On World Water Day, 22nd March 2023,  Future Water Association, the UK’s leading business support organisation for the Water Sector, came together with the Canadian High Commission to host an international session of Water Dragons, along with an awards ceremony celebrating the best of innovation and people.
The afternoon was given over to a range of Canadian Companies, who in true water dragons style, pitched to the judges, who are from Affinity Water, Anglian Water, Arup, Hydrosave (who are Water Dragons sponsor), Southern Water, Thames Water, UKWIR, wrc, with Future Water board member Alastair Moseley acting as Chair for the session.
The evening brought together people from all parts of the water sector, utilities, suppliers, academics, researchers, innovators, consultants, contractors, professional bodies and more. Hosted by the Canadian High Commission, the evening celebrated the ‘best of people’ and the ‘best of innovation’. Jason Kee, Trade Commissioner, welcomed everybody to ‘Canadian soil’ and outlined what a fantastic partnership is evolving with Future Water around water dragons.
Board Director Alastair Moseley, added Future Water is focused on driving change and being at the heart of the ‘Transformation of the Water Sector’. This is based around: Connecting the sector by developing spaces, initiatives that bring cross-sector stakeholders together to exchange knowledge and expertise on critical issues for the sector; and Inspiring the future through innovation activities, member-led policy groups and supporting the next generation.
Alastair added Future Water continues to drive change with Water Dragons, which goes from Strength-to-Strength and even has its own trademark, being recognised as an important initiative for the sector.
  
People Award Winner
Sponsored by ACO Water Management
Charlotte Allen, Hogen & Justin Rak-Banville & Ian Moran from WSP
Special Commendation: Water Fellows Initiative
                                                        
Above & Beyond Winner
In partnership with Caraffi
Jeremy Heath, SES Water
Kala Vairamoorthy, Executive Director IWA
Mixanox
Highly Commended – Eagleridge Innovations
Intelligent Gels
Paul Horton, CEO of Future Water Association, explained the importance of the awards. “People and innovation are the driving force behind today’s water industry and these awards have been established to acknowledge both. We are all busy juggling the day to day tasks within our organisations and it can be easy to take excellence for granted, especially when it comes to Health and Safety and the achievements of our people. Our Water Dragons Awards recognise the ideas and innovations within the sector and provide a platform for businesses to present new products to key decision makers; opening up wider markets and opportunities”