The Water Bill: Implementation, challenges and opportunities

Guest of Honour: Sonia Phippard, Director of Water and Flood Risk Management, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Timed to coincide with the Water Bill passing through its final Parliamentary stages, this seminar will consider the challenges and opportunities associated with the implementation of the biggest piece of legislation affecting the sector and its customers for decades.

The conference will bring together key policymakers with senior water industry professionals and representatives of water utility companies and businesses involved in water management, together with their financial, legal and other advisors; environmental experts, academics and other interested parties.

The agenda is being structured to facilitate discussion on the Bill's key areas of focus including: reforming water abstraction, improving the regulation of the water environment and strengthening flooding defences.

Delegates will also consider the Bill's likely impact on retail markets, water efficiency and metering - and next steps for policy to support increased competition and strengthen water security.

We are delighted that Sonia Phippard, Director of Water and Flood Risk Management, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Ian Barker, Head of Water, Land and Biodiversity, Environment Agency; Andrew Beaver, Director of Strategy, Ofwat; Sharon Darcy, Associate, Sustainability First; Adam Kingdon, Chief Executive Officer, i2O Water; Mark Powles, Chief Executive, Business Stream; Mike Summersgill, President, Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management; Professor Martin Cave, Visiting Professor, Imperial College Business School and Author, Cave Review: Competition and innovation in water markets have agreed to deliver keynote addresses at this seminar.

Roland Grzybek, Regional Director, Flood Risk Management, Water Europe, CH2M HILL; Paul Hammett, National Water Specialist, National Farmers Union; John Parsonage, Programme Director, Open Water; Tony Smith, Chief Executive, Consumer Council for Water; Jacob Tompkins, Managing Director, Waterwise and Rob Wesley, Head of Policy, Water UK have also agreed to speak at this event.

The Earl of Selborne, Treasurer, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Water has kindly agreed to chair part of this seminar. Additional senior participants are being approached.