Summary

The Australian Water Partnership will be at the 18th International Riversymposium in Brisbane next week (Mon 21 – Wed 23 Sep) with DFAT Secretary, Peter Varghese AO, officially launching the AWP during the opening plenary session.

A dedicated special session will also be held at 4.30pm on Monday, featuring presentations on key issues in the Indo-Pacific, regional views on the demand for Australian knowledge and partnerships, and the AWP’s strategic focus and practice.

The AWP conversation space will be located in the Plaza Auditorium Foyer, stand #9 of the RiverExpo. Delegates are welcome to drop by for partnership information and other AWP activities.

Special Session

Living on a dry continent, over the past three decades Australia has developed many innovative policy, governance, and management approaches to deal with water scarcity.  Much of the Indo-Pacific region, given population growth and consequent food demand, industrialisation, urbanisation and climate change, is also grappling with problems of water scarcity and quality.  The Australian Water Partnership (AWP) is an exciting initiative (funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs) aimed at helping the Australian water sector, including academia and the private sector, to strategically engage in the Indo-Pacific region.

The AWP’s main objective is to share our water reform experiences in partnership with countries and institutions in the region and to assist with development and implementation of their own solutions to critical water issues. This will mean determining what aspects of the Australian water reform process will work in different socio-political environments and how our approaches and capabilities might be tailored to suit local conditions. The AWP will focus on the fostering of long term relationships and knowledge sharing, and the formation of a strong ‘peer to peer’ network, at individual, organisational and sectoral levels.

This session will include short presentations on:

• the key water issues in the Indo-Pacific
• regional views in terms of demand for Australian knowledge and partnerships
• defining the strategic focus of the Australian Water Partnership, and
• how the AWP will work in practice

These will be followed by a question and answer session

Speakers: Dr Colin Chartres (AWP) Professor Jane Doolan (AWP) Mr Russell Rollason (DFAT/AWP).

Time and Date: 1630, Monday 21 September 2015

About the Riverysmposium

The theme for the 18th International Riversymposium “Healthy Rivers – Healthy Economies” is a wonderful opportunity to engage with the multitude of businesses and organisations who contribute to and benefit from the wise management of rivers and their catchments. Water has risen high on the business agenda and a decline in freshwater quality and quantity was judged the greatest risk facing the globe at the 2015 World Economic Forum. The contribution that healthy rivers make to our economies and wellbeing is extraordinary, but often taken for granted.

The 2015 Riversymposium will connect businesses who rely on rivers and catchments with community representatives, scientists, policy makers and river professionals to jointly explore the links between river health and economic performance in different contexts globally. The program will include over 20 keynotes and 10 special sessions covering topical issues.

The themes and topics of the 2015 International Riversymposium will encourage knowledge sharing and debate, and seek to find solutions for a better future. It is only by bringing together all sectors of society that we can answer the big questions and all play our part in collaborative solutions.