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WWCE 2026: Meet Kes Juskowiak, Operations Director, RSE by IWA

WWCE 2026: Meet Hadi Mokarizadeh, Chair, Young Water Professionals Canada Chapter by IWA

WWCE 2026: Meet Andy Webb, Andy Webb, UK Strategy Director , The Workdry Group by IWA

WWCE 2026: Meet Faustina Boachie IWA Gender, Diversity and Water Award Winner by IWA

WWCE 2026: Meet Valerie Naidoo, Executive Manager of Business Development and Innovations, Water Research Commission by IWA

WWCE 2026: Meet Abhishek Narayan, Young Leadership Award Winner by IWA

WWCE 2026: Meet Clarissa Brocklehurst, Global Water Award Winner by IWA

WWCE 2026: Meet Silver Mugisha, Managing Director, NWSC by IWA

IWA Youth Voices Podcast | Strengthening WASH Through Education, Innovation and Youth Leadership How do we move beyond awareness campaigns to create lasting behaviour change in WASH? In this episode of the IWA Youth Voices Podcast, host Natasha Mumba, Vice Chair of the IWA Young Water Professionals Steering Committee, speaks with Thomas DeJose, a participant in the second cohort of the IWA and Grundfos Youth Action for SDG 6 Fellowship and founder of WashEd. Thomas shares how the fellowship helped shape his approach to WASH education by placing local context, community ownership and youth leadership at the centre of innovation. Drawing on his work in the Philippines, he explores why sustainable behaviour change requires more than knowledge alone, highlighting the importance of enabling environments, culturally relevant education, and partnerships that empower communities. The conversation also explores the role of gamification and educational technology (EdTech) in making hygiene education engaging, memorable and scalable. Thomas discusses how WashEd combines digital learning, teacher support, locally designed infrastructure and community-centred design to help transform WASH education into lasting habits for children and families. Whether you're a young water professional, educator, researcher or practitioner, this episode offers valuable insights into designing WASH programmes that are inclusive, locally led and built for long-term impact. In this episode, you'll hear about: * Lessons from the IWA and Grundfos Youth Action for SDG 6 Fellowship * Why awareness alone is not enough to change hygiene behaviours * How gamification can strengthen WASH education and habit formation * The importance of community co-design and contextual solutions * What the water sector can learn from EdTech * Advice for young water professionals seeking to create lasting impact Listen now and join the conversation on how youth-led innovation is helping shape the future of water.

🎧 New on the IWA Youth Voices Podcast: The Circle of Water How can we inspire the next generation of water leaders before they even reach university? Natalie Paez and Laurence Stribbe share how the Circle of Water initiative is helping young people aged 8–15 explore water literacy, systems thinking, and sustainability through locally grounded learning experiences around the world. Listen now and discover why making water visible and valued starts with education, curiosity, and conversation. 💧 #IWA #YouthVoices #WaterEducation #YoungWaterProfessionals #WaterLiteracy

In this episode of IWA Youth Voices, Natasha Mumba is joined by Thiago Martins, an MSCA doctoral researcher exploring circular approaches to wastewater and sludge management. Thiago shares his journey of pursuing a PhD abroad, navigating international research environments, and working between academia and industry. He reflects on the challenges, opportunities, and lessons learned along the way — from building global networks to turning research into real-world impact. The conversation also dives into how circular thinking can transform wastewater systems, and why taking risks, staying curious, and choosing meaningful work are key to shaping a successful research career.

In this episode of IWA Youth Voices, we bring you reflections from Dakar, Senegal, following the High-Level Preparatory Meeting for the United Nations Water Conference 2026. Host, Natasha Mumba, is joined by youth leader Hadi Toure to unpack the purpose and key outcomes of this milestone moment, including the six interactive dialogues shaping the Conference’s agenda. The conversation explores how youth voices were represented in global discussions, the emerging priorities and challenges identified by leaders, and what this means for the future of water governance. Looking ahead to 2026, Hadi shares practical insights on how young water professionals can engage, contribute, and play a meaningful role in driving impact.

In this episode of the IWA World Water Congress and Exhibition podcast series, Saroj Kumar Jha, Global Director of Water Global Practice at The World Bank Group, discusses the vital role of financing, technology, and governance in achieving global water security. He emphasises the importance of the IWA Congress as a platform for connecting with water professionals worldwide and sharing best practices in water management, non-revenue water reduction, and technology adoption.

In this episode of the IWA World Water Congress and Exhibition podcast series, EriKa Yarrow Soden, content editor of IWA’s magazine The Source, engages in a compelling conversation with Henk Ovink, Executive Director of the Global Commission on the Economics of Water. They discuss the critical challenges facing our water future, emphasising the importance of inclusive partnerships that bring marginalized voices to the table. Henk reflects on the vital role of water in driving equity, climate resilience, and biodiversity, and how events like the IWA Congress foster collaboration and innovative solutions across sectors.

In this episode of the IWA World Water Congress and Exhibition podcast, Erica Yarrow Soden, content editor of The Source Magazine, interviews Anise Sacranie, Water Access Director at Gunfros. Anise discusses her role in the Safe Water unit and explores the challenges of public-private partnerships in the water sector, particularly in the global South.