forum 2026 brings together leaders, operators, trainers, regulators and industry partners to explore one critical question: Are the training decisions we’re making today strong enough to sustain the water workforce of tomorrow?

Now in its ninth year, the Forum on 19 March 2026 arrives at a critical moment for the industry. Workforce capability challenges, highlighted again in the latest Workforce Snapshot Survey, show growing skills shortages, an ageing workforce, and an urgent need for contemporary training that genuinely reflects the work being done on the ground.

This year's theme, Training today, Sustaining tomorrow, reflects the momentum gathering across councils, RTOs, regulators and industry to strengthen the training pipeline. From expanding unit availability in the NWP and civil packages, to developing new micro-credentials and revising qualifications to better match operational reality, the sector is aligning behind a shared goal: ensuring water operators have the skills and recognition to safely and effectively deliver essential services to all Queensland communities.

With speakers drawn from across water, agriculture, energy, renewables and high-risk industries, the forum focuses on real-world experience, honest lessons, and practical insights — particularly for regional and remote communities.

Download the Program

Draft Program

Pre-Forum Welcome Function - Wednesday 18 March
6.00 to 8.00 pm	Join us for an opening networking event at Blackbird Bar Terrace Room on Wednesday, 18 March. Take the City Cat to the venue to enjoy the river view at night!
Forum Day - Thursday 19 March
8.45 am	Welcome by qldwater CEO, Dr Georgina Davis Why this forum exists now – and why workforce conversations can't be deferred any longer.
8.50 am	Official Opening Department of Trade, Employment and Training The policy and funding context shaping workforce decisions across Queensland.
9.00 am	Kielly Glanville – WSP Chair The importance of the Water Skills Partnership Why collaboration — not competition — is the only way small and large utilities survive future skills gaps.
Session 1: Why Change is Unavoidable
9.05 am	Belinda Cridge – Water New Zealand Organisation NZ Skills review Why New Zealand restructured water training — and what happens when yesterday’s assumptions no longer fit tomorrow’s systems.
9.30 am	Dane Ivicevic – UQ Skills Ag Sector RTO experience What breaks when training systems focus on compliance alone — and how RTOs adapt to remain sustainable.
9.55 am	Cass Cowley – Industry Skills and Jobs Advisor Workforce Insight 2026 Training only sustains the workforce if people actually stay — understanding attrition from the apprentice’s seat.
10.15 am	Morning Tea
Session 2: Building Workforces that Last
10.45 am	Associate Professor Erica French – QUT Business School Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the Water Sector
11.10 am	James Foden – Telos Co Insights into workforce challenges What conditions, behaviours and cultural settings help people step forward — and stay
11.35 am	Talei Ligairi – Head of Governance and HR at the Water Authority of Fiji The journey to training reform in Fiji Evidence from other industries on attracting, supporting, and retaining a more diverse worforce.
12.10 pm	Lunch
Session 3: When Training Meets Reality
12.55 pm	Liz Hester – Trainee at Seqwater What “training today” actually feels like to the workforce we’re trying to retain in South East Queensland.
1.20 pm	Ethan Leeds – TrainRight High Pressure Water Jetting – High Risk Work When training fails, people get seriously injured or killed - and regional services lose capability overnight.
1.45 pm	Matt Gosper – Young Operator of the Year, Mackay Regional Council Same system. Same training. Same experience?
2.10 pm	Afternoon Tea
Session 4: Learning, Design, and What We Can Change
2.40 pm	Kim Kerby (Trility) and Sarah Henry (qldwater) Interactive session: From house to treatment plant Testing whether we share the same understanding of risk, roles, and skills.
3.05 pm	Paul Callaghan – Oleology Designing Systems for Consistent, Reliable Operation How system design can support people to do the right thing, every time.
3.30 pm	Sarah Henry - qldwater Training Today, Sustaining Tomorrow A year on from the Snapshot Report — what’s changed, what hasn’t, and what still needs courage.
3.55 pm	Round up and close

Sponsorship Opportunities

Partnering with the qldwater Annual Skills Forum is far more than a branding opportunity - it is a chance to directly contribute to strengthening Queensland's water workforce at a time when investment in skills and training has never been more important.

Download the Sponsorship Prospectus