Strategic water resilience: global insights for UK water companies

Strategic water resilience: global insights for UK water companies - On-demand

The UK water sector is moving into a new phase of climate-independent supply planning. Drought risk and population growth are increasing pressure on water companies, while environmental requirements and public confidence will influence the choices owners make.

In this 60-minute webinar, we’ll share lessons from desalination, advanced water recycling and regional water-security programmes in Australia and North America. You’ll gain a practical perspective on the early decisions that influence consent, procurement and long-term resilience.

What you'll gain
By joining the webinar, you’ll be able to:

Apply lessons from global desalination, water recycling and regional water-security programmes to current UK drought-resilience and strategic resource challenges.
Assess the owner decisions that influence affordability, consent and public confidence.
Benchmark your approach against Upper South Creek, a major water recycling programme that demonstrates how resilience, growth and circular economy objectives can be delivered through a single investment.
Identify what needs to be decided early, where flexibility can be retained and what evidence is needed before positions become costly to change

Who it's for
Designed for water-resource planners, strategic resource teams, programme directors, major project leaders, regulators and procurement specialists working on climate-independent water supply, desalination, reuse, transfers and reservoir programmes.

Particularly relevant for organisations progressing strategic water-resource schemes, long-term drought resilience planning and adaptive supply portfolios.

Secure your spot today.

Meet your speakers

Jessica Kahl - Client Development Leader, Water, GHD

Jessica is a Chartered Professional Engineer and MBA-qualified water sector strategist with experience spanning infrastructure planning in Australia and strategic advisory leadership in the UK. At Sunwater, Queensland's bulk water utility, she led long-term investment planning across major water assets, helping shape water security, resilience and infrastructure investment programs.

In the UK, she contributed to Thames Water's Vision 2050 and PR24 Business Plan and now leads water sector growth and strategic advisory engagement for GHD, bringing insights from globally water-stressed regions to support major infrastructure delivery.

Greg Finlayson - Senior Technical Director – Water, GHD

Greg is a Distinguished Technical Leader at GHD with more than 30 years of experience in water treatment and climate adaptation. He has delivered major water infrastructure projects across Australia and internationally, specialising in large-scale desalination and advanced treatment systems.

Greg played a key technical leadership role in the Victorian Desalination Plant in Australia, one of the world's largest seawater desalination facilities. Through technical leadership, policy influence and client collaboration, he has helped shape national water strategy and long-term water security outcomes.

Graham Bateman - UK/EMEA Water Treatment & Desalination Lead, GHD

Graham is a Technical Director at GHD with 30+ years of international experience in water treatment, desalination and reuse, industrial effluent treatment and wastewater treatment, working for water companies, consultancies, contractors and manufacturers across different industries.

He helped to commission the world’s first 3-pass reverse osmosis plant in Saudi Arabia as part of an integrated water and power plant and carried out design/process engineering trials for London’s desalination plant. He is a Service Line Leader for Water Treatment and Desalination as well as a chartered chemist and process engineer.

Chris Benjamin - Desalination Development, Permitting & Water Security Advisor, GHD

Chris is GHD’s Industrial Water Leader, specialising in desalination, water security, and environmental risk. Based in Houston, he advises on programme strategy and delivery, drawing on experience in complex coastal approvals, environmental studies, and major infrastructure projects across the United States, Australia, the Middle East, the South Pacific, and Africa.

His expertise spans asset management, water planning, environmental and social risk assessment, and socio-economic studies. Chris has led projects for public and private sector clients, including strategic planning and environmental assessments for major water infrastructure programs.